I'll admit I had been blessed with the perfect little sleeping
child. Since she was 4 months old she has slept from 8pm to 8am and
also took 2-3 hour naps during the day. Recently my 2 year old has
developed a sleeping issue. She wakes up in the middle of the night
crying for me. She won't let me turn the lights off and a night
light isn't enough. I've never put her in my bed with me at
night, she's never wanted to be in my bed for that matter, but
now all she wants in the middle of the night is to be in my bed! So
at 4am I let her cry for about 10 minutes but it doesn't stop
so I end up going and getting her out of bed because she's
hyperventilating most of the time. I'm not sure what triggered
this at all but between working full time, school full time and
this, I'm running on 3 hours of sleep a night. I've thought
about night terrors but she's doesn't have a rapid
heartbeat of any of the symptoms I've read about. The only
thing that has changed in her routine was me being home with her
for a couple extra days during the Holidays and that was weeks ago.
I'm thinking this is just a phase and she'll grow out of
this but does anyone have any suggestions for how to help us cope
with this? Do I need to be firm and not get her out of bed?
**UPDATE!!**
Thanks everyone! I've thought alot about this issue because I
try so hard to not have the "bad" child that everyone
thinks is spoiled. It's very hard for me because she is my only
and it's just her and I. After watching some of her other
behaviors, I do think its just her trying to take the upper hand.
Last night was MUCH better! While she "helped" me make
dinner we talked,even though I didn't know how much of what I
was saying she'd pick up on. I told her that I understood she
was nervous about sleeping now but everything was ok. I also
cleaned up all of her toys that were out, put them out of sight and
cleaned many things out of her crib that could have been a
distraction. We turned the lights off, kept the night light on, and
she slept through the night. I actually had to wake her up this
morning, just like old times! I'm not holding my breath that
this will happen tonight but it definitely helped getting at least
one good night of sleep!
User post: Don't know how much more I can take!
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Comments 1-3 of 3
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Posted by Thu Jan 15, 2009 10:04am PST
Report AbuseHi, hon, I hope thing are getting better for you. What I wish to tell you is that it could be that something has happened to her, while she was awake, that is. Sometimes you can have bad dreams and not be phisically effected, meaning no racing pulse, or anything. I say this because it just all of a sudden just started happening, recently. I wish to tell you this, because I to do this. Just know that the best thing you can do for her, is be there, get her to talk about what she sees. It will help you get to the bottom of it. And, a month or two of her sleeping with you, is alright. Just don't do it too long. take care, and I hope that she will be alright, and that you get some much needed sleep!
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Posted by Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:16pm PST
Report Abusea nightmare? (not night terror)...
something she is fearful of during the day -
maybe not a big change she went through,
but maybe a recent doctor visit,
or met a new dog that scared her,
or just something small.
maybe a lamp would help (brighter than a nightlight).
try monster spray. a spray bottle of water (or scented body spray),
and let her spray her room and bed so that bad stuff stays away.
if she wakes in the night, make sure it is handy, to respray.
does she have an ear infection, or allergies?
apnea?
be patient, as this will not last forever.
i know how frustrating it can be to be so tired,
and NEED sleep, and then have a dilemma like this.
have you tried soft music, classical, white noise?
i will keep thinking.
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Posted by Fri Jan 16, 2009 6:04am PST
Report AbuseMy son is 2 years old as well. He goes to bed around 7:30 or 8 and even if we put him down later than 8, he still wakes up at 4am – every morning, ALL THE TIME. But he takes a 4 hour nap during the day and the boy is healthy so, all it good. We go to bed early too so we get enough sleep (most nights) but I feel your pain.
Here is what my penetration told me to do when my son was 1 and wouldn’t sleep through the night. He said if I know he eat before he went to bed and he isn’t in any pain, I know that he is physically able to sleep through the night. SOooo, if I feel okay with it, just let him cry. Let him cry for as long as he takes and don’t give in because that’s cruel, you’re putting him through something just to tell him “never mind”. If nothing is truly wrong and it is just a faze which it may or may not be, then I was told he will get over it and go back to sleep. It was hard letting my son cry but it never got too bad (Hysterics, or vomiting). Only a mother knows her child’s cry best. I would say that if you know she is okay but just upset or a little scared, then let her cry. One night I even sat outside his room for 45 minutes while he cried (again is wasn’t too bad of a cry). All that only lasted about 6 days.
Good Luck
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