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Behaviour/development

Sleepless in Hampton

9 replies

user1484615313 · 25/04/2017 13:09

My 2 year old dd has not slept properly since the day she was born. Hasn't slept through the night once. Very rarely does she fall asleep by herself when its bed time. I have tried everything. Every method that has been suggested. Nothing works. I have three other children. One with sn (14 year old dd). So we have to keep constant screaming to a minimum. She's just started nursery and when I picked her up today the teacher said she's throwing herself back when not getting attention. Which is dangerous as she's done it outside on the concrete. She has also done this with us at home and it's usually set off by her tiredness. It's having a big affect on her mood now and her behaviour. Any suggestions ?

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EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic · 25/04/2017 16:54

How is she apart from sleep and throwing herself backwards? Is she meeting her milestones? How's her speech?

If she's having difficulty with sleep, have a look to see if your library has <a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/No-Cry-Sleep-Solution-Toddlers-Preschoolers-x/dp/0071444912/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=814QB02TP061JFBNDQK0&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">this book.

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user1484615313 · 25/04/2017 17:44

Everything else is on point. She actually started walking and saying words quiet early. She's very friendly and really confident. But soon as it's sleep time. She's uncontrollable. Nothing has worked so far. She wakes multiple times during the night and it takes us ages to put her back to sleep.

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EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic · 26/04/2017 21:15

Sounds exhausting. What's her bedtime routine at the moment? Does she still nap in the day?

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user1484615313 · 26/04/2017 21:37

It sure is.
She does usually nap during the day. Around 12.30 ish. But now I'm struggling to get her to nap. Most days she will have a bath have her milk and bed around 7.30 -8pm.

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EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic · 26/04/2017 22:17

Ok, so how long is she napping for? When she has her bath, milk and bed what starts to go wrong? Is she having a story when she's in bed?

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user1484615313 · 26/04/2017 23:37

A nap is between an hour to two hours. After bath I Dress her (sing and talk while doing this)
Then get her warm milk. Tuck her in. No books. Switch off lights with just a night light on. Kiss goodnight. Out the room. She lays there for about 5 minutes and then calls out or cries. I do come in the room to re assure her. Which seems to make her cry into a scream (As I leave the room.)This carries on for hours. Shes strong willed so doesn't give up easily. i usually give up as I can't have her screaming that long.

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buckyou · 27/04/2017 07:59

Have you tried just leaving her and not going back in? My DD is similar, she's not quite 2 yet. I do normally go to her because I'm too soft and don't like her upset but I think it makes the situation worse to be honest!

Maybe you are expecting her to have a bit too much sleep with the long nap and relatively early bedtime? What time does she get up? Could try limiting her nap to 1 hour and get her up early so she's definitely tired. Then put her to bed and leave her to it.

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EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic · 27/04/2017 16:14

Personally, I'd limit her nap to 1.5 hours as that's 2 full sleep cycles, but agree that the nap does need cutting down on the days that she's sleeping for 2 hours, as tempting as it is to leave her.

I know you're not reading to her. Is there a reason for this? Does she have music or a light show on.

My first was a shocking sleeper, so you have my sympathy. One thing I learned along the way is that they need strong sleep associations. I did bath, milk (always in their bedroom, there was no way they were going back downstairs), bed, books, kiss goodnight then I'd put on the same music, and leave the room. They always had their favourite teddy and a skippy cup they could reach with some water. That worked for us. The problem with my DS wasn't going to sleep, it was staying asleep as he had medical issues which meant he often woke screaming in pain.

Have you managed to have a look at the book? Smile

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user1484615313 · 27/04/2017 19:03

I have left her to just cry it out and does eventually fall asleep. But then wakes very quickly crying again. I'm assuming this is because she screamed her way to sleep.
The naps are too long and it's really my fault for letting her sleep for that long. It's just sometimes that's the only me time I get. So I leave her to it.
She doesn't seem to enjoy listening To me read to her. She gets a bit restless and I wanted to avoid anything that will distress her before sleep. I give her teddy to sleep with. But no music.
I have just ordered the book.
Thank you. Can't wait to get stuck in.
Also. I think she may be having night terrors. As she wakes up screaming and sweaty within an hour of falling asleep. This has been happening for a few weeks now. But along side this she still wakes multiple times during the night.
I'm waiting for her two year check up to mention the night terrors. If it is that.

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