Would you have done this? Feeling a bit cruel!

[Narketta]

DD is 2yrs 3mths and has until recently gone down to sleep really well.

In the last month or so when put to bed she has taken to shouting MUUMMMMMYYYY!! at the top of her voice until I go back up to her and as soon as I walk in the room she laughs and lies down.

So tonight I put her to bed read a story kissed her goodnight and left the room, as soon as I got downstairs she started to shout so I went straight back up and said "It is time for bed night night" covered her back up and left the room again and went and sat in my bedroom. She continued to shout for 20 mins or so but she wasn't upset so I left her because in the past if i've gone in the shouting lasts longer as its now become a game for her.

When she realized she was getting nowhere she started to cry so I left her for 5 mins but then she really started to cry with anger so I went back in gave her a cuddle and told her again "Its time for bed" and covered her back up.

She's now gone to sleep but I feel cruel for letting her shout for so long then cry but I know that if I had gone back into her she would still be shouting me now, some nights she's still awake a 9.00.

Do you think I did the right thing? I have an older DS but never had this problem with him so its all new to me.

I think you did exactly the right thing....you went to her when she was upset but ignored the shouting. Sounds very sensible. I hope it was not too traumatic for you!

Sounds sensible to me.Similar thing i did with dd at night.She wakes with the sunrise atm though and sadly it doesn't work in the mornings

Thanks hambo, I hated every minute of it. Its just such a natural reaction to go to your child when they shout and it was really hard not to go to her.

I'm worried that she'll think I don't love her.

She has found a way to get you to jump to her tune. You did nothing wrong.

She won't think that. And she'll still love you just as much.

Yes, sounds exactly the right mixture of firmness and kindness to me. Sound like you handled it brilliantly.

Oh Mavis I feel for you! my DD is an early riser too, It's been 5am a couple of times recently. I bet our neighbours love us.

Yes, sounds exactly the right mixture of firmness and kindness to me. Sound like you handled it brilliantly.

Oh I agree you did the right thing. We have a similar scenario in this house. It's like a battle to see who can crack first. Think of the long term implications if you don't knock it on the head though.

Don't be daft - she will not remember in the morning! Give her an extra cuddle in the morning to make YOU feel better but she will be cheerful as she will have had a good sleep!

To worry about that you obviously love her heaps and she will just have snozzled off dreaming of cakes or skateboards.!!