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Sleep

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New sleep problems at 2.8 years

7 replies

belindarose · 20/04/2012 05:32

We thought we'd had every possible sleep problem with DD and had a terrible time when she was a baby. Has been sleeping well since about 18months.

The last week has been horrendous. She's taken several hours to get to sleep at night, needing one of us to stay with her till she's fast asleep. She wants me but DH can manage if he's here and spends long enoug. Any attempts to leave her to cry a little bit lead to stripping all her clothes off and screaming so much we can't bear it.

In the night, if she wakes, it's a repeat performance. I've just cuddled her to sleep and she's back in her cot bed (woke up and screamed again but fell asleep when I said I'd stay till she was asleep).

Mornings are earlier than they were and she was happily playing in her cot for up to an hour on her own, now it's an instant cry/ scream for mummy.

I'm 30 weeks pg with DC2, which she is very aware of, so this obviously has some bearing on the matter. She's just had two weeks of me and family being wit her all the time over Easter and didn't settle back to nursery well this week (one day there, 2 with CM who she loves). I can solve the nursery problem I think, and I've only got 5 weeks left at work.

So I think it's all a separation thing. She is very eloquent and says she doesn't want to be left all by herself etc.

It will pass, I know, but how do we encourage it to pass quickly? Can't co-sleep and wouldn't want to now with new baby coming. I need as much sleep as I can get as awake so much in the night due to pregnancy anyway. And we need our evenings back as I want to be in bed by 9.30 anyway!

OP posts:
loveisagirlnameddaisy · 20/04/2012 12:55

Has she dropped all naps in the day? If not, this is the first thing I'd sort out. Otherwise it is probably caused by the impending arrival, my DD has started stammering!

belindarose · 20/04/2012 13:05

Yes, she dropped naps a couple of months ago. Will still have the occasional one in the car, but hasn't this week. Thanks for the suggestion though.

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loveisagirlnameddaisy · 20/04/2012 13:15

It's so hard at this age when you think you've finally cracked it, isn't it? How about a nightlight as it may be the dark she's a little scared of? Quite common at this age.

belindarose · 20/04/2012 13:24

She has a nightlight, thanks. It really made a difference about 6 months ago when she was waking in the night.

I suppose I need to work more on separation anxiety. She's so very verbal, it's hard to remember how little she is.

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belindarose · 22/04/2012 07:57

Now two mornings of poo throwing before shouting for me in the morning...
Any more ideas anyone?

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loveisagirlnameddaisy · 22/04/2012 09:03

It could also be an awareness of the impending arrival. Have you talked to her about the baby?

belindarose · 22/04/2012 09:51

Yes, she's very aware of impending arrival. On the outside is very excited about it, but I'm sure she has lots of worries as well that she can't express so well. Very 'clingy' in daytime. Already has every minute of my time, so not sure how to give her more!

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