P has been sleeping with us. She has a toddler bed now, and we are trying to transition her to it fully. The problem is - she's scared. She has nightmares/night terrors, wakes up screaming, etc. She also says that she's scared, and shakes. She used to be a great sleeper! She sleeps fine if she's in bed with us too, with a few wake/scream sessions.
The past several nights, we've been trying to have her sleep in her room. It's going OKish, but kinda cruddy. We put a baby gate in her doorway so that the door isn't closed. (She screams bloody murder if it's closed, and it's heartbreaking.) Well, dangit if she didn't climb over the gate. Twice. And fell on her head. She didn't care, she just wanted out. She didn't even make a big deal, just said "I have a owie right there." One kiss & she was fine about the fall.
So, the million dollar question - How do I get her to not be scared? I don't want to do CIO too much, because she IS scared. DH & I talked about needing a plan, so help me?
Goodies for everyone!
Re: Help please! (sleep issues)
I'm curious what others will chime in with because G is very uncomfortable playing outside in the dark when I get home from work. She'll comment over and over again about how dark it is, and ask to go inside. I haven't found a way to ease her discomfort, and I could see it snowball into being afraid of the dark in other places.
Some off the cuff ideas: Party with stuffed animals on her bed in the dark. Use glow sticks. Take her to the planetarium. Then get one of those things that project stars on the ceiling for her room.
Also, have you tried sleeping in her room with her? You might be able to transition to less and less time in there with her.
What was the reasoning behind a transition to a toddler bed? Was she resisting the crib? Maybe she wasn't ready to come out of the crib?
I'm wondering myself, because A seems to want out of the crib, but in my heart I know he is not ready for a bed. I just know him and I know he would be scared with that much openness...but I also know that I cannot allow him to hurt himself climbing out all the time. So we are in very much the same boat.
Bonus - the cats will love it too. LAWL!
These kids. They don't want a crib. They don't want a bed. They are a mystery wrapped in an enigma...
I really like enjoylife's suggestion. We had a friend that did that with one of their twins and it eventually worked.
Also, C has a Spoka nightlight from Ikea -
(https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30150984/)
Sorry no clicky, Chrome, but he really likes it! You charge it and then it unplugs and they can take it to bed. It's soft so won't hurt if they roll on it and it changes colors turquoise/blue/green or you can make it stay on one color. (There's a red one too but maybe not great for sleeping!) Seriously, kid loves this thing. Sometimes we feel it makes it a take a little longer to go to sleep but he doesn't get upset at all when he has it, just stares at the pretty light, ha ha!
If she's scared of the dark I would definitely add a nightlight.
From what I've read you say about P she seems to comprehend things, and verbalized really well. So maybe talking to her about it and reading a book about a girl who sleeps in her own bed at night might help. It might be worth a try!
I like that idea for a night light! Right now A uses his FP seahorse because it glows and has the soft light to it, but I wonder what will happen if he decides he's done with the horse and scared of the dark. Or if I go cuckoo from the same lullaby over and over again :-0 Kiddo plays with the night lights in our hallways as it is so they are strategically placed behind gates.
I also agree with halo's suggestion about the book. A loves books and he adjusted really well to baby brother coming on the scene and I think its because we played the book hype up so much. hmm...i need to do the same for potty training but that's a different post. Good luck and hope you guys all get some sleep soon!