2 year old wakes up more than the newborn!

[MonstersDontCry]

My just turned 2 year old DD has always been an awful sleeper. We have come so far with her. 6 months ago she was co sleeping, bfing to sleep and waking every hour. We managed to night wean her, into her own bed in her own room, with just 1 or 2 wakings.

Then DS was born and everything has gone horribly wrong.

Last night DS (5 weeks old) woke up twice. DD woke up 7 times. The night before, it was 11 times. Most of the time she will go back to sleep within a few minutes but most nights, there will be at least one time where she will just cry and scream and throw herself about and refuse to go back to sleep.

I dread bed times as they take an hour +. The evening is also DSs time to get fussy and cluster feed. It's so stressful.

All thus wouldn't be a problem if DD would let DP go to her occasionally. She only wants me. If DP goes to her she goes mental.

I know this is her way of showing her jealously of DS.

What can I do? I'm exhausted. Sometimes I don't have time to get back to sleep at night without her waking up again. I really can't go on like this.

Thanks for reading. Sorry it's so long. Also posted in sleep.

No answers i'm afraid, but loads of sympathy. my DD was a good sleeper but it has gone haywire since DS was born. Some nights it is like a relay with one kicking off as soon as I've got the other settled. So, I think you're right - it is a reaction to the new baby. No idea how to fix it (other than time) which is of no help to you.

Thanks hawkeye21. I'm glad I'm not the only one! I have a friend on Facebook that constantly moans about her young baby waking up twice a night. I wish!

Do you mind me asking how long ago you had your DS?

He's now 7 weeks old. DD is 2.10.

Is she old enough to respond to bribery? I would think through the routine at bedtime and then explain what you expect of her and then try a sticker chart with one sticker for not making a fuss at bedtime and another in the morning if she manages to stay in bed all night without screaming/ yelling/ shouting.

I tried the sticker chart idea but I think she is too young at the moment. I'll definitely being using that idea later on if I need to, so thanks for that.

DS had a bad night too last night. Nearly the while night out of bed. One would go back to sleep, and the other would wake up. I had them both up and screaming at the same time at one point. I'm ashamed to admit that I shouted at DD last night. She had woken up so many times and I was so tired. I know that's no excuse.

I don't know how much longer I can cope with this.

While = whole

Feeling your pain, monsters, sorry to hear you're at the end of your tether. Things seemed to be going quite well with the newborn sleep thing so we thought we'd take the side off the 2yo's cotbed. He is now wailing at the door about 6 times a night, and in relay with the infant, before deciding at 5am to play the stairgate bongos with any hard item from his room. Sending hugs and hoping for an amazing magic solution from wise MN-ers.