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Toddlers: 24 Months+
Sleeping troubles in an almost 2 year old
Hi ladies-
I am at my wits end with DS's sleeping issues lately. He's always been a tremendous sleeper - sleeping in his own bed and through the night since he's been 8 weeks old. We have had an occassional night or two along the way where he's given us problems, but nothing to worry about. I just had 2 weeks off of work over the holiday where we got completely off schedule, staying up late, getting up late and missing naps. He also got a twin size race car bed that we transferred him to from the converted toddler bed (from his crib). Now he can get out of the race car bed easily and for the past few nights (and during naps), he's been getting out of the bed, screaming and crying hysterically and banging on his bedroom door (we keep it shut with a childproof handle on the inside, since his bedroom is upstairs and I'm terrified of him falling down the stairs). This goes on for 1-2 hours easily. We try to go in there and lay him back down - first it starts of nicely, then we get pretty stern and after the 50th time of going in there, I'm pretty pissed. He has 2 night lights, and every stuffed animal imaginable in his bed. I think he is just testing us and does not want to go to sleep. Finally, I tried to let him cry for awhile last night and he screamed hysterically while I cringed the whole time and after 20 minutes, it was very quite in there. He had finally crawled back into his bed and stared to go to sleep.
I've been very spoiled by having a good sleeper and so if many of you wonder what I'm complaining about, it's just that I've never had to deal with this.
Is anyone else going through this or experienced anything like this? I'm worried about sleeping habits with #2 on the way - how the heck are they both going to sleep through each others crying?!
I am at my wits end with DS's sleeping issues lately. He's always been a tremendous sleeper - sleeping in his own bed and through the night since he's been 8 weeks old. We have had an occassional night or two along the way where he's given us problems, but nothing to worry about. I just had 2 weeks off of work over the holiday where we got completely off schedule, staying up late, getting up late and missing naps. He also got a twin size race car bed that we transferred him to from the converted toddler bed (from his crib). Now he can get out of the race car bed easily and for the past few nights (and during naps), he's been getting out of the bed, screaming and crying hysterically and banging on his bedroom door (we keep it shut with a childproof handle on the inside, since his bedroom is upstairs and I'm terrified of him falling down the stairs). This goes on for 1-2 hours easily. We try to go in there and lay him back down - first it starts of nicely, then we get pretty stern and after the 50th time of going in there, I'm pretty pissed. He has 2 night lights, and every stuffed animal imaginable in his bed. I think he is just testing us and does not want to go to sleep. Finally, I tried to let him cry for awhile last night and he screamed hysterically while I cringed the whole time and after 20 minutes, it was very quite in there. He had finally crawled back into his bed and stared to go to sleep.
I've been very spoiled by having a good sleeper and so if many of you wonder what I'm complaining about, it's just that I've never had to deal with this.
Is anyone else going through this or experienced anything like this? I'm worried about sleeping habits with #2 on the way - how the heck are they both going to sleep through each others crying?!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Sleeping troubles in an almost 2 year old
we went through this with dd at around 2 1/2 after a move. I would start out just returning her to bed, then I would threaten to take her puppy away b/c "he needs to sleep, he's so tired. if you cannot quiet down and help him get to sleep, then he'll have to go to bed in another room." I only had to take him once. it worked.
ds is just starting this. he cries and naptime and bedtime every day. at bedtime, it's usually just for a couple of minutes. at naptime he fusses for a bit, then he plays for a few, then he lays down and falls asleep. at night time, we usually do our routine, say our goodnights, then lights out and we let him fuss ... but last night was the first night he fussed for a long time. so I grabbed his stuffed cow and had it give ds kisses... "oh! Poor cow is soooo tired. can you help him get to sleep? hold him. lay with him. Poor cow is so tired."
that worked last night. ds doesn't have something he sleeps with every night... we took the paci away about a month ago. so when the cow thing stops working, hopefully he'll be back into his routine again.
His schedule was way off and he got a new bed. Hopefully time back on his routine plus consistency from you (responding to his cries but enforcing bedtime) will get him back on track.
My schedule is off after 11 days of vacation, and I'm cranky. So I'm not surprised that my daughter is off her game, too. :-) Toddlers react to change a lot more strongly than we do. Just give him some time to adjust and I bet he'll be back to normal in a week or two.