18mo throwing favourite teddy out of cot

[PPL]

DS has been one sleep woe after another from day one.

Lately He is just not going to sleep for me, only daddy. When daddy puts him to bed he generally sleeps through, when I do he usually wakes. It takes me an hour of sitting with him to go off, 5-10 mins for his dad.

With me he repeatedly throws his comforter out of the cot. It is driving me insane. I usually pick it up and replace, with no facial expression, no sign that it is a game and no sign that it annoys me.

It's clearly not working, been going on for weeks. He sees it as a way for me to touch him - usually I have to lie him back down after each throw.

SO what should I do to tackle this. I don't mind staying while he sleeps (I'd rather not tho) but I don't want to play this game any more!

I was thinking of leaving the room for 1min everytime he does it? It makes him scream when I leave though...

[WipsGlitter]

Stop giving it back to him?

[Flisspaps]

Just put the toy back in the cot. You don't need to lie him down again.

Or, just don't put the toy back in straight away. Leave it on the floor for a bit.

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

He's learned a very simple lesson. Throwing his toy out of the cot=a reward, you. Does dad play his game or does he just ignore it?

[tumbletumble]

DS2 used to do this with his dummy. It drove me mad! No advice just sympathy.

[PPL]

Forgot to say. Obviously I have tried not giving it back. He goes totally crazy, and we all know he needs it to sleep. During his (brief) periods of self settling he has always snuggled with it. We watch him sometimes on the baby monitor waking in the night, sitting up, looking for the teddy and then lying back down and going back to sleep.

It seems cruel to deprive him of that comfort. I had a similar toy and wanted to sleep with it right up until I shared a bed - never did me any harm.

He has never tried this trick with anyone but me. THat is the most frustrating bit.

So I get that he thinks he gets a reward. Would the opposite work ie. leave the room for a bit everytime he does it? Will he learn he gets nothing from doing it? I have tried putting it back in the cot without lying him down, but it is pitch black and he can't see me doing it, so unless I lie him down on top of it, he thinks the bloody bear is still on the floor.

I am aware that this is a totally ridiculous situation to be in!

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

Put it on a short bit of ribbon or string and attach it to his bed or cot?

[PPL]

I had thought about that hell. The only problem is I am terrified of him strangling himself! THe comforter is one of those square pieces of fleece with a head on the top/ So its already a length in effect on its own, once you add ribbon it just becomes longer and more able to wrap itself around his neck (Yes I'm totally neurotic). I thought about using an old fashioned nappy pin to attach to his sleeve? thoughts?

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

Not neurotic at all. I think it would be worth trying a nappy pin, especially if you can fasten somewhere he can't fiddle with it.