Just bloody lie down!! HELP!!

[hasanyoneseenbarb]

Went on holiday 2 weeks ago, DD who is 2 was in with room with us in a cot but would not settle at all or lie in the cot just standing and screaming constantly, she of course ended up sleeping in with us.

Usually a good sleeper but since coming home she will not lie in her cot at all. She seems to settle after her bath having stories and quiet time.

After borrowing a video monitor from a friend we have discovered she is literally standing up in the cot leaning her head on the bar not attempting to settle at all or scared to lie down (muslin sleeping bag on so can't climb out thank god!)

She will do this for hours and seemingly has been the previous few nights then waking hysterical when she does eventually fall asleep stood up.

I have no idea what to do? It's heartbreaking to watch and we haven't let it carry on more for worry of her falling asleep on her neck!

Should we change her to a cot bed? With a bar? Has anyone else had this at all?!

Any advice at all is welcome

Settle her in bed and transfer her when asleep? Does she have a pillow in the cot? Can you get a comfier mattress? Does she have a nightlight?

As she is 2, I’d be tempted to get rid of the cot and move to a toddler bed. Baby gate on her door so she can’t get out and wander through the night.

Pressed enter too soon.

My eldest DC went into a toddler bed aged 16 months as was climbing out of his cot. No issues with getting up and wandering and settled just fine.

I think the cot bed is the way we should go. Tonight she is being settled by daddy but we will try a bed and guard tomorrow xx

I would second going for the toddler bed. We've just done this with DD and she is much happier. But it does take some training to get them to stay in bed. Just keep turning her around whenever she comes out.

We've got a baby gate at the top of the stairs and one of us stays upstairs for half and hour to head off and shenanigans.

Two weeks in and she's dropping off pretty quickly once in bed.

Be firm. Sleep is good for them but they fight it like you're trying to deprive them of fun.

It can’t hurt to try.

Do you have to change her bed into a cot bed, or do you have a different bed?

When mine moved to a toddler bed, they fell asleep in their cot, and then I transferred them into the toddler bed he first night, just so it wasn’t a strange bed to fall asleep in. Worked with all three DC.

DS did this at 2, we put him in a single bed and he's been great ever since (fingers crossed it stays that way!)

So we put her in the cot tonight she was initially hysterical but I led with her until she fell asleep. Not perfect but definitely progress as it's the first times she's fell asleep in the cot at all in 9 days!

Thanks for the advice everyone now we just need to work out a gradual regret strategy......

I'd change to a bed. DS1 was 2 when we moved house and although we virtually recreated his bedroom as it was in the other house he point blank refused to lie in his cot that first night. We put his mattress on the floor and he fell asleep in minutes, so we put the toddler bed up the next day.

At 2 and a half we put ours in a small double bed! It’s been perfect, he doesn’t fall out, loves it, settles quick. If you have space I am a huge advocate of doubles for kids, when he needs comfort or is poorly we can just lay beside him. It’s a godsend. Also, worth noting he never gets out! So not always a problem, In the morning waits (chatting and playing) till we appear!