Struggling.....that's it really!

[birchykel]

I have an 18month old who has never slept properly and I'm struggling! On a good night she will maybe wake once and then again at 5 and if I'm lucky she will have some milk and go back down till 7. But even that is exhausting. She has a dummy which I'm planning on taking away in the next couple of days as this could also be why she wakes. But any ideas?
Her behaviour is also concerning me, she is hitting, and when she can't hit me she will go in a rage with her toys, at the mo I put her in the hallway and say no hitting, but she runs back to where I am so I ignore her for a minute but she doesn't seem bothered, she may just carry on playing or try to kiss me better.

I am really finding it all too much at the mo, not sure why as know I'm not the only one but I just feel I can't cope.

Any ideas on what I should do?

Accept that she's 18 months and too young to be put in the hall. Continue to be firm about the hitting, but just set her down and walk away.

Co sleep.

Do not take away the dummy, put several in her bed so she can find them in the middle of the night.

She is 18 months!

Sorry but this all sounds very normal. I would suggest a parenting course and lots of honest interaction with other Mums (not necessarily your Mum), also if you have a good HV they may be able to advise. Maybe read something like "Toddler Taming".

Sleep sounds similar to my 20 month old. No suggestions- think its just how some small children are. I am hoping that in a few months a combination of a Gro Clock and bribery will be another option to stop the early mornings and night wakings. It is tiring but manageable if I get some early nights myself.

Re behaviour I agree that she's far too young for time out - think my older DC was nearer 3 before this was an understandable concept. Just keep saying no!

Thanks for advice, I guess I know it's normal but I have a ten year old girl and guess its a shock again, my eldest was a good sleeper and didn't do this so I was lucky.....know I shldnt compare and usually i don't but on bad days I admit I do. Early nights for me will help incase of a bad night. I'm still taking dummy away during the day but will keep it for night time and put a few in the cot.

As for putting her in the hallway our house is small and the hallway is tiny she can see me and I her, whilst I agree timeout is not appropriate for her age this really isn't like a time out as I put her there say no hitting and then walk away but she is up quick following me and I just ignore her for a minute.....if I don't remove her from the situation then she (very sweetly) kisses me or whatever and whoever she has hit at the time. Then laughs and carries on playing.

I am going to speak to hv for more ideas on this.

Like I said know its normal,and I'm not alone but guess others cope better sometimes. I'm a good mum and deep,down know what I'm doing I just get upset and think I'm doing a bad job at times.

TAke away the milk.before the dummy. offer water when she wakes in the night and put four hundred slight exaggeration dummies in her cot. Get firm and stop giving milk in the night. She will stop waking for it.

Behaviour wise seems normal, and I think she might be a little young for time out sort of punishments - I dont think they can link this cause and effect quite yet - ignore strops and remove her from stuff she shouldnt be touching and put her next to stuff she can touch.

I.know lots.of people like cosleeping and each to their own, but if you havent coslept before now, I really wouldnt introduce it.

Yes I haven't co slept before and it isn't for me. She doesn't even like laying on the bed with me in the mornings so I won't be trying that.
She doesn't always wake for milk but lately at 5am she cries for it. And if I'm honest I give it to her so I can hopefully get her back to sleep and I can go back to bed also.....so it is my own fault there.
She still has milk before bed and when she wakes properly in the morns.....is this normal for anyone else?

Tantrums I let her get on with, she rolls on floor and screams but I leave her to it and as long as she is safe I will ignore and she soon stops. She doesn't really touch what she shldnt it is just the hitting and throwing toys in a Rage.
While its normal behaviour I want to nip in the bud now before she goes to nursery etc. I will give it all a go though, it's hard in a small house where her toys take over the lounge and putting her down in the lounge and ignoring her she just gets hump has a moan then plays again.......maybe that's fine though I don't know ??

Happy new year by the way!