2 Year Old Daughter Sleep Issues

My son who is now 3 & 1/2 has night terrors not so much now but they were bad when he was 2. We even went to the Doc. and asked him what we should do. He told us that the best thing is not to wake them even if you think that they are sleeping. You should tell her that things are all right and that you are there and that she is fine. and just comfort her. but when you do get the toddler bed and she comes in to your room tell her that it isn't time to get up and to go back to bed. Then put her back in bed and tell her good night and that you are still here. I know its hard b/c when we put our son in a toddler bed that is all he wanted to do is sleep with mom and dad but we were consistant and didn't give in and i want to say that the first week was the hardest then it got better. Of course its easier said than done.
One other thing she could be rolling around so much that she keeps hitting her head on the side or other body parts. and that is waking her up. I know that our son was almost 2 when he got his todd. bed and that helped with him sleeping more sound.
GOOD Luck!!:)

It is nice to hear that other moms are worry warts. I only have one child and worry constantly. I am really worked to relax so that my daughter does not do the same. I understand the no life feeling its get up get the baby ready work come home play and give her my full attention she is in that don't leave my sight stage. I am not at your questions stage but wanted to encourage you sound like a devoted mom. Your devotion will pay off. I believe that the highest calling in life is being a mother

Well, my first thought was "does she have her molars?" while moving molars can be discomforting, kids don't always notice the small twinges during the day because their focused on playing, but at night their doing nothing so it can seem more pronounced.

If that's not it, then maybe it night terrors.

If you've "rescued" her enough, then some of her resistance may be because it's awakened her enough that she is being obstinate about laying back down. Try moving a rocking chair in by her bed, and then sit next to without saying anything. Just be there. But don't talk to her as voice and sound can stimulate them more awake.

As I recall, night terrors they aren't truly awake. you could try playing some soft music or a nightlight.

K., both of my sons suffered through night terrors around that same age. It is something they grow out of. I found that my sons were more prone to night terrors on the nights that they were overly tired. I tried to get them to bed earlier and that seemed to work--a little. During a night terror, they are asleep and are not aware of what is going on. But I believe it is still a good idea to try to comfort them as much as you can. (At least it makes me feel better!) It sounds like you are doing the right thing. I would think it would be a good idea to comfort your daughter during the night terror and when she settles down, return her to her own bed. Elizabeth Pantley has written a book about toddler/preschool sleeping issues and I believe she addresses the transition from a crib to toddler bed in that book. Good luck.

K.,

I really dont haven any advice but my husband and I are in the same situatuion. We moved our son to a todler bed when he was 18 months old and he did really well for a while but then he started comming into our room. He is now three and still occasoinally comes and gets in bed with us. Everyone I have talked to says he will grow out of it eventually. Good luck!

Hi,
Applause to you on being a working mom. I have a few suggestions that may or may not work. First i would suggest you keep a little note book on when your daughter is waking up is it the same time eveynight? If so then something at that time is rousing her from her sleep -( neighbor dog barking at that time-, persons in the home getting up to use the restroom) (hopefully you get what i am asking, ) If your daughter is waking at around the same time everynight it could be that something is waking her, another thing is if she has trained herself to wake at a certain time and knows that if she cries she goes into moms bed it is a habit. one you may need to break. Instead of taking her to your bed lay down beside her-her in the crib and you on a cot or floor and let her know you are there but you are not going to take her into your bed, I suggest you start this on a night you dont have to work the next day.Hopefully she will break the cycle of waking up in the night . my son used to do this and we found out that the shows dad watched at night was the source of his night mares so at 7:oo p.m. i started giving him his bath and reading him a bed time story so he would be relaxed and focus on the story. after doing that i got him ready for bed and in bed by 8:00 and as i tucked him in i turned on his cd player to dream time sleep time and he was a sleep in no time at all and remained sleeping til i woke him the next morning. At that age any strange or sudden noise can disturb the childs sleep pattern. Hope this helps. Good luck .T.

My son is 2 1/2 and we have been having the same issurs. I thought he needed to be in a big boy bed so in July I got him his own bed. He loves it and is very proud of it and enjoys sleeping in it but the problem is that he always wakes up and comes into my bed. Very seldom does he wake up quietly and just come in to be with me. Usually he wakes up violently screaming and thrashing around or arching his back. This can happen several times in a night, even if he is in bed with me. I usually move him back, but honestly sometimes I am too tired to get out of bed. He never gets a full night of sleep that is peaceful, which also means I never get one either. My husband and I are separated so I originally thought this was the issue but we have been separted for a year and every other part of his life he is acting normal, so I dont know. I am just as confused and crazed about this. I would love any advice. I know that as a baby he would wake up in the middle of the night and slam his feet down on the mattress several times, but usually he didnt wake up crying. There is obviously something going on but who knows what it is. Please help!!

I'm 'glad' there is more than just 1 or 2 people that have this same issue. My son is 27 months, and now also have a 7 week old son. I know they say when they wake up you're suppose to just take them back into their room, and not talk to them, but I got tired of taking our son back 20+ times.. Ok, maybe not that many, but some nights it seemed like it. I started puting the baby gate on his door, instead of the babies, so he wouldn't go in & wake him up. He use to stand at the gate & cry, but now only stands at it in the morning to come out. He woke up the other morning with the storms, and has a couple times with possible night terrors too, but at least now I'm not being woken up with him coming into our room, and found it's easier to go to him in his room, and to keep him in there & not just letting him in our bed. Best of luck & hope it gets better!