Sleeping Problems After a Night of Tornado Sirens

I am sorry that you are having to go through this. I had "morning" sickness all day, and it was so much worse at night. I feel your pain. My question to you, since you said she was inconsolable, is does she seem to remember the night of crying? Or does she have like an amnesia to it? Because if she does, she might be having night terrors instead of nightmares. They are very different, and you can search online for symptoms of night terrors. If she is, there is a whole host of things you can do to calm those down. My son had those on and off from 18 months until he was almost 4. But, I agree with the others that a good sleeping routine is the best way to go. Just be loving and consistent, and I am sure in a few weeks, the phase may pass.

H M., I bet all those sirens and noise were quite stressful/scary for her, at least, it sounds like she is exhibiting signs like that. I would give it some time. Like any other event that can create stress for the little ones, sometimes they "regress" to needing more comfort after being more independent ---

for example --- when a baby wants to nurse more while they are teething even if they are primarilly eating solid foods and drinking out of a cup. (my son, 18 months)

I believe in consistency in general but also like to take into account if there are extenuating circumstances (sirens, teething) that might change a baby's general reactions or behavior.

One thing - is she talking yet? the whole sirens in the middle of the night - espeecially if you yourself were scared and anxious - might have thrown her otherwise safe and predictable night-time world for a loop. If she is reading stories with you - you might want to think about checking out some storm/tornado books from the library to explain WHY there were sirens, and how you reacted.

Another thought perhaps - take her by a fire station and/or point out when sirens go off when you are driving down the street - we hear a lot of sirens where we live in Lex. just because we are close to 3 hospitals so I don't think my boy reacts as much to that except to note an ambulance or firetruck is going by. If you can show her the source of the noise - and then tell her something that she can understand about why they are making it that also might reassure her some.

Other than that - why not let her fall asleep with you for a week or so - but continue to place her in her own crib once she's asleep so that she wakes up there. also - you could give her some play-time in the middle of the day in the crib so that she can get used to it again and not feel like it is a scary place to be at night but more familiar.

Just some thoughts. good luck!

Our daughter had horrible,screaming night mares for 5 weeks after 911 happened. She was in Kindergarted at the time and we lived in California (very far from N.Y. and D.C.) and yet it really effected her. Then about a year or so later, she heard about the kidnapping of young girls right from their bedrooms, and the whole 5 weeks of nightmares happened all over again after finding out about each instance or after hearing any kind of bad new. For years she has been unable to go to sleep without us. Keeping the hallway light on helped. Finally, she received as a gift a bubble machine (it's a fake aquarium with fake fish). It's in her room. This background noise soothed her and she started sleeping through the night.When she was 10 yrs. old, she got a german shephard mix dog who sleeps tied up to her bed at night and now she will go into her bedroom alone at night. For your baby, try sound tapes (they sell them at Target)and play the soft ocean or other nature sounds or slow instrumental music on a taperecorder all night. We just moved to Nahville and experienced our first tornado warnings, so I had to sleep with her again (she's 13 now). So I do whatever it take as a parent even now to help her sleep. Good luck and God bless you, S.

Hi M.,

I'm a mom of 6 and have been through this and am going through it right now. Follow your regular routine, but her down and walk out of the room. In five minutes go back give her kisses, tell her Mommy loves her it's time to go night night, and leave the room. Next time wait 10 minutes, then 15, then 15, ... Don't pick her up, don't talk about being afraid, just a sweet happy you're OK and Mommy's is here.

You may want to set a timer to make yourself wait that long to begin with. The first couple of days may be hard for a half hour or so, but not as hard as long term if you don't get her back to routine quickly. This isn't just about bedtime. You are forming her character now and teaching her how to respond to changes in routine, new situations, and the little unexpected things life throws at us.

This is a normal occurence (trust me I have been through it twice). If she has never heard a tornado siren before then it is going to be a bit of a battle to get her to adjust to them. It more than likely just scared her and she just needs to know that mommy and daddy are there. Both my son and my daughter were the same way. I am pregnant myself right now and it does contribute a little to the childs behavior. Give her the same amount of attention but at the same time try to explain to her that she is going to be a big sister soon. I told my two that and they seemed to calm down. Let her rub your tummy and still hold her and let her lay on your stomach/chest area for a while. To calm her down at night before going to bed try some bedtime lotion in her or a warm bath with the johnson's bedtime bath. It has always calmed my kids down. She may need to have some sort of music or something as well to calm her down enough to where you don't have to be in the room 24/7 for her to go to sleep. It is just an attachment thing, but she needs to learn that she mommy and daddy aren't always going to be there or run to her rescue everytime she cries. Try just letting her cry for a while, it sounds mean but in all actuality it isn't. I have had to do that with my two. Instead of giving her a bottle, upgrade her to a sippy cup and explain to her that she is a big girl now so she has to drink from big girl cups and go to bed and stay asleep like a big girl does. Treat her like a big kid instead of a baby, she may need that to get over the "I'm going ot be attached to your hip" thing.

Hope it helps.

Hi! I do some interior design free lance also and love it. I have 4 children between 11 and 2. The only thing I can say is that is seems to me that children at 1 1/2 and 2 start forming memories and start to dream. Tornado sirens could definetely contribute to that. Try to stay as calm as possible and explain that mommy and daddy are ALWAYS going to be near and take care of you. More than anything though, stick to the old routine, or you will be forming a new perhaps unlikable one from your sympathy. In time she should go back to her old ways. We have found that any of lifes stresses cause sleeping problems among other things. Go in, calmly console her, explain that you are in your bed and it is night time, if she calms down a bit try to leave. If you stay intil she is asleep again she will be starting the pattern of thinking that anytime she is stressed or dreaming, you will need to be there to put her to sleep. I know this seems harsh since she is the first and still so young. I am sure you are exhausted though and do not want this to last especially when the new baby comes. Good Luck, A. L

At 19 months she may have problems understanding all that is going on with the sirens, storms, etc. Try playing soothing music on a stereo in her room or while holding her before bedtime. Once you find a soothing music or sound track that she likes, let it play all night. It should help calm her while blocking out other noise in the night.