Anyone else struggling with huge sleep change?

[dexlor]

I posted a frantic message last week when this started and got lots of good support and today I need any tips or suggestions anyone can offer. Our almost 2 year old DD used to go to bed between 8 and 8:30. Routine is always the same--dinner, bath, story, milkies, bed. Last Thursday, she was wide awake as soon as we put in in her crib. She has woken up before as we lay her down but she eventually goes to sleep. We could not leave the room without her wailing. Nothing worked. So, the new routine is we bring her to our bed, she falls asleep almost instantly. When we know she is really out, we transfer her to her crib. I love sleeping with her but she is a thrasher and I'm a light sleeper. Sometimes, she stays in her crib all night...even at times, waking up and talking to herself but she will go to sleep. Other times, we have to bring her back to bed with us.

Friends have suggested switching to a toddler bed but not sure how that would make a difference. She goes down just fine for her daytime nap. She did have a runny nose when this started last week and we had her tested for strep since another child her her daycare had it but it came back negative. Today her mucous is yellow and thicker so maybe she has gradually been getting sicker so that might be cause for the change? When she's been sick in the past she has not had trouble falling asleep in her crib. She has nightlights in her room (2). We've tried turning one off and leaving them both on. We've tried lullabies on the Ipod, no lullabies, sound of nature CD, and no sounds at all.

Thanks for any guidance you can offer!

[dexlor]

Any tips at all? Even thoughts on switching to a toddler bed at 23 months? Bueller? Bueller?

[louloubean]

poor kid, colds are no fun at any age! maybe that's what is up?

it sounds like you are on the right course (trying everything until SOMETHING works - or the kid just figures it out and sleeps!)

i guess we switched to toddler beds when our babies figured out how to climb out of the crib.

i loved having the babies in bed, but also hate getting kicked awake all night (how DO they get so darn strong?)

we are having a tough time with sleep right now, but i always blame it on the season changing, and the fact that my children are solar powered.
i wore them out on the playground today, so hopefully i will get some sleep tonight soon (as the three year old is still awake..having been put to bed 2 hours ago) he stays down, and quiet, but sometimes wanders out here into the kitchen. i am just about to check him, and then sleeeeep!!!

hope that you find a little peace soon too!

[twinergy]

What does her sleep routine look like over the entire day? It sounds to me me like she is over tired and may be needing an earlier bed time while she is sick. If she is coughing or having trouble breathing maybe raise her head. Have you had her to the doc to rule out a sinus or ear infection?

[BettinaAuSucre]

I am having problems with my DD going to bed about 7pm and waking up at 2am. My hubby and i dont co-sleep but have considered it because we are a family who loves their sleep.

[slgt]

DD (now 25 months) went through a rough sleep phase from...maybe 14-16 or 18 months? Or longer? I forget so quickly! Anyways, both naps & nighttime she would NOT settle down, and one of us would have to lie in her room with her until she fell asleep. It would usually take over an hour to get her to sleep, again both night & nap.

She sleeps in a toddler bed in her own room (escape artist by 14 months), and gets wayyyyyy to stimulated if we try to have her sleep in bed with us - she just wants to play!

She was also, during this time, waking during the night and often it would take an hour or more to settle her back down.

I kept telling myself that it was just a phase, and it was. Development? 2-year molars? Moon phases? Tides? Who knows, but it was a phase. She now settles in for both bed & nap on her own, is asleep within 10 minutes, and sleeps soundly through the night.

Toddlers.
Everything is a phase.