my babies sleep pattern has changed!

[vlines]

My baby has slept soundly all through the night since she was 6 months old and also had her 2 naps throught the day. Now, all of a sudden she doesnt want to go in her cot for any naps and crys constantly whenever we try to put her in her cot.  Both myself and my partner are flight attendants and so when we are away she sleeps at grandmas house and there is no problem there, only when she comes home.  I understand that she is probably feeling insecure but does anyone have any advice as to how I can overcome this crying and not sleeping?

[SGKelloe32]

Does she have a favourite teddy or blanket that can comfort her wherever she sleeps? It is maybe that if she is sleeping at her grans house a lot she classes that as being her familiar surroundings more than being at home. I know it is so frustrating and i have a 15 month old girl myself. We find that she goes through phases. She can go for a few weeks going to bed fine by herself and then all of a sudden she won't go to bed and throws a tantrum when we try to put her in to bed. Maybe is you try just giving her a little kiss and a hug and tucking a teddy in with her. Then leave the room, if she cries, leave her for a few minutes, then go in again, give her a kiss and put the teddy back beside her. Then leave it a bit longer before you go back in. Eventually she will realise that no matter how much she cries, you won't pick her up and she will go off to sleep and will also look to her teddy for her comfort at bedtime. It worked for us. Good luck.

[zgma]

Babies' sleep patterns change all the time.  How old is she?  Maybe she's ready to give up one of the naps.  You could try just doing an afternoon nap, and don't push the morning one.

 

Also, if you are away a lot, maybe she wants to spend the time with you instead of sleeping.  Try having lots of focused parent-child time in the mornings, so she feels like she's had some good time with you.  Especially try things that are very tiring for her - outings to the zoo, playgrounds, swimming or tumbling classes. 

 

Babies really like routine, so if her routine is disturbed by your traveling, that may be what's going on.  Try setting and sticking to a fairly rigid eating and sleeping routine, and see if you can get the grandma to stick closely to it also - that way the baby will know what to expect when, whether she's at home or grandma's house.

 

You may also have to try different tactics to get her to sleep.  My son (2 years old now, and still has fluctuating sleep patterns) has at various times refused to nap for one parent or the other, refused to be rocked to sleep or needed to be rocked to sleep, etc.  Try driving her around - my son will only fall asleep for his grandma in the carseat.  If the mother is still nursing, try nursing the baby to sleep.

 

Last thing - it probably is just a phase which will calm down soon.  Could be related to anything - teething, schedule disturbances, growth spurts, etc.  The main thing to remember, if you've tried everything and are at the end of your rope, is that it will pass!