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DD (2.8yo) sleep and making herself sick

1 reply

notadoctor · 02/08/2014 22:27

My D.D (2.8yo) has always been a terrible sleeper. Out of desperation we put a double bed in her room and started co-sleeping with her when I was pregnant with DC2. At first she was happy to be put to bed on her own in her own room and then DH or I would join her in the middle of the night if she woke up. We thought things were improving but since DS arrived it's been terrible sleep wise (although she is great with him during the day).

Now only I will do - she goes bananas if DH goes to her at night. So, I now spend basically every night in there (with DS - now 4months in the Moses Basket next to us).

Also, she now won't self settle and needs me to sit with her until she's asleep. The worst is she wakes every hour in the evening screaming for me to come to her. I feel like I don't get a minute to myself and it's not good for mine and DHs relationship.

We want to change her habits and so DH over the last few nights, DH has been going to her in the evenings instead of me. She has been getting so worked up and upset she has been being sick - the thing is I think she is making herself sick on purpose because as soon as I go to her she is calm and chatty.

How do we break this horrible cycle? She's very imaginative and I do think she has nightmares sometimes but I also think she's just got in the habit of having me there. Help!

OP posts:
OutragedFromLeeds · 03/08/2014 00:48

It's a tricky one. I think the best thing might be to address all the sleep issues at once and really stick with it. I'd stop staying with her until she is asleep, stop co-sleeping, stop going to her in the evening.

Could you get a night nanny for a few weeks? They should be able to help you with sleep training.

What you need to do is solve the problem rather than papering over the cracks.

Introduce a bedtime routine and stick with it. Use the 'stay in bed' technique or gradual withdrawal, whichever you feel most comfortable with for going to bed. Then use either controlled crying or pat-sshh method for any wakings.

Talk to her about the new system, explain why it's happening. Do a sticker chart, with a sticker for going to bed nicely and staying in bed. Get anything you think would help e.g. a nightlight, a bunny clock, new 'big girl' duvet cover etc and then go for it.

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