Desperately need sleep advice for 2yo!

[HBmummy1]

Please can anyone give me constructive advice who's maybe been through similar problems...
My 2yo has never been a great sleeper at night and we are currently stuck in the same pattern: she goes to bed at 7, has a bath and a story in her room and I put her down awake in her cot and she falls asleep happily on her own. Sounds like a dream huh? No. She wakes up every night about 9pm screaming mummy cuddle! I go up, cuddle her and she falls asleep again. Repeat several times. On about the 3rd time she won't go back to sleep, despite cuddles. If I put her back in her cot she cries again. This can then go on for HOURS (the worst night it was 3am).
I've tried everything I can think of: putting her in her cot and not getting her out but staying in the room (she just stands there screaming at me), cuddling her and giving her more milk, putting her to bed later, making her afternoon nap shorter (1hr after lunch), wearing her out with loads of physical activity in the day. She has no tv for an hour before bed, she eats well in the day and is a very happy child. I know there's nothing physically wrong with her at night as she's quite happy if I get her out and give her attention, just doesn't want to sleep!
I tried to let her CIO for a couple of nights which was horrendous to the extent our neighbour felt the need to check we were OK the next day. Not doing that again!
Someone recommended a sleep expert but it is more than we can afford and I don't know what they can tell me that I haven't already tried.
Any advice greatly appreciated, ta x

[Iwillorderthefood]

This will sound mad, but tell her you love her, but that you need sleep too. That is after making sure that she is ok first. Ask her if anything is the matter. You might be surprised how much she can tell you.

I've been having lots of issues with my 2 year and this has helped me,

I found talking to her in the daytime helps, so a,, is not so fraught.

It's really tough going, hope something works soon.

[HBmummy1]

Thanks for the advice, I will try that. Her language is mostly words at the mo (she's only just 2) but I think she understands quite a lot. Yes I suppose talking to her when she's crying already isn't going to really get through X

[MrsHerculePoirot]

Try putting her in a bed instead of a cot? We did this with DD at 23 months and DS at 20 months as he was waking up and then screaming not wanting to go back to his cot (and then wouldn't sleep in our bed either). He loved his bed and would go back in it and after about a week stopped waking up. We had a cotbed and decided to try it knowing we could just turn it back if it made it worse! Best thing we did for him and our sleep.

[HBmummy1]

I've seriously considered this as we have a cot bed too, I was just worried that she would end up climbing out all the time. I'm willing to give anything a go though!
Tonight she woke up properly at 10 and we had crying for quite a while then she was quiet but could hear her singing and playing in her cot over the monitor. As long as she's happy I'm happy but I can't believe she's not tired, mad child!

[MrsHerculePoirot]

Worth a try if you are willing to put it back if needed! We just made room as safe as possible and found they often played a bit then went back to bed (thinking we didn't know!!)....

[MrsHerculePoirot]

But also remember whatever happens she will eventually grow out of it, or will reach an age where you can reason more easily. Horrific though when going through it - hang in there!

[HBmummy1]

Thank you so much, it's great to hear from people who have been through the same and come out the other side - gives me hope at least :)
I've spoken to her about it today, who knows how much she takes in but worth a shot and we might take the sides off her cot this week if no joy.