What to do with a nocturnal toddler?

[GColdtimer]

She has been up since 11.30. Won't settle in her cot, won't settle in our bed, wants cuddle/cot/cuddle. She is not distressed. Just wide a-friggin-wake. Everytime I leave her room she screams blue murder. I can't leave her because j don't want her to wake dd1 who will turn into the biggest drama queen diva if she doesn't get enough sleep before the show she us doing tomorrow.

At the moment dd2 is lying in my arms sticking her fingers up my nose.

The last 3 nights I have been up with her for 4 hours solidly.

I think she might have gone off but is bound to wake when I put her in her cot.

Agggrrrr. Just put her in her cot and she woke up. Now asking fit peppa-sodding-pig. I know I am talking to myself but it sort of helps. My feet are freezing, can't find my slippers, my back is aching and I am wondering why the he'll she won't just go to friggin sleep.

Nightmare twofalls, sending my sympathies. My ds who is 2.5 would sometimes settle if one if us set up a temporary bed in the floor. Or I used to sit there holding his hand. Guaranteed though that they wake up as soon as you try leaving the room! My knees used to creak when I got up sleep deprivation is the worst. How old is your dd?

Is it worth having her sleep in your bed so you can get some kip? Completely understand if that is not an option you'd like to try in case it becomes a habit

Thanks wheels. I try that and she just wriggles and wants to play and ends up more awake. She finally went off at 4.30 and woke at 6. Dh took over (he has chronic pain and needs rest if not sleep to function the next day so I am pretty much on my own.

Dd1 did the same, although she was a nightmare sleeper from day 1. Dd2 has been a lot better which is why this is so tough.

Needless to say she is on overtired distraught mess trying to get to sleep in her cot now. I hate hearing her cry but I need 5 mins respite. Dh out with dd1.

She is 21 months

My ds is 21 mo and is doing the same. We co sleep so I don't have to get up to him but I'm so bloody tired of it and on bad days (like today) I feel so depressed about it and want a normal life of sleep and being able to do things in the day without feeling like shit.

This will pass I guess. Good luck to you x

Thanks piggy, I know exactly what you mean. I feel a bit teary and am snappy with e eryone when they have done nothing wrong. She has gone off in my arms now and she looks so calm and beautiful. Am on my bed so will try and have a nap.

Sympathies to you too. It does pass but it's tough going through it.

Hi Twofalls I spent 2-4am with my very clingy toddler (22mths) who used to sleep all night until the bloody clock change, then started waking at 5am then anytime between 12 and 4. Usually I can just put him back in bed (he is in a bed, but there is a flexigate over the open door so he can shout for us etc) and cuddle him but last night he just would not settle - and every time I got out of his bed he heard me and howled. In the end he came in with us which is usually a banned action before 5.30am unless the children are ill. He slept like a log then.

I don't really have any answers. Generally he will settle to a cd - at the moment he has choral xmas carols on his cd player as I noticed it sent him to sleep in the car everytime! Sometimes the nightgarden cd which is very calming. Have you tried gentle lullabies on a cd?

Have you thought about putting her into a bed? Both of mine responded really well to it at 18mths - they hated being trapped, but have generally been very good about getting into bed (although, like I said, bedtimes have the flexigate over the door for my son to stop any night wandering). Maybe your dd would appreciate some control over her bed? It would also be easier for you to cuddle her in the night and abandon the mattress on the floor.

But I am not an expert, I don't think any mother is - we are just figuring it out as we go along! And it is all just a phase and will pass. I struggle with that mantra but it is true!