HELP! 4 yo DD not sleeping!

[Valerieg]

Prior to switching her to a big girl bed (which happened around 3 yo) my DD slept from 8-8 peacefully in her crib and for the most part napped from 1-4. Everyday!

Once we switched her to a big girl bed it was terrible and actually led to no nap and sleep time being much shorter. But even then, once we got her to stay in there, she'd sleep from 8/9-7.

But, last night was terrible, and we've had a lot of rough nights for quite awhile. I'm pretty sure that my DD didn't even go to sleep. DH was up with her from 1:15-3:15 and I was up with her from 3:15-6:30. Unfortunately, when she finally fell asleep, my DS woke up at 6:50!

I'm almost 32 weeks PG with twins. I need my sleep. And DH doesn't do very well without sleep either. We really need to find a solution and quick. Before this past week DH did get up with her the majority of the time but I can tell he's at his wits end and I don't like the parent he becomes. But, did I mention, I need sleep?

Any suggestions?

[LynnS6]

Short term? Try a dose of melatonin to get her to fall asleep at a reasonable hour -- when my kids are overtired, they wake more in the middle of the night. Melatonin is safe for kids. You can get a child-sized/friendly dose in most natural foods stores.

Have you tried white noise or music at night?

What does she do when she's up for so long? When my kids are up in the night, the most I'm willing to do is lie on the floor in their room while they fall back asleep. And even these days, since they're older, they get to come into our room and sleep on my floor. My old bones need a bed!

Long term: Consider something like a bed tent to give her a more enclosed feel. It sounds like she liked the smallness of the crib. Does she have any other symptoms of sensory issues? (A good list is here.) If she does, you might consider a weighted blanket (and an eval by an Occupational Therapist with experience in sensory issues).

I'd also keep a 'sleep diary' for her about when she sleeps and for how long, along with a list, perhaps of things that were going on each day. Can you figure out a pattern? Is this anxiety? Food related?