Sleeping Issues - Clermont,FL

For us a gradual approach to helping our daughter learn to fall asleep was best -- I just couldn't do cry it out. I would time how long you usually rock her to sleep and then start rocking her for shorter and shorter times. We would listen to some music and at first I rocked her for three songs, then a week later I rocked her for only two songs, the next week one song. Each night when the final song of the night started I would tell her, "at the end of this song I'm going to put you in your crib." Once I put her in her crib I would lay down next to her crib and sometimes sing until she was quiet. Finally I was just rocking her for a minute or two, putting her in her crib completely awake and able to leave the room almost immediately after -- it took a few months to work up to this level, but for me it was worth it because we never had to do cry it out. Good luck.

Honestly I don't believe that rocking her has anything to do with the getting up during the night. I rocked my girls as long as they would let me. I would say that maybe she is getting to much sleep during the day or being put down to be to early at night. You don't say if she naps during the day. If she does maybe you could cut the nap out and see if that helps. Leave a night light on in her room and give her a special bed toy that she is only allowed to have when in bed. You could try leaving music playing low in her room at night also. She may just be afraid when waking up alone. Also is she potty trained or training? This could have something to do with it. Do you take her potty when she wakes up? Honestly , to be of real help you would have to give more details then you have given....I personally would continue to rock her as long as she will let you...my girls are 22 and 24 and talk about how much my rocking them when they were little meant to them...most parents don't want to waste their time rocking...but it is well worth it..she will be grown and gone before you know it and you will be wishing you could rock her one more time. I never had the issue with either of my girls getting up and not wanting to go back to their beds. But they also had a full day of play every day. From when they got up in the morning until they went to bed at night. If weather permitted they were outside playing all day. Outdoor play helps them rest better. When they couldn't go out because of rain we would do their little sing and dance videos and they also had little brooms, mops, kitchen stuff, etc...in their play room to play with. We also had story time after lunch and again after supper. The more day time activity the better they sleep at night. Lay on her bed after dark and look around the room. Are their shadows coming in from light outside? Are there too many toys in her room? Well actually you don't state if she is in her crib still or a bed. If she is in a crib it's time to move her into her own big bed. Some children just want to sleep in a big bed and don't really care if it's their parents or their own. Good Luck!

My daughter turns 2 next month. She communicates very well so I have been asking her what is wrong. She is waking up too. She has been afraid every since Halloween. She thinks the monsters are real and she is afraid. I keep telling her there are no more monsters before bed. She keeps asking to watch scary movies because she feels better if she can physically SEE the monstters (obviously I dont let her watch monster movies but the baby sitter brought Scooby doo over one night ..BOOOO)
I bought her a special new doll for her crib that she sleeps with to help when she is afraid. Of course she still woke up in the middle of the night...but I waited 10 mins and went in and tucked her back in...lasted about a week and now she is fine. I have never brought her to our bed so I dont know if your dd is now wanting to always just be in your bed. Sorry about the waking..if its not one thing its another right?
I am now having her do more "santa" things...getting her focused OFF the Halloween and monsters and doing Frosty and Santa Claus. that seemed to really help her not mention the scary things anymore.
Something else to consider is the 2 year molars...Mine does not have it, but try giving some motrin before bedtime for 3 nights....see if that helps.
Good luck

i have a very similar situation, only i know the reason behind it. we just moved so that is making my daughter not sleep. she went from being in my bed, to having her own room and her own bed. she's doing good going to sleep but can't stay asleep. what i do is i have her room dark, with a princess night light. she gets certain stuffed animals in her bed, like the stuffed elephant that is almost as big as she is that my boyfriend bought her. she lays down, and i sit beside her bed, somtimes i will pat her back or rub her head until she falls asleep, then i leave the room. i leave her door cracked slightly so when she wakes in the middle of the night she can come get me. i haven't found a way to keep her in bed. i if i let her cry she throws up everywhere. so please, if you get any good advice that works, let me know!! i'm tired of sleeping on the couch, instead of in my bed.

We went through the same thing with our daughter recently. I think it had to do with a lot of changes happening all at once. She started talking a lot at this time, we had just went on a trip for several weeks to grandma and grandpa's house- new bed new room, she graduated to her toddler bed from the crib, she became potty trained and I think she started developing some new fears. We changed her room from extra dark to light, by leaving the curtains open a bit more and adding a night light. Then as we rocked her we sang some songs and talked a lot about going to bed. Mommy and Daddy go nite nite too etc... For a week or two we would rock her several songs then put her in bed and lie beside it. She never had a security item- but giving her a sippy cup to hold with a little bit of water seemed to make her feel secure. In a short time she was back to sleeping all night and even wanting to get in her bed by herself and have her back rubbed a bit before we slipped out. I think what you are going through is completely normal. Good luck! She'll be over this phase soon!

Changed her diet recently? More carbohydrates? Take a look, that often causes the change.
best, k

Get the book Good Night Sleep Tight - it helped us big time with our daughter and is now helping us with our son!

the family bed is awesome, teaches children comfort, love, safety, security AND independence. Snuggle her, love her and enjoy every moment. Before you know it, you'll be at her wedding.

Hello Y.,
I'm very anxious to read the responses. My husband and I are dealing with the same situation with our 2 year old daughter. Every night like clock work she's up and crying and we let her sleep with us just so we can go back to sleep. Good luck:-)))

Your problem sounds behavioral on one hand and could be sensory on another. She needs a sensory diet of activities throughout the day and before bed to prepare her body, brain and central nervous system for the transition. The behavioral part is easy because once her brain is flooded with chemicals she will be snoozing and you guys wont have to rock or get up in the night. Change what you are doing and she will change. If you need help with sensory diet let me know.