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Sleep

2.5yo suddenly impossible to get to bed

14 replies

MummyElk · 16/09/2010 20:56

help pls!! our DD1 has been pretty good at sleeping since we sleep trained her at 8 months. since the birth of DD2 6months ago, it's been very much all over the shop...bearing in mind she's also been potty trained, and put into a big bed over that time too.
So, currently, we do the same routine we have always done....bath, upstairs, pjs, story and then lights out.
DD2 goes down at the same time.
We CANNOT get her to stay in her bed....Confused

We've tried:

  • stair gate/not allowing her out of her bedroom
  • supernanny (record was 47 put downs in 30 minutes)
  • basically ignoring her (she's currently brought her bedding downstairs and is now leaning on me, kissing me very gently) (yes, i am ignoring her Smile)
  • pleading
  • explaining
  • being angry (weary Smile)
  • rewards
  • cutting out naps (this is nigh on impossible, whilst she doesn't actually go to bed in the day any more, she falls asleep at the drop of a hat in the car or on the sofa) (not to mention the nightmare hour as we near bedtime)
  • cuddling her in her bed until she falls asleep (takes HOURS)


Short of spiking her bedtime drink Hmm what the hell do we do next?!!!
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fromheretomaternity · 16/09/2010 21:23

We have a 2.5 year old and the same problem - used to sleep fine but the past few days has been a total nightmare. Wants to have us sitting in the room with him while he goes to sleep - but even if he seems fast asleep, he wakes up as soon as we tiptoe out so given up on that strategy.

Right now trying the 'leaving him to cry' approach and feeling pretty rotten. I know if I go in to comfort him it will just backfire as he will scream even louder as soon as I leave.

He is still in a cot so at least he can't escape...

So no solutions but waiting to hear what others have to say.

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fromheretomaternity · 16/09/2010 21:40

bedtime was an hour and a half ago. started crying 45 minutes ago and hysterical now. have been in a couple of times but it just winds him up more.

wtf do i do...

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nameymcnamechange · 16/09/2010 21:43

You should have stood firm on the rapid return to bed thing. Sit outside her bedroom door with a book or magazine if needs be and do not let her come downstairs. You just need to be consistent, tis all.

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MummyElk · 17/09/2010 07:48

Honestly, namey we did, we did three weeks of sitting outside her bedroom and leading her straight back to bed, it didn't work. Five hours later she was still doing it and more wound up than before, she thought it was hilarious. (and it was well past our bedtime). That's every night. For three weeks. Hence us losing count after 47 times!!
I knew she was stubborn but recent events are outdoing themselves!

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MummyElk · 17/09/2010 08:07

Sorry fromhere am rubbish at posting from iPhone.
What time did he go down in the end? DD finally fell asleep at 9.35, I sat in the chair in her room until she gave in.
Awful isn't it? Poor you

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fromheretomaternity · 17/09/2010 13:24

Went into his room about quarter to ten and he was so tired he literally fell asleep standing up while I stood there with him - he was then too tired to protest when I left. Up in the night so DH went and did a few slightly tetchy "shh"s and he did go back to sleep.

Just put him down for lunchtime nap and he's gone off after some crying in about 10 minutes which is not too bad... terrified now of making any noise in the house though! Don't know what on earth will happen when ds2 arrives in about 7 weeks time...

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fromheretomaternity · 17/09/2010 20:06

Ha ha he didn't nap at lunchtime after all... spoke too soon... crying for last 5 mins since I put him down though only intermittently right now so am going to leave him to it for a while until he (inevitably) gets hysterical.

A few nights back I was putting him to bed without a whimper and didn't hear from him for 12 hours. What happened???

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MummyElk · 20/09/2010 12:10

need to bump this perhaps, or start a new thread... getting nowhere very fast (hence my lack of MN time too)
we are spending all evening trying to get her back to back....
fromhere at least he's still doing his daily nap - can you try and move it earlier/later? Having some sort of time when you have your new LO will be, er, useful!!! at least.
(and get yourself a decent sling, not sure what i would have done without mine)

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InmaculadaConcepcion · 20/09/2010 19:43

ah, MummyElk, sympathy!!!

Can't offer any advice, but wanted you to know I'm sending your DD1 loads of sleepy stay-in-bed vibes...

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MummyElk · 20/09/2010 22:00

thank you IC, thank you Grin much appreciated. I'll tell her even people who've had other more exciting things on their minds this weekend have decided she is well and truly out of order Smile - anyway - Feliz Cumpleanos (i don't know - and if i did i'm too tired anyway - how to do the squiggly thing over the n)
hope YOUR DD1 doesn't take any of this on board?!!!!

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JiggeryPopery · 20/09/2010 22:05

With the stairgate on her bedroom door, exactly what did you do, she do, and why did you remove it?

tbh if she's not hurting herself trying to get out, I would put her to bed, explain, say goodnight and leave her to stand by the stairgate to 2am if she wants - but no attention in this time, no eye contact, don't bother putting her back in bed, leave her to it. Bore her into bed!

How does she react to sticker charts?

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InmaculadaConcepcion · 21/09/2010 19:08

Thanks for the birthday wishes, MummyElk - don't worry, I can't do the enyay thingy either!!

And I don't allow DD to read any of the threads on MN in case she gets ideas Grin

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MummyElk · 21/09/2010 19:38

Hi Jiggery - we removed it because she was wrecking the room, every night. She took all the clothes out of the wardrobe (hers and her sisters, she emptied the drawers, she stripped the bed, she did whatever she could to be a PITa - and despite making NO comment about it, tbh it wasn't worth the hassle. I would absolutely not mind her standing by the stairgate, even screaming by the stairgate, but it was the bombshell of a bedroom that we faced that did it for us! I don't know if we did wrong there tho? WDYT?

The sleep fairy is still tantalising her with the prospect of a present if she behaves, (sort of doesn't work really if she doesn't ever behave though, does it? Hmm) and the only thing that is really working is the Threat of the Travel Cot (which she can't get out of). She is there now, for night two. And She Is ASLEEP.

maternity are you still lurking and is life any better?

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MrsJamin · 21/09/2010 19:41

According to this blog, there's a 2 1/2-3 yr sleep regression, so hopefully This Too Shall Pass? Mine fights naps but thankfully goes to bed ok after reading in bed for a while. Can you try that with a special reading light?!

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