DESPERATE for advice

KevsLove

Hello ladies,

I am in sleep-avoidance/separation anxiety HELL!

This past Thursday my 18mo DD got a few shots at her Pedi then we flew into my hometown (just an hour flight). Once we got here all hell broke loose. My DD didn't want anyone to hold her and would scream bloody murder if I handed her off. Even sitting down, she wants to be on my. She also decided that she doesn't want to go to bed unless she is LITERALLY attached to me, including naps! She will fall asleep in my arms but will wake up and start crying and jumping in her crib if I put her down. She already doesn't sleep through the night and I can't keep bringing her into my bed.

 Today she had no nap till 6 freaking PM and now is screaming away in her room. I'm at a loss...

I am so, so exhausted and I've been getting so angry with her.

Please help.

ishka338

My guy had a rough time with the shots he got last week too.  He also caught MH's cold, so now he's sick too and has been a bear since Tuesday when he got his shots.  I know it's tough, but if sleeping with her makes it better, I say go for it.  I know it's not always the best solution, but I've found that sometimes the stress of trying to "fix" a problem is worse than just giving in.  For the record, I don't do it all the time, mostly just when he's sick or I know something is bothering him.  I also think the 2-year molars are trying to break through now.  My LO has been drooling so bad lately.  Maybe if your LO's teeth are bothering her, the plane ride may have made it worse if her ears didn't pop or something. 

I'm not sure if any of this helped, but I hope you figure something out and you and LO get some much needed rest soon.

march2008

So of course all children are different, but here are some things that work really well for my LO:

1) A consistent nap and bedtime - I try really, really hard to be mindful of her being home in time for her nap (1 pm) and bedtime (8pm) so that she is used to always sleeping in her crib.

2) A wind-down routine - this is crucial for my daughter. She has a hard time transitioning from play-time to sleep-times without it. I put her in her sleep sack, read 2-3 books, lights out, and then I nurse her and sing her some lullabies. She then goes into the crib awake, but drowsy. She has her special blanket and a stuffed toy in there that she likes.

There are occasional days here and there when she just forgoes the nap entirely, but even on those days, she'll relax in her crib and have quiet time. For bedtime, she usually chatters in the crib for awhile before falling asleep.

We've been doing this same routine since around 6-7 months, which was the time when I had reached my wits end with her crappy sleeping habits. The routine has helped tremendously and nap/bedtime is no longer a big stressful event for us anymore. 

As far as the separation anxiety goes - when you try to "hand her off" - are you doing so confidently, or do you tense up? I just ask this because kids are so smart and can read your emotions, so if you have reservations about handing her off (because of past experiences where she's been upset over it), then she might read into your tension and continually get upset when you do so. 

dannie2011

So after shots you went on a trip. An hour away is still not home, how often do you go there. Does your LO see these ppl often that you're trying to have hold her. If she doesn't see them a lot then she just may not be comfortable with them. She did just get shots and is not home. If she is teething that will not help either.  I wouldn't push the issue till you get back home.

magnoliablossom00

This is why we don't go on vacation. Ha. LO is an excellent sleeper at home, but is TERRIBLE on the road. It's hell. I am not willing to put myself through that again!

It sounds to me like her body might be sore from shots, and in addition to that, you aren't at home. I don't think there is much you can "do" right now. It will work itself out (or you can re-sleep train) after a couple of days back at home.

GL

lauracoro

Do you think she could be teething? Dd get super clingy when teething. If so it should passina few days.