Sarah's been a pretty good sleeper for a long time. For the past two nights, she's thrown a screaming, thrashing hissyfit when I put her to bed. Both nights she was happy as a clam during her normal bedtime routine. I haven't changed anything I've done before I put her to bed. Last night I ignored her fit and she went to sleep within a few minutes. Tonight I picked her up and rocked her for a couple minutes and put her back in the crib. She immediately started up her fit again so I ignored her. Less than five minutes later, her room is quiet. She's gone down for her afternoon nap both days without an argument. Although today she fell asleep on the changing table as I was changing her diaper before her nap.

Any idea why she's throwing these fits and what to do? I really don't like having to deal with them, especially since I have seen and heard her bang her head on the crib bars during them and I don't want her to hurt herself.

I really don't like having to deal with them, especially since I have seen and heard her bang her head on the crib bars during them and I don't want her to hurt herself.

She really won't hurt herself, maybe a bruise or two. This is pretty normal for this age - somewhere around 18 months they are too interested in what's going on in the house to be ready for bed. It's a stage and it will pass, although it may take some time (anywhere from a few days to a few months, I think Julia's lasted around 4 months). FYI: picking her up and rocking her will encourage the hissy-fit behavior (positive reinforcement). If that works for you as a new routine, then stick with it! :aok: If not, make sure your reaction (if any) doesn't reward her behavior and the behavior will extinguish itself.

Good luck!!

If she's about 18 months like Suzi said, Catherine went through that too for a short time. I guessed it was because she didn't want to miss out on anything so I reassured her that she could play with her toys (or whatever she wanted to do at the moment) when she woke up and she seemed to understand and accept that. I think it helped her to know that it would still be there when she woke up. Good luck!