Unsettled toddler

[Lmck94]

I was wondering if anyone had any advice on getting a toddler to sleep all night? I spent 3 weeks in hospital in January and ever since my little girl has been up and down every night. I think she's worried that she's gonna wake someday and I'll be gone again 😩 we also moved house while I was in hosp and I don't think that helped things. I've tried everything I can think of but I'm at my wits end now, she was up 7 times crying for me before midnight last night 😴

How old is your toddler?

@FATEdestiny

How old is your toddler?

She's 2 and a half

2 and a half is early to be in a bed and not a cot. The cot sides provide security and aids because this age haven't developed emotional regulation yet. Is she still in a cot?

She's been in a toddler bed for nearly a year now as she was climbing out of the cot. She took to the bed no bother and slept really well up until I was in hosp

It sounds like she needs every bit of extra security she can get at the moment.

Can you stay with her as she falls asleep?

Oh poor you and her! Sending a big hug.

Sounds like maybe she is working through what has happened to you and why you weren't at home at night? This is quite a common age for fears to emerge and also nightmares/night terrors. Would you consider sleeping on a floor bed in her room? Or her sleeping on a floor bed next to yours? Just for a short while so she can be reassured quickly if she wakes at night?

I also wonder if some books might help her- something like owl babies, where the story is about how the mummy owl goes away for a while but always comes back?

@FATEdestiny

It sounds like she needs every bit of extra security she can get at the moment.

Can you stay with her as she falls asleep?

I do that already, she would go mad if she was left alone before she was asleep. Its been 6 months of me sitting with her and again through the night when she wakes up

@FleasAndKeef

Oh poor you and her! Sending a big hug.

Sounds like maybe she is working through what has happened to you and why you weren't at home at night? This is quite a common age for fears to emerge and also nightmares/night terrors. Would you consider sleeping on a floor bed in her room? Or her sleeping on a floor bed next to yours? Just for a short while so she can be reassured quickly if she wakes at night?

I also wonder if some books might help her- something like owl babies, where the story is about how the mummy owl goes away for a while but always comes back?

Thank you! Yeah I know it was a big thing for her as she was used to having me at home with her everyday and she was never away from me for more than a day. I have thought about trying to sleep in her room but didn't want her to get used to having me there. She gets a story and nursery rhymes every night. I know its a lot for a 2 year old to process but its been 6 months now and I feel like she's getting worse, not better 😩

Could you give her something that smells of you? A top etc?

@Cocomade

Could you give her something that smells of you? A top etc?

I never would've thought of that, I'll try that tonight thanks!

Can she just sleep in bed with you for now. It's not forever and right now she needs your presence

@dopeyduck

Can she just sleep in bed with you for now. It's not forever and right now she needs your presence

I tried that when she wouldn't settle at all in the beginning, then brought her bed into my room to get her used to sleeping in it again and she settled down a bit. She was maybe only getting up once or twice a night but she's getting worse again