Hello!
My daughter is 2.
She's a fantastic sleeper, or rather she was.
She currently sleeps in a big cot but we're gifted a toddler bed.
We got everything ready and she seemed super excited to sleep!
However, the first night she kept getting out of bed which was completely expected and fine. Eventually she slept.
Then the next day she wanted to go in her bed for her nap. So she went in there but refused to sleep. I ended up getting stressed and kept telling her not to get out of bed (I didn't handle the situation well, I feel terrible about it)
She didn't want to go back in her cot but from then on, sleeping in her bed became a huge stressor for her (because of my lack of patience!) To the point where she just didn't sleep one night.
I ended up getting rid of the bed and moving back to the cot because she no longer wanted to go in her bed and got really worked up about it.
Now she's back in her cot but still gets very stressed at bed time to the point she made herself sick tonight.
She goes to sleep fine with dad but when I go in she clings onto me and won't let me go. She keeps herself awake to make sure I stay there.
I've tried sleeping on the floor, I've tried explaining to her that I'm just in the other room and she can call me and I'll be straight there and nothing is helping apart from dad putting her to bed. Obviously not great when it comes to naps and I'm here alone.
She's never been like this. I'm aware it's completely my fault and I've made a mistake. I would just take her into bed with me but she has never slept in my bed before and refuses to fall asleep.
Does any one have any advice? It's becoming a big worry of mine and we're both now dreading bed time.
The bed introduction was obviously handled badly by me and has thrown her off. But how do I get back to it?!
Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for reading!!