sleep hell...help!

ready2go

dd is almost 3.  she recently started sleeping in a bed.  for some reason, she doesn't like the bed -- not sure if it's the bed rails or what -- but she prefers to sleep on the floor and move all around.  (this doesn't bother me so much but just sharing this piece of info in case you think it's a factor somehow.  she naps on a "mat" on the floor at daycare too so maybe this is why she likes it?)  We have blankets on the (carpeted) floor that she lies on top of.  for a few weeks, this was fine and bedtime was not a problem. 

but lately, she screams bloody murder at bedtime, saying she's not tired.  her 6 yo sister is across the hall and is usually kept awake during this screaming. 

then once dd does finally fall asleep (after usually 1-2 hours of off and on yelling) she'll wake in the middle of the night, wanting ONLY dh.  sometimes he can lie down with her and she'll fall back asleep.  other times, she'll be wide awake and play for hours.  I don't know what to do to get her to sleep thorugh the night again!  Its especially hard in the middle of the night b/c we obv don't want her to wake her sister.  I feel like letting her cry (scream, really) is not an option when it's the middle of the night - but the alternative is dh going in to her room and that 1. makes him exhausted and 2. encourages dd to repeat the same behavior the next night.

wwyd????  we're on week 2 of this pattern and EVERYONE is tired!

ready2go

sorry that got long

Zenya

have you asked her what she wants?  like does she want her crib back?  can you tell her it's ok if she wakes up but she has to come quietly lie on your floor or something?  I know there is a big difference b/w 3 and 4.  I feel like a year ago my hands were kind of tied with DS' sleep.  He just didn't really 'get' it like he does now.  So I don't think I'm being v. helpful, sorry.

jennieliz

I think that you need to be very consistent with the middle of the night wake ups because it's not ok for everyone to be tired and playing all night long isn't good for anyone.  Take her back to her room and tell her you love her and put her back in bed and walk out.  I know she's going to cry for your husband but they are so good at playing us and if she's been doing this for 2 weeks then she's already won.  You have to teach her that you love her, but that she can't play in the middle of the night.  As for your older child waking up I was worried about this when we did CIO with my little one and she never even noticed.  I was surprised how much they can sleep through.