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Sleep training a toddler?!

2 replies

Somethingvague · 26/06/2022 08:33

Hi,
I've posted here before but didn't get much advice, and I'm feeling desperate. For the last 5 or so weeks my 21 month old has been sleeping terribly. Doesn't seem to matter how much she naps or how tired she is.

She used to go straight to bed in her cot by herself and most of the time sleep through (since around 14 months, but before that was generally one quick wake up).Then one day out of nowhere has just started refusing and is generally taking 1-1.5 hours to to to sleep.
I'm happy to stay with her if it helps her go to sleep, but she just starts giggling and trying to play when I'm in there, acting wide awake. If I leave the room she screams and stands up. She has a comforter that she's had since she was tiny.

She's now also up by 5am most days. Which I think is probably due to overtiredness from taking so long to go to sleep at bedtime. I was also in her room for an hour at midnight last night when she woke up screaming. This can't be good for her either, and it's also waking her 4 year old brother up early.

I honestly do not know what to do. Has anybody sleep trained at this age? How did you go about it? She is healthy and I think she has all her teeth.

Thanks.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Summertwilight · 26/06/2022 08:36

A bit younger but yep … we went for tough love which didn’t come naturally to me, but it was just awful.

We had a sleep consultant who recommended put to bed and leave. Go back with two minute intervals say lie down but no cuddles or interacting. Then five minutes then ten.

The first night was horrendous but things have been so so SO much better since.

ChittyBang1987 · 26/06/2022 09:26

As pp said. Tough love it would be for me. CC. Think a lot of people do Jo frost one too, which in effect I believe is cc.

Can your 4 year old go to grandparents, friends, family etc for a weekend so not to wake them up while you do it?

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