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Original poster

Nearly 3yo Perfect sleeper suddenly not sleeping, HELP!

12 replies

Lottieskeeper · 04/12/2018 09:14

My dd has always been a really good sleeper right from about 3 months she would go a good 12 -14 hours a night. I admit I was quietly smug about it.

A month ago she dropped day time naps, I was quite glad because it meant we could have full days out and the like.
But for the last 2 weeks she's been waking up at 2:30-4:30ish and then every 15 mins until finally dropping off at 6. She then wants to sleep until around 10 but I have to wake her because we have things to do.
The resulting tantrums are not pretty.
The problem is after being woken constantly for around 2 hours I can't get back to sleep. Im pregnant exhausted and becoming very iratable with her. If she had been like this before she would be an only child forever. Her dad has to get up at 5:30 for work so he is really suffering too.

I really don't know what to do? I'm so tired. Has anyone had this? I could really do with some advice or just to know I'm not the only one this has happened to.

OP posts:
user1494670108 · 04/12/2018 09:17

Did she go from daytime naps to none at all? Could she have a daytime nap every few days to catch up a bit? That's what both of my kids did and so long as the occasional nap is fairly early and not too long it seemed help with the transition phase

Original poster
Lottieskeeper · 04/12/2018 09:29

Yes just completely gave them up overnight. Went from 1.5/ 2 hours a day to nothing.
I really think that might be the issue but I can't get her to nap.
Tried everything that used to get her off; blacked out silent bedroom or a long boring trip in the car. It's like she's suddenly decided sleeps not important. Unfortunately I really need a lot of sleep.

OP posts:
Seeline · 04/12/2018 09:35

What time is she going to bed? Could you try moving it a bit later?

MemoryOfSleep · 04/12/2018 09:35

Maybe naps are a red herring. Is she worried about the incoming baby?

Original poster
Lottieskeeper · 04/12/2018 09:43

She goes to bed at 7 but recently by 6:45 She is asking to go up as she is so tired.

I have asked her if she is worried and she tells me she's happy to have a brother on the way. I try and tell her as often as I can that I love her and she's my favourite girl and will always be my baby. I'm not sure what else I can do in that respect?

OP posts:
MemoryOfSleep · 04/12/2018 11:25

I'm not sure what else you can do either other than wait it out. I know my mind brings up things that worry me in the dead of night that I'm not fussed about during the day. I guess just try to be patient with her. Are you on mat leave yet? When you are could you send her to day nursery or a childminder for a couple of hours so you can nap in the day?

BlingLoving · 04/12/2018 11:38

When DD dropped her nap, we brought bedtime forward by at least 1 hour or more. She had been napping for about 1-2 hours during the day, and going to bed officially at 7:30 but we dropped the nap because she was staying awake until 9pm. But for at least three months after we dropped her nap, we put her to bed by 6:30. even earlier on a few occasions.

I think this is a common mistake - they drop the nap so you think they don't need the sleep, but they do still need at least some of it. I'd say if she's so tired at 6:45 I'd be putting her to bed at 6 for a while.

A friend of mine's dd, when she dropped her nap, started sleeping from 5:30 pm. My friend said it was lovely in terms of having the whole evening to herself but a NIGHTMARE logistically to get her home from nursery, feed, bathed and into bed.

BlingLoving · 04/12/2018 11:40

Sorry, and just to clarify, I'm a big believer in over tiredness causing children to sleep less well. Sometimes we get a bit complacent with DD because she's so adaptable on sleep and the next thing we know, she's waking up at 6:30 every morning instead of her usual 8...! We promptly bring bedtime back on track and voila, she goes back to sleeping for 12-13 hours every night.

Original poster
Lottieskeeper · 04/12/2018 12:28

I think it's definitely worth trying an earlier bed time.
And it's one thing I can actually do so I'm going to give it a go.

I'm also going to try a gro clock in the hope she will learn that she has to wait until a reasonable time? 6:30? To wake us up

Thanks everyone for helpful suggestions. When your exhausted it's hard to make sensible judgements

OP posts:
Original poster
Lottieskeeper · 05/12/2018 09:20

Just in case anyone with a similar problem reads this.
I put her to bed at 6 last night and she slept until 6:15 Grin I feel like a different person today. Really hoping it wasn't a one off.

Thanks to everyone who responded.

OP posts:
BlingLoving · 05/12/2018 10:31

That's great news @lottieskeeper. Well done for giving it a bash sideeyes SIL who refuses to try this out of fear ds will wake up too early

SeaToSki · 05/12/2018 10:39

If it happens again. Its definitely worth a check in with the GP for an ear infection or UTI. Both can be symptom-less in littles as they cant explain the discomfort etc, but it wrecks havoc on their sleeping

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