Ok, for a litlte background my daughter hates to sleep, so we used to do controlled crying and she would basically scream herself to sleep.
We went to Riverton and all went well and after we moved she was a dream. Just went to sleep when I put her to bed with the minimum of fuss.
So recently we spent almost 2 weeks all up away from home for a funeral, easter and a wedding and while we were there she was an absolute gem adn still sleeping great but now just WILL NOT go to sleep. There is screaming, like gutwrenching screaming. I just dont know what to do with her as she doesnt like to be cuddled to sleep as she tries to get up and play and I dont want to bottle her to sleep as then we will be going backwards.
So I guess my question is has anyone else had this after some time away? Any ideas to help her like her bed again?
I think this is fairly common after any sort of unsettled period... Be patient and don't worry too much if you have to take a few steps backward into familiar and happy territory for her, you will move forward again. When Jaydee doesn't want to go to bed or have his sleep, we pick out some of his toys who look sleepy and we pick out some books that they might like, and he goes to bed and reads to them instead. Usually it works, if he gets really upset, he gets up for 10mins until he is calm and we do it all again. On really bad occasions (maybe every few weeks), I give up and let him have a bottle for his day sleep, as I can clean his teeth again as soon as he gets up. Do what works for you now, and then slowly move forward again - don't stress over it Nikki, as little Miss Caitlin is probably picking up on your vibes. Tell her that you are tired and that you need to have a sleep too... It's probably true!
i know what you mean. Cailtin is in a bed now isn't she? When we arrived back from our holiday it took us 2 months to get soph back into a routine and into her bed. And now(touch wood) she goes down nicely. All we did was kept putting her back, sure there was some nights when I just put her in my bed or we slept with her. Now at lunch time she eats her lunch then she gets her pooh bear and she goes off to bed. At night I still give her a bottle before going to bed. Once she has finished it we say it's nigh nigh time now. And she says good bye to her toys and the family and off she goes.
For a while I didn't shut her door, but now I have noticed that if I pull her door closed(not shut) she goes off to sleep. Just keep doing what your doing and she will get back into that routine and stop screaming.
I would go back to using the controlled crying method you used before. We have used it on my 20 month old since he was about 6 months. Generally he is a good sleeper but when he is teething or sick I end up going in there to soothe him back to sleep so needless to say once the tooth is through or he is no longer sick he still enjoys cuddles in the middle of the night. I go back to the controlled crying and usually after one night, sometimes two, he is back to sleeping through.
Thankyou. I will persist, I have to as I just cant have her in my bed each night, I dont sleep well when she is in there as she is a bed hog and a big mover!
Our 2 year old is still going to sleep in our arms, but we have found that she enjoys some cuddle time with me before Les takes her and gets her to go to sleep. We have a rule that if she fights and kicks and carries on, then she goes into her bed until she stops. Works everytime, and she has quickly learnt that it is better to let us get her off to sleep without the fuss.
Just wondering if there is something about her room that she doesn't like? Maybe too quiet at night? You could try having a radio on in the background.
Thanks Arna. I was thinking about what you said that maybe there is something about her room. I mean, just cause she used to like it doesnt mean that something has changed. And I had nothing to lose so this afternoon we re-arranged it and put eveything in new spots. I love it, it looks fantastic! And we all played in there and made a big fuss about how great her room was and how nice her bed looked.
Gosh parenting is sooo much fun isn't it!!! Always keeping us on our toes!
How old is your little girl? I find that if my son is over tired he is really hard to go to bed...comes out making excuses..like sore toe! He is only 20months! I find that if i put him down before my partner is home he will not sleep and gets really upset. I tried control crying(i have nannied for over 13 years) this works with some kids...not all. My son just gets too upset and it is not worth it. I find if i get him up for a few minutes then put him back this can work...CAN.....mmmm... i then move onto the next attempt! If he is over tired it is a nightmare. Tonight he fell asleep while i read him a story. He never does that. he was so so over tired. He woke after about 2-3 hours of being down...crying his heart out. Is now asleep with his dad. In for one of those nights. Depending on age...lunch time sleeps....i find my son goes down really easy. We say good bye to the sun..see you when i wake up etc etc...routine. Same thing each day..lunch, nappy, good bye to the sun as i we shut the curtains...him in bed with dummy and blanket. he stays and goes to sleep. I also make him leave him dummy and blanket in bed. He gets excited to go and have them. I think at nights it is a combination of over tired and not seeing dad.
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