Question
How can I get my active 10 month old to chill out before bed?
My son is such an active little guy and does not quit laughing, crawling and squirming until he falls asleep. I've tried giving him a bath and reading to him before bed but the bath doesn't help and he can't sit through any stories without squirming out of my arms! I've also tried nursing him but unless he is exhausted he won't fall asleep then either. Instead of lying down to sleep (haha!) he cries, bangs on the wall and cruises around his crib until he is practically falling over. Any suggestions on how to soothe him a bit before I get him into bed?
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2 Answers
When my son was that age, he was crawling, getting ready to walk. I let him wear himself out. I let him have an hour or so of crawling around on his own, getting into things and letting him explore, in a safe manner, of course. Play with him until he's tired enough to cooperate. Then, I would bathe him with a lavender-scented baby wash and baby shampoo, then put on soothing music (the streaming channel on the internet called DroneZone works wonders), nurse him and put him to bed right before he dropped off. Every baby is different and this worked with mine. GOOD LUCK!
Dear Nise,
I have a 17 month old son who is the same way.
I start his bed time routine an hour or so early then neccessary. This gives him the "extra" time he needs to wind down. I turn the lights down low after he has had supper and a long bath (20 mins). We lay out blankets on the floor and my husband and I just sprawl out while he brings us toys, climbs on dad or snacks on vegs and fruit. By the time it is "bedtime" he is ready to just lay down and pass out. It also helps if he has a video he is familar with. My son loves Sesame St. So the last hour of the night we watch it (I have it memorized, so does he). Knowing what comes next seems to calm him down so that he can relax. And before you know it he is rubbing his eyes and willing to be rocked to sleep or just lays down next to us. I hope this helps.