Toddler sleep regression

[Peep23]

Not really looking for any advice here - just a hand hold!

DC1 -2.5yrs, has always been a great sleeper. Would just pop her down, leave the room and she’d chat to herself quietly until she dozes off and she’d sleep through no problem.

Thats until a week ago when severe separation anxiety kicked in and she started to scream when I left the room - every.single.time.

For a few days I tried the classic super nanny, back to bed don’t engage tactic but she’d work herself up into such a frenzy it would take HOURS until eventually she would either pass out crying or be so exhausted I could rub her back a couple of times and she’d be out.

For the past few nights I’ve started trying the gradual withdrawal method where I sit, don’t engage and she falls asleep just knowing I’m there - slowly moving away from the bed incrementally. Tonight it took about half an hour for her to doze off but I’ve now been sat here on the floor since she woke up at 4.45 as every time I leave the room when she’s asleep she wakes up as soon as the bloody door closes.

i know these things all pass and it’s a phase, but I have DC2 due in 2 weeks so I dread to think how I am going to manage then!

Not a single parent btw - but if my partner goes in all HELL breaks loose so I’m taking the burden for now.

Sigh! Send me luck!

That should have said 3.45 🤦‍♀️

Ah good luck, I'm going through something very similar with mine just now!

2.5 year old, always been a good sleeper, now he's just not wanting to stay in bed and go to sleep straight away in the evenings like he used to. He's also waking up in the night and coming through to our room, REPEATEDLY. I was up 3-5am a few nights ago, poor thing must be exhausted (like me!).

Last night was a bit better, I took him to bed slightly later than usual (by 15 mins) but he started getting upset as I was leaving his room, so I offered to come back and check on him ten minutes later after putting the baby to bed. He seemed happy with this (although still got out of bed while I was putting the baby down), but then the next time I took him to bed he stayed there until 6am so that was much better. Tried taking him back once more, but only lasted 20 mins...

Hope this phases passes quickly, especially with your baby due soon!

Hi both, I know this was a very long time ago now but did you ever find a way of solving this? I am going through exactly the same thing (it’s been four weeks) and I’m pregnant so it’s just super exhausting x

Try reading aloud from a favourite book in a monotone voice, getting gradually quieter until you are barely whispering. All the time sitting on the floor or chair as far away as they will let you.

@Lsarahk so sorry you're going through it now, especially as you're pregnant.

I can't actually remember whether the fighting bedtime went on for much longer, but I do remember my son woke up multiple times in the night, every night, for 2 months. We tried lots of things (more exercise, more food in the evening etc) but in the end I think it was just a phase! A very, very tiring phase.

Best of luck!

I had this with my daughter and my DH indulged it and let her sleep in our bed when she came in during the night. I ignored her, so she only ever went to him and then he started complaining about it!

It was a mix of growing out of it and also getting her a Toniebox so she could put something on to fall asleep to as she doesn’t like the quiet. Even now at 6 years old she still goes to sleep every night with her Toniebox (but thankfully doesn’t come in our room until a decent hour now for some cuddles before we get in for the day).

Thank you @PitterPatter23 - this is reassuring to know, hopefully we only have a few more weeks to go then! Forever chanting ‘it’s just a phase’ to myself 🤣

@Alarae thank you! Great advice, I will try the Tonies box trick! X