struggling to cope

[mummyof2girls]

im a single mum with a 13m old and a 2 year old, and as you can imagin its a nightmare, i just can't cope.
my little one screams all night, i have tried controlled crying for 6months solid but it simply does not work. she is up and down every hour after the first 3 hours of sleep she wakes stands up and screams at the top of her lungs, i have tried everything - any suggestions?
my 2 year old is 2 - need i say more, she does not listen to a word i say, she hits and pushes her sister constantly so its difficult to stay in.
i have real trouble getting out and about because of the pair of them are so naughty eg... not wanting to sit in the buggy - running off when they are out of it, tantrums ect. i feel resentfull that my life is like this especialy as i have no help. i just dont know how to make things better.

oh dear, i feel you have it very hard. with regards to the sleeping, my friend got numbers for a sleep clinic which helped. there are some really good ones with follow up. all on the nhs. do u live in london as i could ask her about it. u shoul definately ask your doctor/hv.

i really feel for u.

thanks olek, my friend takes her dd to a sleep cliniq so i try follow what she does, without much luck!. i feel a bit better after having a rant! i suppose i just have to accept that things will get better with time and i will not always be in this situation.

whereabouts are you?

what kind of routine does your youngest have during the day?

i think they tailor it to what your own child needs. with my friend they wanted to know in detail everything that happens.

for example, my friend was giving a bottle to bed, so they recommended giving it before bed, so that when she wakes in the night, she doesnt need a bottle to go back to sleep.

i wouldnt rely on what they tell your friend, but go yourself.

once you get sleep, it will be easier. You will have more energy.

my youngest sleeps for an hour and a half in the day, usualy 4 hours after she wakes. luckly both my girls are in bed by 7.00 most evenings as my eldest has cut out napping in the day. that is my sanity saver, as i get to spend some time to myself.
they have set meal times and a good bedtime routine, she does not fall asleep on milk, she falls asleep herself but i have to bee in the room, i have tried the kiss and retreat plan to get her to sleep without me being there but it did not work as she screams till she is sick.
i think your right about going to sleep cliniq, i keep putting it of as i tell myself she will grow out of it soon, im lucky as my dd1 sleeps 13 hours a night and does not wake once even through her sisters screaming.

you could try cutting her daytime nap down to see if that makes her tireder at night?

when she screams at night what do you do?w
when ds cries i go in, give him a cuddle, pop dummy back in and snuggle him down... i don't usually leave until he is quiet.
i will repeat this indefinitely until he is asleep.

i think it's a much easier/calmer method than controlled crying... ds for one just gets more and more upset if i do that!

totally understand if you don't want to.. but if you said vaguely where you are then people may know of places local to you that may be able to help out?

How about some help during the day - say from a Surestart volunteer?