Need help...sleep

LEIGHLOVE09

My 15 month old has always been amazing at going to sleep. No issues (staying asleep has been our issue). However now she's been sleeping great once she's asleep but the past 3 nights has been a nightmare getting her down to sleep. She just stands up and cries. I've tried going in and laying her down, rocking her, letting her cry. Nothing has worked. Last night she cried for over an hour before I gave in and went in and rocked her to sleep. Dead asleep and then I was able to move her to crib and she slept all night. My DH wanted me to let her cry until she fell asleep and I tried but honestly every minute was killing me. I don't know what to do. Any advice??

vamomtobe

When our LO had his molars coming in he really had a rough time getting to sleep.  Giving him a pain reliever ahead of bed time did the trick.  Is she getting any teeth in?

LEIGHLOVE09

Ok thank you all. She only has 4 teeth so far so it could very well be teeth except she's only like this at bedtime. Not fussy any other times. I'm going to try Motrin tonight and see if it's any better. I may try and lay on the floor in there with her if it doesnt go well.

LEIGHLOVE09

Motrin did not help. We unfortunately had another horrible night. I didn't leave the room this time and tried laying on the ground pretending I'm asleep to literally laying her down prob 50 times to no avail. I resorted to rocking her to sleep again. I don't think it's teeth, I actually think it's separation anxiety but I just have no idea what to do now

Tapthathank

I'm sorry!    Was she crying while in the crib with you right there?  Have you heard of the Sleep Lady Shuffle?  That is supposed to work really well with seperation anxiety.  Does she have a lovey of any sort?  You could try introducing one if she doesn't have one.  The Sleep Lady recommends a lovey to help with seperation anxiety - as a transitional object.  You could even wear it around so that it smells like you before bedtime.

Good luck!  I hope she goes down easier tonight.

LEIGHLOVE09

Yes she was crying with me right there. She wanted me to hold her. I've never heard of that. I'll google. She does have a lovey and a stuffed animal in her bed but she's never really taken to them. She has a dolly she loves so I'll try putting that in her crib tonight. Wish me luck!!!

Tapthathank

@LEIGHLOVE09 How did it go last night?

I know someone already mentioned teething....have you felt in her mouth for any signs of her molars?  DS does alright with other teeth coming in, but these molars are a whole different ball game.  We give ibuprofen before a bath, so that it can kick in, bottle of milk (will be switching to a sippy soon), brush teeth and extra long snuggles when he's teething or having trouble going to sleep.  if we've done everything we can do, we sometimes just have to stick to CIO - which usually only lasts 10-20 min.

LEIGHLOVE09

Not good. I did feel in her gums and I didn't feel any bumps. She only has 4 teeth so I don't think it's molars. Last night was night 5 so I gave her Motrin about 30 min before bed and we resorted to CIO. It was horrible. She cried for so long you don't even want to know

LEIGHLOVE09

I should add that she eventually went to bed. I'm hoping tonight goes better.

MNmama7112

I know many are resistant to CIO, and I get it. At the same time, sometimes it might be the only thing you can do that will help. My pediatrician recommended it (again, not pushing it on anyone, just saying it's an option) and said it would only take 3-4 nights max. My son is so inconsistent (sleeps through some nights, wakes up others), but going in and being with him doesn't help him calm down typically. If you being in there doesn't provide any comfort and she's crying anyway, maybe letting her learn she can fall asleep on her own (even though it's really hard!) is the best thing?

Overall, I feel your pain and I think you just have to do what you think is best. She needs sleep and so do you. Sounds like you've tried everything else. I'd say try to be consistent with the CIO and see if it doesn't get much better by the weekend. GOOD LUCK!

LEIGHLOVE09

Thank you. I know many don't like CIO and will scold me for letting her cry for as long as she did but I honestly felt like I didn't have another option. Nothing else was working and going in every 10 min only makes it worse for her. I'm hoping since she eventually did fall asleep on her own last night that tonight will not take as long. Fingers crossed. Thanks for the support

MNmama7112

I bet it won't take nearly as long. And I bet the next night will be even better. I get not wanting to do CIO as a default, but when you've tried everything else, I think sometimes that's all you can do. And I'm confident it's harder on us than it is on them.

LEIGHLOVE09

It's a miracle! She went to sleep with no crying and no standing up! Aah relief. Thank you all. Hopefully we're through the bad patch

Tapthathank

Yay!!  I'm so glad to hear it!  I understand about CIO, check-ins every 10 min at this age just make it worse for our LO too.  And it sounds like you had done everything else you could.  Good job Mama!

MNmama7112

Sooo glad to hear it! Sometimes just a couple (or ONE in your case!) rough night of crying makes all the difference! Hoping for more peaceful nights to come

vamomtobe

Happy for you and your LO!!