slepping (or lack of ) with 2.3 year old HELP!

[MichC]

Sorry if this is a long one!

My DS is 2.3 and for the last 2 or three months has been in a toddler bed. As a baby he was a great sleeper, however, in the last couple of months before he went into a bed he would wake up and need to be settled, usually with a bottle. Since being in a bed he is still waking at least once a night. I have weaned him off of the bottle and now just go and tuck him in and that usually helps. However, over the last 3 weeks or so he has been driving me mad! Refusing to go to bed, getting up and down (his door is too narrow for a gate) and when he does eventually settle he wakes a couple of times in the night. I am currently 5 months pregnanat and knackered. DH doesn't generally hear him ( i think he is being honest) and when he does tries his best but gets frustrated. He keeps telling me DS is too young for a bed etc. I have tried tough love, just putting him back and not talking to him, I have tried reassuring him but nothing seems to work. I spent a good hour and a half last night with him refusing to go to bed and then up almost every hour until about 3.30. I can't go on like this. HELP!

Watching this with interest - sorry I can't help but can only sympathise. My DS2 is 2.5 yrs and has only just moved into a bed after climbing out his cot. He was an angel sleeper until we came back from holiday 3 weeks ago and something has triggered really bad sleep. Like your DS he wont settle in the evenings and constantly cries / gets out of bed unless I lie with him. Last night he was pretty much up and awake every 45 mins or so between 1 and 4 am.... He's always had a under-developed gag reflex and can be sick quite easily and he's made himself sick 3 time now from crying and getting so upset.

I've just bought the no-cry sleep solution for toddler and pre-schoolers so I'll let you know what plans I plan to put in place. Like your DH mine doesn't wake up whereas I'm awake as soon as he stirs as I dont want him crying and waking DS1. I do need a break though, its been like this for 3 weeks solid

Sounds like a plot to wear us out to me

Hope it is a phase that is over soon as i am not sure who will break first!!!

Lets hope there is a fairy godmother out there just waiting to wave her wand and give us the magic solution

Does your ds still have a nap?

My ds (22 months) is also getting up during the night, so I don't have any magic solutions - except that lately, I've started to cut down his nap to 1 hour and make sure he gets lots and lots of exercise during the day. It sort of helps, but ds has always been a rubbish sleeper so not totally successful.

DS gave up his 'real' nap about 4 or 5 months ago. Although when we pick him up from his grandparents after work he usually falls asleep on the journey home. Only for about 15 mins but don't think it helps. Have tried everything to keep hima awake but to no avail!!

My litte one is still napping in the day and I had thought that maybe he needs to drop this, but like I said he was fine until we got back from holiday... I think the problem was triggered byt he fact that he nd I shared a bed on holiday so he wasn't best impressed to be sleeping by himself when we got back! Been a nightmare since... Good luck for tonight!

My dd has never been a good sleeper but my pregnancy really effected her. She reverted back to getting up during the night and not eating properly. It stopped as soon as ds was born but started again 2 weeks ago

Even 15 minutes sleep would effect my dd's bedtime routine. I know it's hard to keep them awake in the car, I use raisins, frozen fruit juice lolly's or loud nursery songs.

I know exactly what it's like to be pregnant and have a non-sleeping toddler, it's torture. I think having a new baby and a non-sleeping toddler is easier.

Good Luck