Argh the screaming.. anyone else?

[kirsty_lee]

DD for the past 2 or 3 weeks has been screaming EVERYTIME we put her in her cot. Sometimes in the past she'd have a little bit of a whinge but she had her musical frog there and would play with that and then fall asleep. No biggy. But now it's the same thing EVERYTIME. Even in her during the day naps. The minute you put her in the cot she thrashes around and swings at you and just goes biserk! I try and reassure her that it's "nigh nigh's" and that mummy will be back when she wakes up but she screams! not just her usual little whinge I mean like blood curdling screaming it's horrible. She keeps going till the point where she's almost puking! And i've tried going in and calming her down and trying again. Probably after like the 5th time of going in she'll lay down and start settling herself. But dear lord the screaming! I swear docs is going to turn up on my door one day that's how loud and just unsettling it is.

I understand that her imagination is starting to work and that's probably scary but I am totally out of ideas. I've tried a lamp/night light. I've tried reading to her before bed with her in her cot instead of where we usually read. I've tried tucking her fluffy toys into bed and saying "it's their nigh nigh now" and today I tried putting a dream catcher in her room and trying to make a big deal out of it so she knows that nothing bad will happen. Please someone give me some other ideas cause I am sooo tired it's just getting ridiculous.

[Mum2SweetCs]

Hi Kristy,
BIG HUGS!

Are her molars coming out? My friend's son did exactly the same thing as your DD. He just kept crying and crying all night in the cot.

This is not a good habit, but when DD does that i put on in the night garden for her. I know its a bad habit but it helps bring back a bit of sanity for us *sigh*

Sorry if it hadnt help, hope the other ladies have better ideas!

Goodluck

[Macca79]

My DS is 17 months and we found a definite routine before bed really helps. He has dinner then bath, we play for 20 min or so then goes in the cot with a half bottle of milk. We also put on soft music for him.

With naps its lunch, small play milk, music and cot.

[Indadhanu]

Yes, and I'm ready to rip my friggen hair out... she has not one, not two, not three, not even four... she has FIVE big nasty looking lumps (4 molars and 1 eye tooth) going up and down in her gums, poor chicken not nice for ANY of us!

[Jac]

You could always try teething gel and panadol half an hour before bed if you suspect teething to be the problem and see if this helps. Might help you to eliminate this as a cause? If you think it's behavioural and nothing physical, I would do lots of talking about it's bedtime soon ect ect so that the idea is firmly planted in her mind that it's about to happen. Then pop her in after a big cuddle ect. and wait 10 mins before going in to resettle. We tried this and it stopped the behaviour quick smart. I now know that if my 2 year old cries when being put to bed, he must be not feeling well and is given lots of love instead!