Sleeping After a Big Change

Hi M. (my daughter's name), it's likely a HUGE transition which will take more than a week or two to 'get used to'. Frankly I rocked my own daughter to sleep til she was nearly 4. You daughter is only 2 right? She's gonna need you extra to get through this new family structure.

Perhaps you can go back to rocking her for now? Maybe ask her whether she would like you to rock her or rub her back, or something else.

EDIT: Sometimes is helps to give her something of yours to sleep with. Something that smells and feels like you, a favorite sweater, tee shirt, bathrobe etc, it's important to tell her it WILL help her sleep. Also be sure you tell her often how you're always there for her first, she may feel threatened by you're sleeping with someone else now, and the new kids in the house. Make sure she knows no matter what, it'll ALWAYS be you and her together!

Take her to buy a 'lovey'. Nothing expensive, just a little stuffed animal you can tell her will help her sleep at night.

When she wakes up (a new house, new situation is scary), put her back to bed, rub her back for awhile, rock her, remind her she has her new 'lovey' that makes sleeping nice.

I'm sorry poor Mamma, feeling totally drained, but this two shall pass, she WILL settle in.

Good Luck!!

Hi!

I know you must be exhausted!! Here's what I suggest.........start a bed time routine.......maybe start brushing her teeth....getting her PJ's on, then read her a book...........also, put music in her room.....nice soft music, it can be easy listening, new age that is soft and quiet....let her fall asleep to it......you also might get her a really nice bear or something to sleep with......something to hug and keep away the scary things.......

Talk to her too......tell her how scary it has been for you to be in a new room.....but over all, it's great living here yes?? Go over her room with her, the closet, etc..........maybe buy some nice things to hang on her wall, that she can look at and of course, have a night light........

You have to understand, it's not just a new house, new room, there's also a new someone in mommies life who is now around all the time too.....taking her away from her mommy......even if she likes him, it's still different, so there are many things she is going through right now....no matter how young, just talk to her........

Good luck and take care.

Maybe a white-noise source, if the music doesn't pan out? I think it is a big transition as the other moms have said.

It's also possible she would have done some of this in your old home, maybe it is partly the age/stage she is in.

I think staying with her until she falls asleep is not a bad thing--over time she will need it less, I bet.

Re the books--you could probably get most anything anyone recommended at the library; if your branch doesn't have it , they can get it from another library.

Good luck

I agree with most of what was said. If she does not have a night light in her room let her go with you and pick one out. Also what about a flashlight? Christmas is comming and maybe a windup flashlight (no batteries needed) Wal Mart sells them for about $13.00. She could go to bed with it and then when she wakes up she can wind it up and have light again.
I used to lay in bed with my son. I would stay there reading a book by flashlight until he fell asleep. I did this until he was 3. He is 4 now. We just moved in July to a new state away from friends and family. It however has been harder on his older sister than on him. He has hardly woken up at all at night compared to what he used to be like. I used to be up with him at least 2 to sometimes 3 times a night. I was lucky to be a stay at home mom because of the lack of sleep I was getting.
I feel for you. She might be scared because of her new surroundings as well as being afraid of loosing your love because now she does not have you all to her self.
I hope she grows out of it fast for your sake. However just keep reminding yourself that she is just a little girl and does not know what every creak and sound is in the new house yet.
Good luck.
L.

If my daughter wakes in the middle of the night, we have a chair in her room. I tuck her back in her big girl bed and tell her I am going to sit in the chair. Then I wait for her to go back to sleep.

Let her help to decorate her room cute with stuffed toys, pillows, bedding, paint color. Make a big deal over her room . Play in her room and even play fun music. Let her see how much fun it will be to play and sleep in her room. Have a cute , kid friendly nite lite. Have her make some artsy pictures to hang in room. Not sure of the age of your daughter. Best wishes.

J.