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18 month old sleep nightmare

5 replies

BlankSpace1 · 31/03/2018 17:00

So my DD is very difficult, I love her with all my heart, but she is the child that makes other people say they don't want kids 😂

Her latest issue is sleep! I sleep trained quickly (around 8 months) as with my 3 yo I was up Several times a night for too long. She has always settled well, she had a long cuddle next to her cot where I tell her it's bed time, ask for a kiss, lay her down and cover her with a blanket next to her special teddy. She has always cried for a few minutes after me leaving but settles very well and sleeps through.

Every now and then she goes through a phase of waking in the night, usually twice and cried for say 10 mins then goes back off to sleep, it's mostly just stirring and groaning.

The problem now is that is waking more often and not going back off, no matter what I do. Last night was the worst, we were up for 2.5 hours, I changed her, checked her over, rubbed her back, tucked her back in, tried to put her in my bed, gave her bottle out of desperation (not a habbit I want to get into) but nothing worked. She is very clever, she worked out quickly that if she cries very hard and sort of hypoventolates as soon as I put her in as well as banging I worry and get her back our (I watched her from a corner, she is just kicking her legs on the cot). I tried to leave her to cry it out a bit longer but I just couldn't leave her in that state.

I honestly tried everything last night, eventually I got on the floor in my duvet and slept next to her cot, this seemed to work and she went straight to sleep.

I don't know if she is teething, she is very hard to look in her mouth, she seems okay in herself other than she isn't eating much. Even at nap today she began crying that way instantly despite being so tired she was laying to settle on the floor, I know tonight is going to be hell again and don't know what's wrong with her or what to do!
Any advice welcome, thanks for reading my stupidly long post x

OP posts:
crazycatlady5 · 31/03/2018 22:11

She is very clever, she worked out quickly that if she cries very hard and sort of hypoventolates as soon as I put her in as well as banging I worry and get her back our (I watched her from a corner, she is just kicking her legs on the cot). I tried to leave her to cry it out a bit longer but I just couldn't leave her in that state.

Incredibly depressing. Your baby needs you and is finding ways to desperately make that clear. She is not being ‘clever’ - she literally doesn’t have the brain capacity to manipulate you. She needs you! It won’t be forever.

Also, look up the 18 month sleep regression.

crazycatlady5 · 31/03/2018 22:11

She is distressed and wants her mum.

DearTeddyRobinson · 31/03/2018 22:17

I would give her calpol, cuddles, then when she calms down, back in the cot and shh-pat. I can't bear leaving babies to cry but shh pat worked quite well for us

BlankSpace1 · 31/03/2018 22:51

Okay before this gets misinterpreted, I don't leave her to scream, I do comfort her, I was doing so for hours, my problem is that no matter how I tried to help the result was this screaming the second I let go of her.

Also, I know she isn't trying to manipulate me, I know my baby. She will stand on the living room and accidently bop her head on the wall, come to me, cuddles, then leave me and walk over to the same spot and bop it again twice more repeating coming over for cuddles and going back until I tell her no, I know my baby.

I was just asking that because no matter what I did, she wouldn't settle, if anyone else had any tips. I'd never leave her to cry it out or scream, I love her with all my heart and were very close!
Also I spent ages reading on regression but this happens so on and off I never know when it really is that! (Just this is the worst one)

OP posts:
BlankSpace1 · 31/03/2018 22:52

Parting on back usually does the trick for me too but last night didn't even come close x

OP posts:
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