My dd is 2 now and for the past 2 months is having a lot of sleepless nights. She falls asleep normally but often wakes around 12:30 and can't get back to sleep. If I stay with her she will lay quietly for hours but never really goes back to sleep. When her daddy is the one to get up with her, he actually will try to rock her with the same results... a drowsy resting child, but no sleep. We need to stay with her until she gets back to sleep or else she gets very upset and sleep will be even more elusive, so it makes for very long nights. Eventually she does get back to sleep. Last night she had fallen asleep by 8 (lights out at 7:30) up 1-4 a.m. and then awake for the day at 6:30. She is cranky and tired during the day, but not sleeping well at night.
The strange thing is that she was sleeping most nights (7:30/8 until 7) until December. A few things changed. DH and I were sick, so she went to stay at her grandparents for two nights (she is there daily, so it isn't a big change for her). When she came back, she had one normal night sleep then started this new pattern. She was in a crib and started to climb out, so we converted her crib to a bed. She was a little sick during this time too. We figured that it was perhaps being away from home or being sick or some new developmental stage. But it has gone on for so long now that we aren't sure it won't be like this forever.
In the very beginning when this insomnia started I brought her to bed with me. But she seems to sleep worse and had the same hours long wake periods.
We have tried homeopathics (calms forte, chamomile, and some others), essential oils, calming teas, and anything else that comes to mind. But nothing is working. My husband is suggesting trying melatonin to see if it could help her "reset" but I don't want mess with her bodies own production and make things worse.
I've learned to not get too worried about any new phase because it usually changes after a few weeks. But this doesn't seem to be changing. She has never been a really great sleeper. I was prepared for long sleepless nights during her first year.... but I had no idea that we would still not be getting sleep more than 2 years after she was born.
Anyone have any advice or at least been there too?
The strange thing is that she was sleeping most nights (7:30/8 until 7) until December. A few things changed. DH and I were sick, so she went to stay at her grandparents for two nights (she is there daily, so it isn't a big change for her). When she came back, she had one normal night sleep then started this new pattern. She was in a crib and started to climb out, so we converted her crib to a bed. She was a little sick during this time too. We figured that it was perhaps being away from home or being sick or some new developmental stage. But it has gone on for so long now that we aren't sure it won't be like this forever.
In the very beginning when this insomnia started I brought her to bed with me. But she seems to sleep worse and had the same hours long wake periods.
We have tried homeopathics (calms forte, chamomile, and some others), essential oils, calming teas, and anything else that comes to mind. But nothing is working. My husband is suggesting trying melatonin to see if it could help her "reset" but I don't want mess with her bodies own production and make things worse.
I've learned to not get too worried about any new phase because it usually changes after a few weeks. But this doesn't seem to be changing. She has never been a really great sleeper. I was prepared for long sleepless nights during her first year.... but I had no idea that we would still not be getting sleep more than 2 years after she was born.
Anyone have any advice or at least been there too?
