Beyond exhausted with nearly 2 yr old who refusing to sleep!

[louisejanep]

My DD is 22 months, and she has always been a terrible sleeper. I tried controlled crying a while ago which worked for a week or so then stopped working. I felt too mean leaving her to get so hot and frustrated and exhausted by crying! But lately she wont go to bed till atleast 9:30 and now its 22:30 and partner is still trying to get her asleep. she wakes around 1 every morning and comes straight into our bed and sleeps in till around 8. Our relationship is suffering, were both exhasuted! She's nearly 2. she also refuses to nap in the day! Every now and again she will sleep around midday but refusing as of late! Very stressed as trying to do a masters degree whilst working whilst lacking on sleep. Please help!

This was me a few months ago. We snuggle til almost asleep then into own room &bed with a teddy that never leaves the cot. It took a week but we just lay her down shushed and rubbed her back til she went off. Same if she woke in the night, no more getting in our bed. We also wake DD up by 8 every day (we have DS in school so work for us) and were ridiculously ridged with routine (lunch, walk, collect DS, walk home, juice & fruit, early meal 4.30 bath at 5.15 story and bed at 6.she now sleeps 6.15/30-8) no naps unless we want her up later or she's really really shattered. Obviously not that ridged now but bed time never waivers,early meal bath story bed. It took 9 days dp and I took turns so she didnt rely on one over the other. DP tended to settle at night because I'm too short to reach her in the cot comfortably too. Sorry that was long!!!!!

Thank you so much for the post. That really helps! We have never been strict with routines, weve always had one there but been really flexible and now its taking its toll. I'm going to bring meal time forward as sometimes she can eat quite late with us. Do you do bath time every night then? It must feel amazing though after all the hard work youve put in?

Some nights it's a full bath with bubbles and toys and splashing, other nights a quick dip in a few inches of warm water or rinse under the shower. Unless she's unwell or we're running very late and she's shattered we do it every night (much easier to clean her after the mess she makes with dinner and pud plus she brushes her teeth in the bath-no more toothpaste everywhere) we do offer toast or similar between bath and story, to make sure she goes to bed on full stomach. Story we do down stairs, bed is for sleeping only, which is why her bed time bear never leaves her bed. It was hard work,but worth it, we both took leave to get it done without sleep deprivation leading to murder! (and about once a month it all goes to hell I won't lie) but it's saved my sanity getting evenings back tbh