Screaming at bedtime (previously good sleeper - 20 months old)

[BabyPom]

Can anyone advise (bit desperate) - DD 20 month old (GF baby) - has always been a reasonably good sleeper - recently has had a bit of a virus, and now 2 top incisors are cutting through - she also has developed a cough (over the last 2 weeks has had 1 bout of coughing every night). Doctor said it may be asthma but he's reluctant to try ventolin at such an early stage (he said come back if it carries on for more than a month).

At bedtime - she goes down as normal at 7pm, but within minutes (this is every night for the last week or so) she suddenly stands up in her cot and starts screaming hysterically, but then as soon as we go in she will settle down instantly - all we do is put her back down and say night night. Tonight I only had to go back in once - fingers crossed.

Lunchtime nap today I had to go in 4 times.

Do you think it's because she is ill and hopefully she will go back to "normal" or is this unrelated to illness and teething and she is just "trying it on"??

BIt of a ramble - sorry but feeling a bit low and worried about her - especially if she does have asthma. Any advice or words of encouragement appreciated.

We found that our dd at 20 mths when she recently had bronchitis/chest infection and a horrendous cough, she went hysterical after coughing, this transferred to going to bed as well when she got a little better, after about 2 weeks of being kind and firm, like what you are doing just going back in and resettling, she picked up her old rhythm and is back to normal now...
Sometimes illness gets them out of synch... teeth too, my dd's sharp 4 canines have caused her no end of pain and they have been through the gums for 5 week, but still bug her as they are not fully grown yet...
Good luck, think you are doing the right thing ...

It could be a number of things, does she usually go off to sleep on her own?

When my dd is ill cough/cold, I always (and still do) put books under the front of the cot, and also a towel under the bottom of the matteress just to lift it slightly, this seems to help.

Try not to worry, she may just be playing with you to see how far she can go.

I sympathise with this one!! that horrid feeling of holding ones breath whilst tip toeing out of the bedroom praying you won't step on that bloody creeky floor board and trigger off the bedtime upset.
I had similar problems with dd1 when she was around this age but in fairness she wasn't poorly so it was easier to crack on with the controlled crying and start stamping down on the increasing bedtime antics. she may well be trying it on but until you're sure that she's well and you're less worried about her health i'd just advise trying not to encourage it but perhaps not being too harsh if she's a bit needy. Controlled crying etc necessitate persistence and if there's the slightests doubt in your mind about whether or not she's under the weather this could be enough to make you crumble and in turn result in confusing messages to her. Good luck anyway

Well - last night she slept right through and looks so much better this morning - a lot happier!

I think you are all right - perhaps it would be best to be kind but firm until she is better, and then if she continues afterwards then I think we can assume that she may be trying it on and then resort to controlled crying if necessary.

I think I got my knickers in such a twist because she has always gone to sleep by herself and if she ever wakes in the night (very rare) she always settles herself - it makes you think there must be something wrong when things don't go to plan and you start racking your brains for answers and panicking! I was also worried that by going into her during this period of illness and teething I might undo all her good sleep habits - it's difficult to know where to draw the line.

Thank you for the words of advice and encouragement - I have to keep reminding myself that I'm not the only one (every time I feel low a quick trawl through mumsnet always reminds me that everyone has the same problems - and some poor people have it a lot worse than me, poor things).

Thanks guys!

I think she is dropping ht a mount of sleep she needs and you need ot cut out the lunchtime sleep and she will flal sleep at night
sorry if thats said elsewhere - no time to read