DD scared of going to sleep.

[Khaleesi]

DD1 (2 and half) is suddenly terrified of going to sleep, she refuses to nap unless she is in the pram or car seat & if you try to put her down or even mention the words, bed, sleep or night time she starts screaming and becomes hysterical.

We have tried so many things. staying with her till she falls asleep, putting her in bed with us, putting her back in the cot etc.. nothing works she only falls asleep from exhaustion.

Just wondering if anyone had ideas on why she is suddenly like this & any ideas to help her.

[[M]umma[M]ia]

your poor DD I dont have any advice for you sorry, just wanted to offer a Hopefully its a stage that doesnt last too long.

[Olive]

mmm maybe try a big girl bed, that way of she needs to come into you she can. we've found lately that DD1 will sleep much better with the door wide open, shes never said she was scared but we think she was, does she have a night light??

[AnyDream]

Take her to the GP and get a good thorough check up - issues like a hidden ear infection or reflux may create a pain response associated with lying down.

Other thing, our 2.5 yr old recently started having some sleep refusal - we've discovered that leaving the door open and the light on in the hallway has helped. Scared of the dark. Too many 'scary monster' chasing games at child care, I think LOL.

[Khaleesi]

We have a big girl bed for her & she wont sleep in it.

Will try leaving lights on for her & when we goto the Dr's next week i'll get him to look at her.

Thanks for the advice ladies

[alioops]

we bought Monsters Inc for Em's monster fears. it has worked.

[cindyb]

I am not sure this will be much help as the DD i am going to refer to is 4 but she went through a patch a few months back saying she was scared to go to sleep and didn't know how to go to sleep so spent some time talking her though - thinking about all the fun things she had doen for the day and all the fun she was going to have the following day and asked her to do this while closing her eyes and told her there are fairies that come out at night to look after her while she sleeps and after a few days of this she was going to bed really easily - we also started leaving the door open a crack with the bathroom light on (which is the door next to her room) that way she could see all the 'fairies' that were looking after her while she was sleeping! LOL

[boomba]

Aww hun Ds1 has been the same lately...not at night but during the day he will scream the house down...so some days he doesnt sleep
Plus its tough to jsut lie wiht them when you have to look after DD2.
Hope you get some answers soon x

[Khaleesi]

Thanks Ladies, had another rough night but it was better than the night before.