My 2 Year Old Stopped Sleeping When She Gave up Her Pacifier!

What do you do when she wakes up crying for the pacifier, the baby, the cup of water, the book, the "whatever it is that will get mommy's attention and she'll notice me"? Are you going to her? If so, stop. If you continue to go to her and give her this, that, the other, and the kitchen sink, she will continue to wake up and find something else that she MUST have. She wants a late night audience, but what she really needs is her sleep. Sure, there will be a little bit of a struggle and crying on her part, but once she learns that you're not going to give up and give in to her then she will stop crying and go back to sleep.

Try a non leak sippy cup of water she can get too and maybe replace her passy with a soft cuddle blanket.

My oldest is/was a lot like this. It will only get worse the more you give in to her and keep going back in when she yells. Once you are sure she is over the ear infection then be consistent give her what she needs tell her you are not going to come back in and that she needs to get to sleep. When she cries wait at least 10 min before going back in and increase it by 5 min each time. I started out with 15min but my daughter was a little older before we tried breaking all those night time rituals. It might take a week or two but she will stop mine did. Every now and then she would try all that stuff again but I just continued with the "plan". But you could be lucky and this whole episode could just be because of the ear infection and once she is over that she will go back to normal. How long has it been since she got the infection? Could you maybe try giving her some tylenol or some other pain reliever before bed?

Does she have her own room. Does she have a nightlight in her room? Do you have soft music playing for her?
I don't know I would want to put a cup of water by her bed, but you might try it. I do suggest a night light of some type and the music. I think it is more of the ear infection than it is missing her pacifer.

We're going thru that now with our 2 1/2 year old and his sippy cup. It actually was his soother after we took the paci away because we had to take the paci at 2years for daycare. I don't recommend substituting with the sippy, only because you eventually have to take that away when it's time to potty train (which we're doing now). Sounds as though your "plan" worked. We're having trouble because we have an 11 month old that we're afraid our son will wake up because he's crying/yelling too loud. Good luck!! :)

yes a good soft group of music.or even gospel music.something soothing

Have you tried giving her a pacifier again? It would not be the end of the world. We adults have our creature comforts (coffee, chocolate, ice cream, alcohol, chewing gum, cigarettes, etc...) yet we are so quick to snatch away what comforts a child for the simple reason that they "should" outgrow it by a certain age. It sounds like she is experiencing separation anxiety. I went through very serious sleep deprivation for over 2 years, and I know it can cause insanity! For the sake of everyone in my family, we co-sleep. We have a king size bed, and our 4 year old sleeps in a twin bed right next to ours. Most nights, she climbs into our bed at some point and goes right back to sleep. I just read in Mothering magazine about a mother who let her 3 year old start nursing again. The problem was jealousy of the new baby rather than sleep disruption, but regardless, doing this improved the situation, as the older child got the comfort she desperately needed from her mother. If you are lactating, this may be worth a try. The "cry it out" technique may seem to work, but it sets up a "protest-despair" disorder and is actually potentially emotionally harmful. Young children need to know that their needs will be met, that the world is a safe, secure place. "Self-soothing" is a myth. The child actually just withdraws, gives up, and loses faith in the parents being there when she needs them. I understand your frustration, as I have been to that same sleepless hell, but I hope you can find healthier ways to deal with the issue. It will be worth it in the long run. Good luck!