So touched out - how to get dd21 months to sleep better

[Fluffyhairdontcare]

DD21 months is not a great sleeper. I've posted before about it.

She's recently started to fall asleep in her cot (rather than cuddled up with DH in bed). She likes to hold hands until she's asleep. Occasionally she will stay asleep for a few hours but more often than not she wakes crying 3-4 times until DH or I relent and bring her into bed with us. Neither of us mind co sleeping with her except that she is such an awful bedfellow.

She constantly moves, tossing and turning, pinching, burrowing her hands into my/DH's body, slamming her head up and down. Its impossible to sleep and she's not really asleep either. So stressful. I bought a weighted blanket for her (special one for younger children) in desperation at 4am this morning.

Does anyone have any ideas about why she is such a fidget/why she finds it so hard to sleep without touching/stroking/moving her hands ans fingers?

Ps, even now, wide awake, she HAS to be on me all the time. Sitting on my feet, hands all over me. We've been isolating this week and I am SO TOUCHED OUT!

Hopeful bump!

No advice but following to see the responses you get! My 5 year old is the same! Inevitably ends up in our bed around 5am which I don’t actually mind but he doesn’t keep still and can’t keep his hands to himself which means it’s impossible for us to sleep.

You'll probably think I'm a little crazy but I'd go visit this guy that treats retained reflexes. It sounds like your DD is neurological high alert and is sort of stuck in that 4th trimester stage.

www.accesspotential.net

I'm in a similar situation with my DD of the same age. She tends to sleep from 9 and then wakes often at around midnight when my DH can usually get her back down in her cot. Then she usually wakes around 2:30/3 and comes in with us. She doesn't tend to thrash around as much as your DD but she breastfeeds so that disturbs my sleep somewhat in its own way. I am also dying for a good night's sleep. I think the bed-sharing may act as an incentive for her to wake up, as well as the breastfeeding in our case. But I'm loathed to do sleep-training and also not sure when/how to fully wean. I'm afraid I haven't been very helpful but I really really sympathize! I hope the weighted blanket helps!

It would concern me that, at nearly 2yo, she won't play for even a moment without touching you - that's a long way off independant play and I'd be worried about the lack of confidence that is developing.

The night time fidgeting suggests she's in a light sleep, rather than getting into a deep sleep.