My 22 month old DD has slept through the night from 7 months and goes to bed by herself (no rocking, patting etc) (7.30 - 6.30am). I work 2 days a week and on those days, her nanny puts her to bed no problem for 1.5 hours during the day.
About a month ago she started waking up at night screaming (I think nightmares?) and was very difficult to calm down to get back to sleep. I would give her a cuddle and talk calmly to her and she would generally go back to sleep. However, she has become increasingly hysterical during these night wakings and has become harder and harder to put down, screaming for me when I put her in the cot and if I leave the room, flinging herself from the cot onto the floor!! she has also kicked off a bit when I have put her down for naps, and a couple of times, I have abandoned the day time nap altogether although this has left her really tired in the afternoon.
Because she was throwing herself out of her cot we bought her a toddler bed with a frame around it because I didn't feel the cot was safe any more as she would literally flip feet first out of it (she is very active and determined!!!). Her first 3 nights in it were absolutely fine and she settled no problem.
However, last night, she refused to go to bed. I followed her normal bed time routine (bath, teeth clean, books, then cuddle before bed) but she bellowed and bellowed as soon as I put her in her bed. I followed some self settling advice and every time she came out of the room I just said calmly, 'go back to bed' and put her back in bed. After about 45 minutes I heard her get out of bed but then quieten and fall asleep on the floor!!!
There is a little bit of change and tension in the house at the moment. Two days ago I found out that I am miscarrying at ten weeks sad, my husband had to return to Australia for his father's death and funeral (after many years of suffering from alzheimers) and is recovering from a broken leg. It has been a bit of a rough summer although we are trying to be normal on the surface for our DD.
Any advice on getting her to bed? I feel terrible leaving her to cry and fall asleep on the floor but don't want to fall into the habit of staying with her until she falls asleep (in any case, she is still hysterical when I try doing this).