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I have completely fecked up my DC's sleep. Help.

1 reply

SmallShips · 31/01/2010 19:57

DS is 3.10 and DD is 23mo. Moved them into the big bedroom to share as I'm due DC3 in April.

DD was previously an excellent sleeper, in bed and asleep for half 6 and awake at 8am, DS had his moments but was usually the same.

Moving them has totally messed it all up, I expected them to mess around for a while, but it's gone from nicely playing to screaming and yelling. DD wants to sleep in my bed and will scream until she's in there and DS is totally unsettled, needs the door open, the light on and background music playing. They're both awake at 5:45 and will either play (or if DD stayed in their room, she'll yell to go into my bed). There is often yelling once or twice during the night too.

I've been completely inconsistent with it all and have made it worse. I NEED to fix this NOW, I go into their room when they wake up and I can hear how exasperated I sound with them and usually end up shouting. I'm tired, pregnant and need sleep, DH is in a warzone until April and I'm completely fed up.

I don't know where to start, I've done staggered bed times which was successful until DD decided my bed was better, I've tried ignoring them (whilst they're happy just playing), I've tried shouting, bribery, putting DS into the spare room/baby nursery and a very brief period of controlled crying - 20 minutes of sheer hell!

Any tips?

OP posts:
MyNewPans · 01/02/2010 18:12

How about long wind down, bath, story while they are in beds and then nightlight on, music on and sit near the door / just outside and repeat in a bored calm tone "into bed, sleep time, night night" ad nauseum?

Consistancy will win out.

Also they could be overtired with all the faffing they are doing so maybe have them in bed after story 15 minutes earlier than normal if doable.

Same for early wake ups, also a reward ladder / pasta jar?

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