I'm at a loss of what to do about my eldest DD (2 years 8 months)
She's been a crappy sleeper since birth and has continued into toddlerhood.
Ironically her sister (9.5 weeks) is a crappy napper but sleeps beautifully at night.
Tonight DD1 went to bed at 7pm. I sat with her for a little bit and then left to put some washing on. Told her I'd pop back and sit with her. By the time I'd put a wash on she was asleep. She woke up at about 10pm. Partner went into her, sat with her until she went to sleep. She maybe slept for another 30 minutes before waking again, I went into her. Again sat with her until she settled back to sleep. This time she only lasted about 10-15 minutes before waking up. At about 11:30pm partner said he'd sleep in bed with her. He eventually moved into our bed with her and I moved to the sofa since she would not settle. She stayed awake the whole time tossing and turning occasionally moaning and crying until at about 1:30am I'd had enough and took her onto the sofa. She stayed awake until 4am until partner came in and took her either into our bed or back into hers. I've heard no noise so I'm assuming she went to sleep. I'm so worked up and agitated (also have a painful ear infection) that I've been unable to get to sleep. All a bit pointless when she'll be waking up in an hours time to start the day.
I'm so sick of her being a crappy sleeper. I really don't know what the solution is. She is very head strong and stubborn so CIO would not work - we tried this when she was younger and she screamed from 7pm until early hours of the morning until we relented and picked her up (she went straight to sleep). She will not "tire herself out" with crying. It will just escalate to full on screaming and she can keep that up forever.
She sleeps in a bed not a cot (we thought this might help the sleep since she really hated her cot - it did not help)
She still has a nap in the morning around 10ish as she's tired from poor sleep. This can last from 30 minutes - 2 hours although they are gradually getting shorter in duration - I sense she'll be dropping the nap soon.
She co-sleeps beautifully but that means I'm stuck on the sofa. I cannot sleep in the same bed as her as she is too wriggly and wakes me up.
I just want her to sleep in her own bed without the frequent nighttime wakings. At her best she'd only have one or 2 wakings. This was irregardless as to how she fell asleep (independently or with someone sat with her). She's got a nightlight, her lullabies and a cup of water. I don't want to lie in bed with her as I'm worried it wouldn't take the extra weight. It's not fair for my beanpole of a partner to be cramped up in a toddler bed either.
I feel like I'd be such a better mum if I could get a better nights sleep. She'd be much happier too as (like her mother) she's a right grump when she's tired.