DD (3 years) sleep WWYD?

[LordGarmadon]

DD attended childcare throughout the pandemic lockdown due to DH and me being keyworkers. There were very few children and she was fine.

Since going back to "proper" preschool after half term she's been a wreck. The bubbles raised lots of questions and caused anxieties and sadness.

She cried herself to sleep for the first 2 weeks and I slept in her bed with her... she just hasn't been able to get back to any sort of normal sleep pattern since. She just can't seem to fall to sleep at bedtime no matter what we do... I stay in her bed, in her room, leave her room, we have a bedtime routine, we've tried introducing some yoga an hour before bed... I don't know what to do for the best...

...help! WWYD?

@LordGarmadon exactly. Our weeks consisted of preschool, forest school, shopping, days out, visits with family and suddenly that all stopped and we sat inside for a long time. There’s no way my children wouldn’t have noticed such a dramatic change.

OP we have had similar. DD is 3.5 and has always been a cautious child with vocabulary and comprehension well ahead of many of her peers (noted by teachers and educators not just us thinking she is a pfb). Because of this she asks more in depth questions and it's been challenging to answer her but keep it age appropriate so I understand where you are coming from.
Our DD also appears very ok at daycare but most of her worries and questions come out at bedtime. We've been assured this is totally normal as she sees us as her safe place where she knows she can let it all out and we are there for her.
We have had huge changes here too- pulled out of daycare, all usual activities curtailed, arrival of DS at beginning of lockdown. At each change it has taken 2-3 weeks to adjust and I found the following helped:

• talking about and naming feelings
• talking about why she's feeling those things and where it has come from

-talking about an practicing together some ways to acknowledge and cope with the feelings

• giving her enough wind down time after coming home. When we rushed her routine because it was getting late we found it wound her up more because she hadn't decompressed.
• having reasonable boundaries around her bedtime routine and behaviors but responding to outbursts and constant call outs with love/comfort (and some nights much wine for us!)

-getting down and playing with her when she got home so some of her thoughts came out them rather than all at bedtime.

• just lots of hugs and cuddles at bedtime over the few weeks she was adjusting.

Good luck- your DD is lucky to have a mum who obviously cares so much about her emotional well being and development.

Forgot to mention DD is back at daycare now and we had similar issues over the first 3ish weeks she was back. So much change for all our little ones!