P.W.
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Get a foam mattress pad.
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my 2 year old woke up a one night screaming, seems he had a nightmare. My husband couldn;t get him calmed down, so. . .he brought him to bed with us. The whole next day my son acted very strange. He wasn't his normal playful very energetic self. He just wanted to sit and snuggle with us all day. Nap time that day, my husband took him to bed with him so they could both get a nap. That night my son would not stay in his bed. When I tried to put him in he screamed and cried and sobbed and tried to climb and claw his way out. He was a mess! Tears streaming down his face, runny nose. . .it was awful.
So, I slept in his room, with him, on an air mattress. He seemed fine. Nap time next day. . .he slept on the floor of his room, on lots of blankets and pillows, for a limited nap. But didn't freak out when I left him for his nap. That night, my husband slept on the air mattress with him in his room. All the while, we kept trying to get him in his bed. But he kept screaming.
We removed the bars of his crib and made it into the toddler bed. Still. . ."No Mommy', and he said "Ouchie". So, my husband dismantled our beautiful "Crib for Life", stashed it in the closet and put the mattress on the floor. That worked!!! For one night. Then, nap time. . ."No Mommy. Ouchie". So, I put pillows under his sheet, on top of the mattress and he seems to be sleeping fine now! It's been 3 nights and 3 naps. We also have one of those illuminated "aquarium" light scences, with moving fish -- he watches that as he falls asleep.
Problem is. . .the pillows shift and move and I'm constantly readjusting them after every nap, etc. I'm looking for a permament "soft" solution.
Any thoughts / suggestions/ experience with. . .1. nightmares and similar behavior; 2. child not wanting to sleep on "hard" crib mattress?
Thanks!!!
Get a foam mattress pad.
When my son started having nightmears I started limiting TV even more. Absolutly no TV during evening hours, even for us adults. There are lots of scary/evil commercials these days and the cartoons I allow are completly 'clean' and free of scary or violent stuff like Mickey Mouse, the Backyardagains or Veggie Tales and Hermie. I even had to stop allowing Disney movies, the villan is so scary to a two year old. This REALLY seem to help. When those scary/evil images flash before their innocent little eyes they come back in their dreams. It may take him a while to become comfy with his bedroom again but you might want to try playing some soothing music to help distract him. I put it on really low and on repeat so they hear it all night long and it helps sooth them when they wake up. I use Praise Baby and love the soothing voice of the singer. I always joke and say my children love it because the singer sounds just like me! Heehee!!
I also cut up a cheap egg create over my sons crib mattress. I double layered it and he slept wonderfully.
Hi M.
you can also buy that stuff that looks like egg crate lining, basically it's soft form.. we have it on our bed and is sooooooooooo comfy, it's firm yet soft at the same time. It's a cheaper way to go as oppose to buying a whole new bed of some sort. Additionally, you can fit it to a specific bed size and then if need be, put plastic lining over it (should your son wet the bed) it will stay protected.
I wish you the best!
My daughter is 3.5 and is still in a toddler bed. It's true, those crib mattresses can be so hard! What we did was get one of those "memory foam" mattress pads at Target in a twin size, and then used scissors to cut it to size. I put in underneath the mattress pad (so if there are any night time "accidents" the mattress pad won't get soaked). She has been sleeping better ever since we did that. Also, I don't know if your son has a pillow or not, but I bought a little toddler bed pillow (complete with darling little pillow cases) at Pottery Barn Kids, and it is just the right size for my daughter. Along with her toddler-bed sized down comforter (also from PBK), she just snuggles right into bed and seems very comfy! I hope that helps and that you find a good solution for your son. It's no fun having a toddler who won't sleep. =(
