Tantrums in the Middle of the Night!!!!! Anyone Can't Sleep in This House!

Updated on April 18, 2007
R.V. asks from Wilmington, DE
5 answers

My baby girl is now 19 months and is having a very irritable behavior . Once she is in her toddler bed, ready to sleep, she stands up and cries behind the door until she falls sleeep ON THE FLOOR. In the middle of the night, we try to move her back to her bed. But because she is lying down right behind the door, she hears us, and she wakes up once again, and then she starts to cry desperately until she fall asleep ON THE FLOOR one more time. Is the same over and over and over. It is a circle. It's been a month. Last night I had to go to her room 4 times during the night. She was whinning every 2 hours...We don't know what to do. We have sleep depravation. And it breaks my heart knowing my baby is spending the night on the floor when she has a comfy toddler bed. Additionally, during the day she has been very irritable because, obviously, she is not having a good sleep neither. Please help me!!!!

Thans for your help/

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So What Happened?

THANKS to everyone for you help!. Right now is less often, but she is still crying and sleeping behind the door. We moved her to the toddler bed 4 months ago. So, is kind of crazy that she is doing now that she would have done 4 months ago. Anyways, I am just being more patient and trying to understand if she feels more comfy on the floor temporarily, its ok. Eventually she will move back again to the todbed. Thanks mommies!

More Answers

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L.T.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I feel for you. Sleep deprivation is a awful and we hate to see our little ones miserable.

A few questions came to mind as I read your request:

Has there been a change in her bedtime routine? Do you have a bedtime routine that will help her learn to expect that bedtime is near?

Did this behavior change correspond with putting her in a toddler bed? If so, maybe she isn't ready for this sort of change in her surroundings.

You mentioned she lays behind the door and cries. Is the door completely closed? If so, maybe she is scared by that.

Does she have a snack before bedtime? If I skip the evening snack for any reason, my daughter (also 19 months) will wake up in the middle of the night.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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L.

answers from Philadelphia on

Hi R.,
I have to say, I wonder if the fight to get her in her bed is worth all the sleepless nights. I wonder what would happen if you called her bluff and acted like it was perfectly normal for her to sleep on the floor. Don't react to the tantrum and go to bed. Happily kiss her goodnight and close the door. When she falls asleep, leave her there and let her be.

Tantrums are often much more affective if there is a parent on the receiving end that gets upset and reacts. They tend to not be so interesting if the reaction is nothing and the audience isn't plussed by the drama.

What I suspect will happen is that she'll sleep there on the floor for a couple of nights and then decide that her bed is far more comfortable and go back to it. The consequence of sleeping on the floor will be that its uncomfortable and no fun, much better in the bed.

With my two kids, I find that tantrums stop if there's no audience and that consequence is the best teacher there is. It gives the child the choice and control, while helping them make the decision you know is right and wanted all along. Good luck!
L.

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H.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Floors can be uncomfrotable for adults, but children are much easier about sleep surfaces. If she crashes on the floor, I'd say let her go there. Eventually she'll discover that her bed is move comfortable and sleep in it instead. Until then, I'd say uninterupted sleep for all is more important than sleeping in her bed. Can you put a gate in her doorway?? If so, that might help you keep her in, but be able to check on her without disrupting her if she falls asleep right at the doorway.

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A.N.

answers from Philadelphia on

Did this behavior coincide with moving her into the toddler bed? If so, she might not be ready. My daughter is 2.5 and still in her crib. We decided to wait until she showed interest, herself, in sleeping in a "big girl bed."

If you want to keep her in her toddler bed, I might let her sleep on the floor as long as she is warm and safe there. Eventually, she will learn that bedtime is bedtime and will find her way to her bed for the night.

I feel your pain on the sleep deprivation. It is so hard. If all else fails, my pediatrician recommends the Ferber sleep book. I have it but have not gotten to read it yet--to tired to read at the end of the day!

Good luck.

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R.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

Has she always done this or did she used to sleep in her bed fine? Maybe she isn't ready for the toddler bed. If it were me, I'd let her sleep on the floor. It won't hurt her, and she may get a full nights sleep. At least for a night or two, then try again.

For our son, we put a gate in his bedroom doorway so that we can leave his door open a little so he won't be scared. We just don't want him getting out of his room and falling down the stairs in the middle of the night.

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