Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

2.5 year old is controlling our nights!

5 replies

Lilypie · 29/11/2007 16:01

My dd is 2.5 years old and until she transfered to a bed was a fairly good sleeper, she would wake early and sometimes wake in the night but went back to sleep well.

Since she was toliet trained and at the same time, started sleeping in a bed, she's realised she can get out of the bed and come in to our room, she asks for the toilet and for cuddles etc and at first this was cute and we did the stupidest thing ever and made a fuss of her, gave her a cuddle before taking her to the toilet then putting her back to bed.
Between our mistake with the cuddles and a nasty cold she had recently where I had to sleep in her bed she now refuses to sleep alone. She goes to bed alone but wakes any time fromm 11pm onwards and either wants to sleep in our bed or have me in her bed but screams blue murder if I try to get her back to bed alone.

I kind of lost it last night through sheer exhaustion when dd refused to sleep AT ALL even with me in her bed. I just broke down crying in front of dd and dh came in to take her away. I am at the end of my teather as I haven't slept for longer than 2 or 3 hours at a time since august.

How can I break this habit dd has got into?

OP posts:
scrummymummy1965 · 29/11/2007 18:34

You are going to have to do the controlled crying technique and be cruel to be kind - for the sake of your sanity. Just keep taking her back to her bedroom and put her in her bed and walk away. She will get the message in the end - it might take a couple of days or a few, but you will get there.

Good luck.

TheBlonde · 29/11/2007 18:51

Lilypie - I am having a similar experience at the moment. DS is 2.9 and will not go back to sleep without me. Last night he would not sleep despite being in our bed
I gave up at 4.30 having been awake since 2am and shut him in his room

Lilypie · 29/11/2007 20:43

Hi Blonde, sorry to hear your troubles but I have to say it's comforting to know I'm not alone.
I think I'll try cc tonight but I don't relish the prospect...

OP posts:
TheBlonde · 29/11/2007 21:54

I have a problem this evening... I left one of the stairgates open so DS has left his bed and is now in ours.. he is clutching my knee high boots & 7 soft toys
Hopefully I can move him without him waking

Franci · 30/11/2007 16:18

We have the same problem with our ds aged 3. After months and months of getting up... "I need a pee, I need water, I need to be tucked in, " sometimes these things occurring twice each night, we are totally exhausted. Our 6 month old has a better night sleep! We are now going to clamp down with controlled crying. Hopefully it will work.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page