Sleep

[Tinchytigger]

Please help! Our DD1 (2), has suddenly decided after 2 years that she doesn't want to go to bed or sleep at all. She wakes in the night constantly. After 2 months we sought advice. We now put her in bed, stroke her once, walk out. She instantly follows and this is then repeated for 3-6 hours. We are on night 3 and no improvement. Anyone done this with success.

Luckily this didn't happen with us, but I think at this age we had a baby gate on her door - however, if she woke and didn't re-settle, I tended to get her out of bed and do something else for a little while and then put her back to bed.

Thanks Beamur, baby gate sounds like a plan. I certainly couldn't shut the door on her.

Good ideas from QTP - if she's not been used to one, it could take a little gentle introduction first.
I used one as soon as I changed DD from her cot to a cot bed because I was worried about DD wandering about in the dark, but she really liked the gate and used to close it behind her when she played in her room, it made it her own little space. She cried and cried when we took it down!
Personally I'm wasn't keen on using tactics where DD got worked up and upset - it just seemed to take even longer to get her to sleep - but I do realise it works for some people.

Thank you both for your invaluable ideas!