Sleep issues

NWmommy1112 · May 2013

Hi everyone! I have a 22 month old daughter, my husband and I can't get her to go to bed at night an she has NEVER slept through the night! We have tried rocking her to sleep, letting her cry it out, a night light, teddy bears, an just last night we moved her bed in our room to see if it would help, she woke up at 1 and didnt go back to sleep until 4! Also we have a 7 month old son, he sleeps through the night but we our daughter cries he wakes, My husband works long hours an Im the one who has to deal with all the tears. I really would like some suggestions.

adellel · May 2013

Wow, that's too bad! Have you tried anything like a security blanket or a sound machine? Is she full enough before bed?

NWmommy1112 · May 2013

we have tried blankies an she wouldnt have anything to do with it. We bought a cd player an lullaby cd an it worked for a while but she started getting up an turning the music up so we took the cd player out of her room... it might be that! She has pretty big lunches an doesnt ask for anything else to eat...

adellel · May 2013

The only time my son wakes up anymore is if he is sick or hungry. We try to give him a snack before bed and a big glass of milk. That seems to help. Best of luck!

TiffanyBerry · May 2013

I have a 3 year old. She also doesn't sleep through the night. (Her primary reason for waking is when she pees; I change her diaper and she goes back to sleep most of the time. If she's got a stuffy nose, however, she tosses and turns all night long...)

In my opinion, since you cannot make another human being sleep (short of drugging them), it makes far more sense to work on her behavior when she does wake up. Yes, yes - it is important to rule out the things getting in the way of her sleeping - too hot/cold, hungry/thirsty, wet diaper, too bright/dark, scared, lonely, physically uncomfortable, etc.) But after all that, I would work on the behavior.

Figure out what IS. Acceptable behavior for her if she wakes in the middle of the night. Can she turn on a light and read a book? Can she play with stuffed animals, but has to leave the light off? Can she come and get into your bed? Obviously, loud noises are right out. And once you figure out the rules, enforce them. Take away privileges for bad behavior, reward good behaviors, and so on.

TiffanyBerry · May 2013

To be clear, I did not say to just shrug your shoulders and say oh well. I'm saying that you can't make the child sleep, that's all. You can teach them not to wake other people up.

TiffanyBerry · May 2013

No problem. I didn't mean to sound snarky about it. I have so not yet adapted (myself) to my daughter dropping her nap nearly three weeks ago. Maybe if she's sleep through the night some day... Let's just say my brain no worky good.

NWmommy1112 · May 2013

The CIO was only two nights my husband does not agree with letting her cry herself to sleep. He has been trying to convince me to let her sleep with us, but in my opinion our bed is for us and us alone. I'm so fustrated. She usually eats toast an a glass of water. I have checked her diaper every time some times shes wet sometimes not.

namara5532 · May 2013

Two nights isn't long enough for CIO to work. When I did it with DS at 5 months, I had to stick with it for a week before I saw real progress. Your DD is older and may need at least a week if not two for it to really work. Just remember that CIO doesn't necessarily mean close the door and never check on her. It means not taking her out of the crib as you go in every few minutes to just let her know you're still there.

Setting some rules for waking might be a good idea too. You can't force her to sleep, but you can say that if she plays quietly she can have a light on or something similar. If it was me, I would at least say she's not allowed out of her room until morning.

That's just my opinion though. Every family situation is different, and I hope you find a solution soon.

tbmadeamistake · May 2013

Maybe your DH would be happier with a modified CIO? One that makes him feel as though he's really responding to her needs? We do ten minute increments. Cry for ten minutes, we go in and soothe (though we don't pick up), and then cry for another 10 minutes. We did that for as long as it took for two nights, and on the third she just sort of went with it and only cried for a few minutes. We haven't had any problems since then. Obviously different babies will take more or less time, but maybe if you can have him agree to a plan that doesn't make him feel helpless? It is hard. I agree that your bed is for you and you alone, we don't let our LO into our bed either (except when she gets up too early on the weekends, then she plays in between us while we try to snooze a little longer). GL!

NWmommy1112 · May 2013

Well I thought I should let you know that I talked to my husband and he lets her cry for 5 minutes he checks on her three times then he goes 10 minutes. the first night was ruff she cried for hours, the second night 1 1/2 hours, tonight only a half hour! She is sleeping tro the night thanks to a stuff teddy an her lullaby cd. thank u for the suggestions

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Sleep issues

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