I would love any tips on how to curb her anxiety.
2006-07-04 14:03:21 · 12 answers · asked by Eaglesfan 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Please don't "let her freak out until she falls asleep". That is just sad.
My DS co-slept with us until he was around that age. And he doesn't have issues sleeping.
Maybe change your bedtime routine or give her a bath with some calming lavender?
You might also try staying with her until she falls asleep. That is how we got DS in his own bed.
For three or four nights, I stayed with him comforting him with my touch and voice. I didn't pick him up unless he really started crying.
Then for another three or four nights, I soothed him with just my voice from the door (If you have a big room, you might do half way to the door) - again, not picking him up or touching him unless he was really crying - not just fussing.
After that, I stood on the other side of the closed door and soothed him from there.
After just three nights of that, I could complete our bedtime routine, sing him two songs and tell him "Go to sleep. Mommy will be back to check on you in a few minutes." No crying, fussing or anything.
There are better ways than letting your sweet little girl cry and freak out until she falls into an exhausted sleep.
2006-07-04 14:26:21 · answer #1 · answered by Mustang Gal 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Find out what is causing the anxiety. Does she say what is scaring her? Why she won't sleep alone? If it is a fear you can "fix" the problem and ease her fears.
If she refuses to tell you why, or if there is no reason it could be she is wanting attention. Is there a new boyfriend? New baby? New work schedule?
It could also be a fear of you leaving her, abandonment issues. Has there been a death in the family? Divorce? Family pet death? Sibling move out of the house?
If it is attention or sbandonment you can sit her down and explain that you are going no where and that you love her. Maybe spend some time with her and assure her that nothing has changed. Maybe buy her a new doll/toy to sleep with, or a pet.
You really need to know why, before you figure out how to fix it.
2006-07-04 14:12:56 · answer #2 · answered by charice266 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We gave our older daughter a light that she can turn on herself, from in bed, whenever she worries. A flashlight that the child has to squeeze or pinch to keep on would work, too.
She also sleeps with some stuffed animals--dogs--that "keep her company" and "look after her" while she's sleeping. And she has a security blanket.
The last and most important item, however, is an empty spray bottle (the sort that a travel-sized hairspray might come in). It's "filled' with magic spray that can keep anything worrisome away. Poof! At 3, she knows this is kind of silly, but it makes her feel better. We don't need it (or the light, or the stuffed animals) when we travel, but they're great when we're at home.
2006-07-04 16:26:09 · answer #3 · answered by Yarro Pilz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow this one brings back memories for me my daughter started this right out of the blue right about that age too and we were so stunned we did not know what to do. We later found out that it was the whole monsters thing but that was about 3 months down the road, what ended up working for us was a new collection of classical music that is played low in her room every night as she goes to sleep. She deemed it her monster music and she says that monsters don't like that kind of music so as long as it is playing she is fine. So you might try playing music at night it will help her to go to sleep but I don't recommend her sleeping with you or anything like that or it will be a harder habit to break we learned that one the hard way. She is now 5 and she still has to have her monster music on but hey it works.
2006-07-05 21:36:08 · answer #4 · answered by calraisin_98 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
at this age they are starting to get an imagination. If she is scared of monsters and things like that then you need to find a way to make her feel safe. what I did was I got an empty spray bottle you know the kind you can get for watering plants? Anyway you fill the bottle with scented water any pleasant sent will work. Then you tell your child that this is monster/ghost keep away spray. spray it around her bed doorway closet window anyplace that a monster might be able to get in. Tell her as long as you do this nothing can get her. This helped with my kids because it made them feel safe. Also it made their rooms smell nice. I hope this helps you some.
2006-07-05 02:54:10 · answer #5 · answered by happy_jean 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read her a nice book, have a tape of baby tunes - maybe a night light.
Try to stay with her a few minutes as she doses off. Re-assure her that you are always watching over her.
It might be that she saw something like a Shadow from a window, make sure the curtains are drawn-in.
Maybe talk about things you will do tomorrow - but she must sleep.
2006-07-04 14:10:34 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wow, I'v never heard of that till now. Is it a threat that something has scared her? Noises from the loft? Cat bounce on her in her sleep? I hate to ask this, yet you're particular no-one has approached her in her very own room in a manner they could desire to no longer? that's a soreness interior the bum, yet why do no longer you attempt giving her room a makeover? We those days enable our daughter choose for her very own paint (with some encouragement faraway from the brighter colorings!) and we drew love hearts throughout her wall with stencils. She loves her room now and is amazingly happy to circulate to mattress there. Even basically rearranging the furnishings could help, making it look like a different room? attempt passing it slow in there together with her in the process the day, doing exciting stuff. Even basically analyzing books together or playing ought to help. reliable luck.
2016-11-01 05:18:54 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My two year old sleeps in the living room. Even if we move him to his cute toddler bed, he freaks out about 2 or 3 am and refuses to go back to sleep.
Sorry I'm not much help
2006-07-04 14:56:31 · answer #8 · answered by njyecats 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, she is almost 2 years old now. I am guessing you, let her sleep in your bed a lot early on. Assuming you have all the basics, favorite stuffed animal, balnket, nightlite... all you can really do is let her freak out till she falls asleep.
This is easier the younger they are, but it is important that you break this habit before its to late.
2006-07-04 14:08:54 · answer #9 · answered by tm_tech32 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this sounds kinda dumb, but it worked for my niece... i got a "wand" (it can be a stick, whatever)..told her it was magic and can keep all bad things including dreams away and would make her room totally safe... walked aroung the room with it, waved it under the bed and in the closet... and got her to go lay back down, and put the magic wand next to ger bed-- told her if she got scared..just wave it and everything would be safe again---and after that she was fine
2006-07-04 14:10:09 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋