Lack of sleep - been years........

[daisypink]

3 y o d won't go to bed on her own, spending most of precious evening time putting her to bed, then she comes through in middle of night often taking an hour to settle. 5 y o s wasn't a great deal better but from about 3 1/2 settled brilliantly on his own. Years of little sleep, feeling quite low and getting frustrated with d at bedtime, although I know its down to me to sort it, we always had them in our bed and I'm the mummy! DH easy going and would probably put up with it indefinitely and he's not the one lying with her night after night. Kids share a room and feel too much crying will be unfair on s who's at school. Empathy will do but help would be great.........

DD1 was like this when she turned 3. She wouldn't go to sleep on her own in her room, and used to shout for me if she woke up in the night. Took ages to settle her again. Then she would come in to my room really early in the morning, and because I was so tired, I used to let her sleep with me until it was time to get up. I bribed her with stickers. I tackled one problem at a time, and she got a sticker every night she did it. Five stickers meant she got a prize (a book or a toy). It worked really quickly. Most problems were solved in 5 nights. She knew what she would get at the end - that she could choose a book. It's worth a try?!! Good luck. You have my sympathy. I know just how you must be feeling.

Ask your HV for a referral to a sleep clinic. It will give you confidence to break the habit (as it will be quite ingrained in a 3 y/o)/