Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
bedtime screaming
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
bedtime screaming
by bigdaddyd, Aug 05, 2002 12:00AM
For the past week and a half to two weeks our daughter(20months) will not take naps or go to bed w/o screaming for at least an hour. We took her out of her crib at around 17months and she has been fine up until now. Why would she want us to be in the room with her to fall asleep. She has been ok in the daytime, but as soon as it's night time she makes excuses not to go to bed. What can we do to help this along. Her bedtime is at 9pm every night, but we don't get her to sleep until 10-10:30pm.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Aug 05, 2002 12:00AM
, Aug 05, 2002 12:00AM
While this does not occur with all children, it is regarded as within the normal spectrum and you need to stick to your guns about the bedtime routine, regardless of her reaction to it. Now, part of the problem is that you took her out of the crib way too early. Many parents do this. Children at this age do not have the impulse control to do well being in regular beds. I usually advise the parents of my young patients to keep them in their cribs even until the age of four or so, if the child is still feeling comfortable and protected by this. There's really no need to be having kids out of cribs at such young ages. The problem with your daughter is probably exacerbated by the fact that she's not in a crib.
