help needed: Re Toddler waking

Oh boy the past 2mths have been a nightmare at night, Rhi is waking 2-6 times a night, wont go down till late...is sleeping about 3 hours in the middle of the day from about 10-1pm.

I take her out during the day to tire her out, we go to the park etc....cant blame her molars, just dont know what to do..

need to stop this coming into our room and waking us, and wanting to get into our bed...maybe im just gonna have to get tough...i CANNOT do the cry out method, its too heartbreaking, and she makes herself so sick with distress that its more trouble than its worth...but any other ideas would be great

Charlotte and Rhiannon are about the same age give or take a day or 3. We have always had problems and in the end, we have had to give in and she sleeps with us. Its more for my sanity than anything else, I could not wake up 2-6 times a night and then still get up at 5am to come to work.

I have been told that eventually she will grow out of wanting to sleep with us every night. I do transfer her to her bed sometimes (when I haven't fallen asleep at 8pm with her like last night - oops!) But she has to be in a very deep sleep for me to be able to do it because otherwise its tears and screaming, which like you, I can not cope with - I feel too mean. She will sleep some nights entirely in her own but more often than not, we get her climbing into our bed at about 3-4am.

I guess it depends on what you guys can put up with. Unfortunately I cant see a way without the CIO method and at this age, its even more heartbreaking, especially when you haven't done it before. Its like they are being punished and they dont understand why.

How long has it been going on for? It sounds a bit habit like and I wonder if you let her sleep with you for a few nights, get into the sleep pattern again then try her back in her own bed? I really dont know (this advice comes from one who puts up with feet in her back every night!)

I can't help at all but just wanted to let you know I know what you're going through.

Michaela's just started doing the exact same thing but I barely wake when she comes into our room and DH doesn't share my bed during the week so Michaela just climbs in.

Like you I think I just have to get tough and keep putting her back until she gets the idea (but it's easier said than done in the middle of the night and early hours of the morning).

p.s. noticed Rhiannon and Michaela are only a few days apart - maybe these ratbags are communicating.

okay so maybe its just an age thing, i must admit i am going to get tough tonight...Rhi is asleep at the moment, as been out for almost 2 hours, so it does mean tonight she will go down a bit later...so the plan is

to hve dinner at usual time, the we are going to mcds playground for an hour or so, home for a shower and into bed...fingers crossed it works

Kazzle wrote: to hve dinner at usual time, the we are going to mcds playground for an hour or so, home for a shower and into bed...fingers crossed it works

Have you guys managed to convince the girls that the shower is actually ok? I am still having a huge problem with it, I got her in there night before last but it was clingy tears and howls. It just saves soooo much time and water!

I am going to try again tonight. I did manage to get her to laugh once the other night by putting my head under and spluttering (the things we do for these kids!) But she still isn't that happy about the shower!

And good luck tonight Kaz - I hope you have better luck than me! (I am faaaar too soft!)

when its time for Rhiannon to have a shower we do the following things

we go to the cupboard and get her flannel (she picks 2)..one for her to wipe her face with, one for us to use to wash her.

She then picks which stuff she wants to use in the shower, (only give her a choice of 2)

we then turn the water on, and undress, when water is warm enough we help her climb in, she then backs into the water, and we just go from there...no tears no dramas, (well most the time...lol)

well, we went to mcds, had a play, came home gave her a shower, put her to bed at 7.30pm and she has only been asleep for about 30mins

but at least she went to sleep in her bed and is still there

Kazzle wrote: well that lasted until 3am, when i moved to her bed, but i must admit to getting some pleasure in waking her at 6.30am

LOL I feel the same way when Michaela's been a ratbag.

Good that it was only one wakeup and maybe with you moving into her bed she'll get the idea that that's where she should stay and eventually she'll stay there without waking you (that's what I'm hoping for anyway).

Having said that Michaela slept through last night and even slept in late this morning - ok, so I'm just bragging a bit now although I really shouldn't because I think she has a cold which'll be why she slept so well.

I know, I hate sickness too but so far we've been pretty lucky with her she's only had a handful of sniffles in her life (pretty sure being a stay at home first born helps).

Good luck (for both of us) for a good sleep tonight.