Ok, so here it goes. My husband has a very strange sleeping pattern. We own a restaurant, so he is there till at the VERY least 2am every night. My daughter has slept with us since birth. At first, she would sleep in her bassinet during naps and was fine. Then as she got a little older, the only place I could get her to sleep was in her swing. Which, meant I ended up sleeping on the couch every night. We finally broke that habit, but just traded it in for a new one. Ever since then, she has slept with us. I have TRIED to get her to sleep in her crib. And, the result EVERY time has been throw up every where. She literally would cry till she threw up every time I put her in her crib. Finally, last Oct she was starting to sleep in her crib for like an hour at night (after she threw up). I was thinking, ok, at least we are progressing. Then, we took a trip to NY, and everything changed. When we got back, she was all messed up on her schedule and would not sleep at night. And the crib was a NO WAY. Since then, I have tried to get her back on a regular schedule (her sister goes to bed at 830). But, what ends up happening is she will fall asleep in my arms some time between 10pm and midnight just to wake up an hour later ready to rock and roll the night away. I have a very hard time staying up past 2am, because I get up every morning and take my older daughter to school. My toddler just stays up and plays or dances to the sesame street song. As soon as she hears daddy pull into the drive she gets excited (sometimes if we had a really good night at the restaurant, he wont get home till 3 or 4 because of stragglers and clean up). Her being excited that dad is home however, does not mean she leaves me for him. She's happy that he's there, but she would still much rather be with me. I try to keep her awake during the day so she will sleep at night, and that never seems to work. She even falls back asleep in the shower with me. My house looks horrible, and I can't seem to clean it. Every time I get up, she follows me around crying till I pick her up. But, if I sit on the couch she is very content to run around playing by herself and pulling everything out of every drawer. I know kids do this, and it doesn't really bother me. Its actually very entertaining when she pulls the tuperware drawer all the way out, sits in it and throws all the plastic dishes out. However, her having issues every time I get up and try to clean is not very entertaining. I have now taken the side of the crib off her crib so she can feel like it is a bed, but she still just cries in it (that was before she realized that she could get out of it on her own now). She doesn't mind playing in the crib/bed as long as I am within eye site. She just does not want to sleep in it.
So, suggestions to get her to sleep on her own?
Suggestions for a clingy toddler?
Let me know. Her sleeping with us has cut drastically into our sex life too. Kind of difficult to get excited when you not only have a baby in your bed with you, but one that will latch on to your breast at any given moment.
I think this book is amazing and has worked VERY WELL with sleeping habits!!! I stand behind it!! "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child"
Goodness. And I thought my life was crazy when my twins were breastfeeding and not sleeping! We put our twins in a Queen bed (a twin would work for you). They may not have been quite ready for it size wise, but it made a huge difference in their sleeping patterns. Not that all is perfect, but they sneak into bed with us less than they did when they were in the toddler beds.
Instead of letting her fall asleep in your arms, get her to fall asleep next to you or even laying on a portion of you while you're in bed.
Make cleaning with you a game. If she's content with you on the couch - my girls use to do this too - maybe she'll let you clean if you involve her. Let her help you vacuum or pick up the floor. Give her duties and make it fun for her to help you.
These tricks worked for me, they may or may not work for you. As far as the breastfeeding goes - good luck. I wish I had some good advice for you there!
Is er room big enough for a twin size bed to be added in there alongside her crib? If so you could sleep with her in there at night to try and get her acclimated to sleeping in her own room. If she gets used to that you might find you are able to laydown with her until she falls asleep and then get up and either get some things done around the house or go and sleep in your own bedwith your husband. Is you are afraid she will fall out of the bed just put a mattress and box spring directly on the floor so she won't get hurt and can get in and out on her own. You will need to stick to your guns until she realizes that she will not be sleeping with Mom and Dad anymore. It seems it is you she is wanting to sleep with and this just might be the answer to getting your bed and sex life back. The plastic door knob covers so that children can't open them are a blessing too. You can put one on the outside of your bedroom door for added privacy without locking the door. During the day you can try laying down with her for her nap to reinforce that this bed is for sleeping and you will be there with her (at least until she falls asleep.) You can then decide if your going to nap with her which might not be a bad idea or try getting some of your quiet house work done. You don't want her to take too long of a nap or she will want to be up all night. It might be best to stay and do the nap with her for a week or so until she realizes you will be there with her the whole time. At least for the break in period. Good luck to you.
J.
I would just keep putting her back in her own bed, even if she throws up, she is just trying to take control. Put her in the crib and sit by the side and each night move your chair a little bit farther away and pretty soon,(maybe after a week) you will be out in the hall and hopefully she will be asleep. as to her pulling on you all the time, that would bug the heck out of me, Im afraid I would wear buttons all the way to the top and dont let her pull anything out until it is time to eat, she is just having fun with you and you are never going to get anything done. She doesnt need the nourishment, just seems to want to play.
