Sleeping Issues and Sleep Medications

While you wait to talk to the Dr there's no reason she can't have a tsp of benadryl to try and get you through the night!

I took ambien when I was pregnant. Check with your Dr. I have a 2 1/2 year old who was waking several times a night and waking his brother (11 months), I just got so mad about it that I turned on all the vents (noise), took a ambien, closed my door and didn't worry about it for 2 or 3 nights. That's all it took and now he's sleeping thru. It's funny tho, my second child never had sleep issues like my first. I guess we learn...good luck!

I agree with others that it's worth consulting a doctor. I just wanted to check that you did the actual cry it out program by Dr. Ferber as in his book Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems. Many people think cry it out is just letting your child cry. The real program is actually strategic and compassionate, teaching your child that you will be there for her, but that she can fall asleep on her own. My daughter was like yours for the first 10 1/2 months and then we did Ferber's cry it out. She's slept great ever since. I can't imagine 2 years of that and now being pregnant. I understand the desire to look into medication, but I really don't think that's going to help you. She needs to learn how to go to sleep on her own or if there's a physical problem, you need to find out what that is. Sleep medications are just going to cover up the problem, not make it go away.

You poor thing, I felt tired reading this. Definitely get some tips from your pedi. With your next one, since you are pregnant, make sure you let it learn some self soothing while it is little. Let her/him have a paci if it needs it and lay it down awake to fall asleep on its own--really young ones can do this sometimes because they are so unaware that they are "missing out" on anything. Self soothing and learning to put ones self to sleep are valuable skills that your second one can learn early. I am sure you will get your first born straightened out though and all this sleeplessness will be a distant memory. Good luck!

Talk to your pediatrician about having a sleep study done. There may be something physical like apnea or neurological going on that wont allow her to get into a good, restorative sleep pattern. Good luck!!!

Things to consider:
1. How long did you try the cry it out method? It takes several nights in a row.

2. Is she healthy? Eating well? Good weight? Not teething? No ear infection? If yes, you have to let her cry!

3. Sleep medication for myself has helped me a lot.

4. Sleepy time tea might relax your little one (chamomile tea). At this age, you can add a little honey for taste.

5. Get someone to help you out for a few nights to give you a break. A grandparent that can stay with you at night - or take your little one for a few nights and let you catch up on some sleep. You will be better able to handle it then and can make clear decisions then.

6. I've been where you are - and you are right. At this point, your sanity is more important than the fact that your baby is crying.

7. Have you tried letting her sleep in her swing? It did wonders for me.

8. Also, I used to let my babies have a bottle or sippy cup next to the bed that they can get for themselves. It helped calm my fears of them truly being hungry. If they were hungry, they could get it themselves.

9. If nothing is wrong with her, then you will have to remain calm but become more stubborn than she is. You will have to be firm. But, make sure you get some help first as you will need all the energy you have to stay calm when you do this. You can't do this if you are already strung out. Get some help to to help you do this. It sounds like she just has a bad habit and refuses to give it up easily. You will have to make her.

First you make it sound like you consider giving a pacifier to a child a bad thing. It is not, it can be a very good tool to use for self soothing. However, allowing a child to suck a pacifier until 2 or 3 years old is a little much.

I doubt if you are pregnant you will be able to take any form of sleep medication. I don't see how it would ok for the baby you are carrying.

I don't agree with the cry it out method myself. We tried it with my son and it was excruciating.

Speak with your child's pedi. Look for other methods, etc. Sleep medication for yourself cannot be the way to go when you are pregnant.

CL, I feel for you! You mention you have tried letting her cry it out. Have you done any research on it to see if you are doing it correctly? It's SOOOOO hard. I would highly recommend asking your doctor if there is a book he/she can suggest on this. My son slept through the night early on. My daughter was waking up like a newborn unyil she was 11 months old. She cried hysterically when I started the cry it out method. It was very scary for me and gut wrenching. The cry it out method was so much easier with my son than it was for my daughter. It felt like an eternity but it lasted about 3 or 4 days. Every night was better and better. Then, she would cut a tooth or get sick and it would mess her all up again. She is 2 now and has been a great sleeper for about 6 months. I would definitely try the cry it out method again. Research it before you do just to make sure you are doing everything right. It will not happen overnight. I would also mention this to your pediatrican, just in case he/she has any thoughts. Good luck to you! I hope you get some sleep soon and I hope you new baby is a good sleeper! :) Everyone deserves at least one good sleeper! :)

Dear CL,

Your circumstances sound just like ours were. My daughter did not sleep through the night (6 hours straight) until she was 24 months old! She woke up every 3 hours for no reason at all. I was so sleep deprived I do not have any memory of that time, and neither does my husband. What we finally did was this.....we transitioned her from our bed, to her "big girl bed". We made a big deal about the bed, it was a queen size bed (w/rails) that both she and I could sleep in. My husband and I would take turns (like we always did) getting her to sleep. It involved a story, cuddling, and turning out the lights. It would take her about 15-30 minutes to fall asleep, then we would get up (or not,if we fell asleep with her). At night she would wake up and cry out, and one of us would get in bed with her again, and she would fall back asleep. As long as she didn't get too awake, we were fine. We never talked, we just cuddled, and ssshhh'd her. Immediately, she began sleeping longer through the night. I think that not having either of us moving around in our sleep made her sleep more soundly, too. It was a process, it didn't happen overnight. It took several months for her to actually sleep through the night. I was so accustomed to getting up, for a while I got up every 3 hours just to check on her. Once I started sleeping through the night again, I realized how important it was to my well being and my patience with her. Meds are not the answer. Avoid high protein foods at night, especially chicken. Good luck.

if the doc says she is in good health than there is no reason for her not to be sleeping threw the night. put her in the crib when she cries in the middle of the night go in and pat her back do not pick her up. then tell her its night time and to go to sleep leave. if (when) 30 mins passes go in again and do the same but do not pick her up. it sounds like she is spoiled to your being there 24/7 but like you said its for your familys happieness. i would contact a doctor about any sleep medication givin to her even if its all natural. good luck.

You did everything for her except for teach her how to sleep and self soothe. If you nursed her or bounced her every time she woke up when she was an infant, that is what she learned was the way it is supposed to happen. You can't blame her for being frustrated (screaming like she is being tortured) now when you are changing these up on her. She is trying to tell you, "Mom, what are you doing? This is not the way we do things." I would suggest either reading Ferber Sleep Solutions or talking with your pedi MD. Also, the Baby Whisperer suggests a modified cry it out solution that you could try. Just decide what you are going to do, and STICK TO IT. It's not fair to your daughter to not. Good luck. Remember, she just weaned 2 months ago, so she is dealing with a lot of change. Even adults don't handle change that well, let alone a little almost 2 year old.

Have you tried benadryl?

Also, look at her diet. She could be having a reaction to something. Allergies or sensitivities are not always nasal or hives. My Middle child is sleeping MUCH better since we have him on an all natural diet.

See feingold.org or adhddiet.com (same website). This is what we use. We have found that he is sensitive to grapes and some other things and we have cut them completely out of his diet.

Good Luck.

I feel so sorry for you!!! (the sleep, that is) 22 months, I would think, is definetly far past the age of sleeping through the night. I would have to agree with the other post. Take her to a pedi. If your not getting answers there, move on to a medical professional that can help. In my opinion, sleep meds are not the answer.

Another thought I have is the growing frustration. Could that possibly be a trigger? How is her diet? Could that be a trigger? Is she napping? If so, how long? If I were you, I would document all food intake, sleeping patterns and activity level for several days. Simply write these observations down an a piece of paper, then make an appointment with your familys pedi. Then go from there. Dont forget, ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS, dont be embarassed, take that Dr's time...dont feel rushed.

I hope that you find the solution that you are looking for. I hope you find sleep. I hope you have a very SLEEP-FILLED holiday season!!!

Good luck!
Margaret :)