Toddler moms - help!

ShannonSky

OK, DD started STTN quite young (around 3/4 months, but she was 6 weeks early and only weighed 6lbs when she started STTN). Since then she's gone through intermittent phases where she does not want to sleep at night. She wants to play. Last night we drove her around at 1:30am. At 18mos, I really don't think we should be doing that anymore. And especially with the new baby coming, this needs to stop. I've dosed her with Tylenol/Orajel. When I go in, she signs "eat", but I think she just means "I want out of the crib", because she won't eat when I offer - just cries more. Doesn't want milk, either, just wants to leave her bedroom. She has a nightlight, a blanket, a pillow, a lovey - she's definitely comfortable and probably 90% of the time, she just lays down and goes to sleep. 

WHAT DO I DO????? We tried to let her CIO during her last phase of this a few months ago and she cried so hard she puked...that was the end of that. I usually do 10 min of crying, go in and try and soothe (which seems to just frustrate both of us, because it's really me trying to rock her/give her milk while she screams and hits me). 

talentedgirl

Does she still nap a couple times a day?

When DS was around the same age, he started waking during the night to play. It was like he had a nap and then was ready to go again. I started to make his first nap of the day, later so that it was shorter and gradually he gave that up, started napping earlier in the afternoon and started staying asleep all night.

ShannonSky

talentedgirl:

Does she still nap a couple times a day?

When DS was around the same age, he started waking during the night to play. It was like he had a nap and then was ready to go again. I started to make his first nap of the day, later so that it was shorter and gradually he gave that up, started napping earlier in the afternoon and started staying asleep all night.

Nope, she dropped the AM nap right around 1yr and now generally goes down around 11-12 for 2-3 hours. It's not even like she's waking to play, she just doesn't want to go to sleep in the first place. Wants to be out with me, out of the room, etc. Co-sleep is not an option, either, she won't do it.  

laura&dan05

Dd went through a phase where she'd wake up after putting her to sleep.  If I got her out of the crib she'd go running down the hall screaming.  She'd climb down the steps and tell me she wanted to watch tv (I would refuse to turn it on).  I tried giving her water or milk in a sippy to calm her or see if she was thristy but it didn't work.  This happened 3 -4 times and it was a big fiasco.

If she wakes up crying (I also use the 10 minute rule) and wanting to get out of the crib I have a routine in place.  I close her bedroom door and leave the light off.  I tell her that I will rock her but she can't leave the room because it's night time and everyone is sleeping.  I rock her and tell her it's dark and the moon is out and then I name all of the things that are sleeping.  I rock her for 10 minutes or so (she doesn't usually fall asleep) and then I lay her back down.  If she fights me or doesn't want to sit and rock I tell her she has 2 choices and explain I'll sit and rock her or she can go right back into her crib.  She always puts her arms up for me to pick her up and rock her when I give her those choices.

This is the routine that has worked for us.  In our case I just think she needs extra cuddle time. 

LucyPevensie

I think there's a big sleep disruption that happens around 18 months - I know we experienced it - and we were cosleeping.  He was restless and moving around and crazy all night long (or so it seemed at the time.)  And I was EXHAUSTED.  And then all of a sudden - he quit.  And went back to "normal."  I hope your little one quits soon too!  She may just grow out of it.  Their little brains are moving and developing so fast at this time in their lives - I think at various times it just really disrupts their sleep and they need a little help through it.  Good luck!!

laura1

Is she getting teeth?  I know my DS only does that when he is teething.  You said you gave her tylenol/orajel - for teething and when?  We found that we would give DS tylenol before bed, then we would sneak in and "dream feed" him a dose of ibuprofen before we went to bed (11pm-12am ish), and that would usually work to keep him from waking up.  

If we skipped the later dose, he was up crying until we went in to get him and it was the same thing - he just wants out of the crib and his room.  DS and DD share a room, and we would take him out so he wouldn't wake up his sister, then one of us would bring him downstairs to the living room.  We would give him a dose of ibuprofen then, but it takes a while to kick in, so we would let him run around for a while.  Then we put him back in his room with some books (or maybe even a toy car/truck) in his crib and the lights turned down really low.  He would play or read quietly until he fell back to sleep.  

If it is teething, I say just do what you can until those teeth pop through.  For us it was all about survival - and if he was awake but quiet in his room then the rest of us could sleep and then function at work the next day!  Thankfully I think he has finally cut his last 2 year molar, so we should be done teething for him...but now DD is working on her first 2 teeth...awesome. 

Good luck!! 

ShannonSky

laura&dan05:

Dd went through a phase where she'd wake up after putting her to sleep.  If I got her out of the crib she'd go running down the hall screaming.  She'd climb down the steps and tell me she wanted to watch tv (I would refuse to turn it on).  I tried giving her water or milk in a sippy to calm her or see if she was thristy but it didn't work.  This happened 3 -4 times and it was a big fiasco.

If she wakes up crying (I also use the 10 minute rule) and wanting to get out of the crib I have a routine in place.  I close her bedroom door and leave the light off.  I tell her that I will rock her but she can't leave the room because it's night time and everyone is sleeping.  I rock her and tell her it's dark and the moon is out and then I name all of the things that are sleeping.  I rock her for 10 minutes or so (she doesn't usually fall asleep) and then I lay her back down.  If she fights me or doesn't want to sit and rock I tell her she has 2 choices and explain I'll sit and rock her or she can go right back into her crib.  She always puts her arms up for me to pick her up and rock her when I give her those choices.

This is the routine that has worked for us.  In our case I just think she needs extra cuddle time. 

lol, I've done this same thing! The only thing that works fairly consistently is rocking her with the window open, and that only works if a breeze is blowing in, and she doesn't fall asleep, so when I put her back in her crib, she just starts the screaming routine all over. 

ShannonSky

LucyPevensie:

I think there's a big sleep disruption that happens around 18 months - I know we experienced it - and we were cosleeping.  He was restless and moving around and crazy all night long (or so it seemed at the time.)  And I was EXHAUSTED.  And then all of a sudden - he quit.  And went back to "normal."  I hope your little one quits soon too!  She may just grow out of it.  Their little brains are moving and developing so fast at this time in their lives - I think at various times it just really disrupts their sleep and they need a little help through it.  Good luck!!

That's what I suspect is going on (in combo with the eye teeth). She's been learning a LOT lately. I wish I could just bring her in bed and snuggle her, she would nnnnnnnnever sleep like that lol 

ShannonSky

laura1:

Is she getting teeth?  I know my DS only does that when he is teething.  You said you gave her tylenol/orajel - for teething and when?  We found that we would give DS tylenol before bed, then we would sneak in and "dream feed" him a dose of ibuprofen before we went to bed (11pm-12am ish), and that would usually work to keep him from waking up.  

If we skipped the later dose, he was up crying until we went in to get him and it was the same thing - he just wants out of the crib and his room.  DS and DD share a room, and we would take him out so he wouldn't wake up his sister, then one of us would bring him downstairs to the living room.  We would give him a dose of ibuprofen then, but it takes a while to kick in, so we would let him run around for a while.  Then we put him back in his room with some books (or maybe even a toy car/truck) in his crib and the lights turned down really low.  He would play or read quietly until he fell back to sleep.  

If it is teething, I say just do what you can until those teeth pop through.  For us it was all about survival - and if he was awake but quiet in his room then the rest of us could sleep and then function at work the next day!  Thankfully I think he has finally cut his last 2 year molar, so we should be done teething for him...but now DD is working on her first 2 teeth...awesome. 

Good luck!! 

Yes, it seems like she's been extra drooly/cranky/chewing for a while, these eye teeth are taking FOREVER to come through. I'll give the "dream feed" thing a try!