My daughter is 22 months... she needs me to sit in her room in order for her to fall asleep, she plays w/ a beauty mark (mole) on my jaw line (she's been doing this since she was 5 months old) She doesn't know how to fall asleep on her own. The problem now is she WANTS to sleep in her own bed, but when she wakes up at 3am and realizes I'm not there she gets upset so I sit by her bed waiting for to fall back asleep while she plays w/ my mole (by this she just rubs her finger over it) she'll fall back asleep I sneak out and five mins later she wakes again... this goes on for like two hours... and when I try to give up and take her to my bed she cries "own bed, own bed"... I've even sewed a mole on one of her teddy bears.I don't know what else to do besides putting her in her room and closing the door and letting her scream, which I don't really want to do. Any suggestions? I have also have a 3 month old now so staying up 2 to 3hrs a night isn't as do able.
2007-03-02 05:32:09 · 9 answers · asked by second time around 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Why don't you try gradually moving out of her room? Start by sitting next to her bed, but don't let her touch you. Just be sure she can see you. Once she's comfortable with that, move a little closer to the door. Keep that up for awhile, and eventually, you will be out the door. It may take a few nights, but she'll get the picture. You have to be firm and consistent. Pretty soon, she'll be able to sleep with just a good-night hug and kiss. I saw this on Supernanny and tried it with my 2 year old son. It worked wonders! It only took us like three nights of this before it was just lights out and good night.
2007-03-02 06:20:32 · answer #1 · answered by Shelly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When my son was eight months he would scream everytime we put him down for a nap or bedtime. Finally with my husband on board, I developed a routine for ALL caregivers before he goes to bed. It started out with 45 minutes books and soft music, quiet playtime and some rocking. Initially he cried when I left the room. But eventually over time, he went to sleep without a fuss. When he was more comfortable with the routine I would also gradually remove one of the elements such as play time, then rocking. He is 22 months now, walks himself to bed, will look at a book quietly and we play soft music from a variety of CD's. If you introduce a cuddle toy of somesort make sure you have more than one. We have 4 Snoopy's for hime, 1 goes to day care, 1 will go with him to other peoples home or for long car rides and one always stays home. The 4th is just an extra. Same with music use multiple CD's so your child is not dependent on just one. In the middle of the night, get up check to make sure she has not wet through her diaper, give her a hug, tell her you love her and walk away. She will cry herself to sleep and yes eventually it will stop. Your goal is to help her become independent which can hurt us as parents but it will be much worse for her as a child if she isn't able to fall asleep on her own. And think about your own nightly rituals, do you do similar things each night to help tell your body it is time for bed. Oh, and stick to a relatively consistent bedtime. Beleive it or not, my son has actually told us a few nights, "nigh nigh" and went to his room. Daycare loves him because he is the only 1 in his room who goes down for a nap willingly. I am getting ready to start the same process with my six month old.
2007-03-02 06:30:08 · answer #2 · answered by ma2snoopy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hate to break it to you, but the only way to do it is to let her scream. It seems as though you've been thorough in trying other options. Put a baby gate at her door so she will be safe, put a noise machine in your other baby's room, put a noise machine or fan in your room and you won't hear her. I know it's hard, but seriously, after a week or two she'll fall asleep on her own. Just make sure that you aren't sitting in there the first time she falls asleep. Each night will get easier. You aren't going to want to have to repeat this with your second baby. At the same time, it's not going to be fair to your second baby if your first gets major snuggle time every night. Best of luck! It WILL get better!
2007-03-02 05:39:51 · answer #3 · answered by Sit'nTeach'nNanny 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A few weeks ago I seen on Nanny 911 (tv show) this family had a 2 year old boy and at night when they went to put him to sleep they had to lay down in bed with him unitl he fell asleep and he would wake up everytime they got up...that hadn't slept in the same bed since he was first born...what the nanny done was at night she would make the father go in and tuck the little boy in and tell him goodnight and walk out of the room and stand by the door...at first the little boy screamed and screamed and if he tried to come out of the room the dad would take him back in and tuck him back in and after a few days of this the little boy finally fell asleep on his own...it was amazing...I guess standing out side of his door just reasured him that his father was still there and he eventually would fall asleep ....I hope this Helps....
2007-03-02 06:01:21 · answer #4 · answered by It's a Girl!!! 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Try practice leaving.
Sit with her like you normally do, but interrupt the routine with “Mommy needs to go to the bathroom” then leave and come back. Keep doing this with increasing frequency and duration until finally you don’t come back at all and she falls asleep on her own.
Reasons to leave:
Go to the washroom
Talk to Daddy
Forgot to do something quick
Start the dishwasher
Answer the phone
Put in a load of laundry
2007-03-02 05:43:10 · answer #5 · answered by babypocket2005 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make a BIG deal out of it...
Write a note that says something like :
Dear ...insert name...
I am the dream fairy.(or something like that)
I see that you are having a hard time sleeping but don't worry, All you need is a sleep buddy. (have a box wrapped up and a stuffed toy you know when wants from the store)
Mommy has to sleep in her own bed ... and (insert funny name that the kid likes) is going to be your new sleep buddy!!!!
(get really excited about it )
Let's open the box and see what is inside...
____
I know it is a long shot...but my boy sleeps with a frog...he loves it...and it is a pain to have to take everywhere...but it is either get some sleep...and keep up with a toy...or don't sleep and get your face rubbed...My son always plays with the tag on his frog...maybe you can find a toy that has something she can play with on it...
Good Luck on the getting sleep...
2007-03-02 05:46:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't feel bad my two year old still wants to sleep with me they just get attached to you heart beat the way you swell and the way you comfort them I've gone through it with all four of mine it's a slow process but eventually she will start to sleep on her own my son wakes me up constantly for something to drink you just have to be patient
2007-03-02 05:46:16 · answer #7 · answered by Tenishia R 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sounds like a security thing. so how about a distraction. multicolored Christmas lights..hang them around the ceiling, blinking, gives them something to focus on and usually puts them right back to sleep. worked on my youngest.
2007-03-02 05:39:58 · answer #8 · answered by tgdjm 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried playing soft music to her, such as classical or children's songs? There's a lot of stuff out there!!!!
2007-03-02 06:00:09 · answer #9 · answered by college graduate 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋