to my once great sleeper? DD2 has pretty much been a great self settler mostly since she was 9 weeks old. Ups and downs occassionally, but generally fine.
We got a toddler bed a few months ago, she was almost three (as she nearly fell head first out of cot) and she was great for first two weeks. Ever since (also coincided with daylight savings) she's slowly gotten harder to settle. She would still go to bed though but it would take her up to two hours to fall asleep. At least she was quiet.
Anyway, last 3 weeks gradually getting worse and now we are at 2 hours of hysterical tantrums, battles, fights etc. I truly don't know what to do. I don't feel I can leave her to cry without checking as I can't make her room 100% safe. She must know this and is testing me. She is just over three now and I can see she wants her way alot more. I am so strict usually, but I am finding I am in with her more during the 2 hours than not, and this is something I've never done.
The reason this is a problem is because a) I need my time to wind down at night (just an hour and then Im usually in bed by 8.30pm anyway) and b) Isaw my mum have a child who wouldn't go to bed alone until they were 16!!!!!!!!!!! (my sister) and now my MIL has an 11 year old that she has had to lie with every night since she was 3. I just dont' want that. c) I am pregnant and am obviously not going to be sleeping well anyway, and dont' need two kids that need constant settling. Also my eldest DD is missing time with me, and it will be her homework time etc and I worry I wont' be avail.
DH is not alot of use, he lets DD2 get away with anything. So if he puts her to bed, she ends up coming and getting me anyway. He is DD1's step dad, so he can spend time with her, but they're not as close as father/daughter, so I feel they both could end up annoying each other and I'd have to then help out there.
I am really at my wits end and not sure what to do. Any suggestions would be great. I just cant' believe my little girl who had 12 hours a night, is now lucky to get 9 hrs and it is preceded with tantrums, battles etc. Her tantrums in the day are also ALOT worse and I fear it's lack of sleep. So Im worried about her as well as resenting her at night time and just not knowing what to do........
thanks in advance!! xo
sorry hun i did read this last night but havent been round much to respond!!!
we've also been having night issues up to 2 hours to go to sleeep, ours has been toilet stalling, needing to wee even if she's jsut gone.
i has to start been very tough and really sticking to the same 'technique' with her. so far for teh past 3 nights its been great, only around 15 mins. she was controlling me!! big time!!
our problems co-incided with dropping day sleep and taping thumb to stop thumb sucking so i expected some issues, just not as many as we had!
Nope, remember the ones with hard settlers usually have their eyeballs on their cheeks whilst checking BB!
I have a debrief about this myself - will go find it and post the link xoxoxox
Hi mumma2girls,
My son went through the same thing when he first went into a bed and then again when daylight savings started. He used to stay awake for hours and then crack it cause he would get bored.
We now put him to bed at 7.30 and leave his lamp on cause he likes to look at his books. His lamp is on his bedside table and has a switch down the cord so he turns it off himself after about 30 mins of reading or playing (whatever he feels like doing to amuse himself).
By allowing him to have this bit of freedom and wind down time, he feels like he has control over his bedtime.
He is 3.5 at the moment and has had his lamp accessable for about 6 months. Before that we would go in after 30 mins and turn it off for him.
Hope my method is something you might like to try yourself!
I'm pretty ranty at the start, but it evens out a bit. Keeping to the routine military style - and smacking your DH over the head a bit might help xoxoxoxxo
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