Going crazy...?

Question

my 2 year old does not sleep thru the nite, we've tried the "let him cry back to sleep" method, which is not working at all...is an every nite thing...the doctor said it's just a bad habit he has, that we just need to keep letting him cry to brake the habit, but it has not worked in months, i don't know what else i can do...it's starting to get very stressful to have to deal with the crying every single nite for up to 3 hours!!...can anybody help?

to lui:
I do not get up and go to his bed...i'm just up and awake with his crying...and so is my husband, and WILL NOT put him in bed with us, i think our bed needs to be kept for my husband and i...it's our place to retreit, besides i don't want a 6 or 7 year old still wanting to come to bed with us...we have no trouble with him going to sleep, it's STAYING asleep that we cant get him to do...oh well, will keep working on it...thanks everyone

Answer 1

I would just wait it out. I've heard of stories like this, I haven't been through it personally, but I know that they say just be consistant with them and don't give into the crying or anything. Don't go in and cuddle with him, don't get angry with him and go in angry, just leave him be and let him cry.

Answer 2

During the day give him attention and get him active, cut back on the naps. You should start a nightly ritual, PJ, snuggle on the couch, read a few books in his bed, then lights out. You could try the Nanny method, staying in the room quietly and constantly putting him in bed with no words until he falls asleep.
If it continues and are at wits end then make a bed for him on the floor and then you can all sleep peacefully. Try not and let him in the bed, if he insists then take him back to his room (they usually get the hint, floor is better than room). Once he falls asleep, take him to his own bed, unless he constantly wakes up and begins crying all over again. Give it a week and try putting him in his bed again.
Both my kids were constantly crying or running into my room in the middle of the night (bad dreams or bored). They slept on the floor most of the time but the odd time they would sneak into bed with us. It was not a big deal most times, until the thrashing around ended that ( I was jolted awake with a foot in the face and blood from my nose). Eventually, they grew tired of the floor and found their bed more comfortable. I never had the heart to listen to either one cry themselves to sleep ( I did give it an honest try though). They outgrew it before the age of three and then every so often after that (bad dreams).. They felt comfortable, safe and we all slept a whole lot better in the end.
My kids are now teens and have no ill effects or problems with the way I handled it. If anything it's far more difficult to get them out of bed or even their rooms, LOL. I honestly do miss the neediness they once required from me. Enjoy it, it won't last forever.

Answer 3

You just negated what you said, obviously you're not letting him just cry until he gets tired and goes back to sleep, because you're getting up every single night for up to 3 hours.

If there's nothing medically wrong, then you need to let the child go back to sleep. Tell them ahead of time that if they cry you won't be coming because you need to sleep. Then let him cry until he goes to sleep.

It's bad parenting if you set rules but don't follow through, a child needs boundaries in order to grow. It's bad development if they don't have them because they'll always be seeking them. This is a basic example.

Your child will return to sleep, you just need to stay out of there. You're not a bad mother for letting your child cry, and your child at this age won't remember when they're grown up, if you keep waiting and bending to his every whim like that, he won't be mentally healthy. So keep it up.

Also on the off chance it's dietary, make sure you don't give him anything with caffeine. Also it might be a good time to get rid of any afternoon naps, so he's more tired come bedtime.

Either way, remember that you need to show strong leadership for your child to develop into a strong individual.

Answer 4

DO NOT what ever you do DO NOT put him into bed with you. If you think the crying is bad, trying to get him from sleeping in your bed to sleeping in his own will be even worse. If he uses a pacifier, try giving it back to him (if he has lost it). If not that might be something to try if you are willing to do that. My daughter is 19 months and she only uses a pacifier to sleep. Also try giving him a stuffed animal or something that he can hold on to while he is sleeping.

Answer 5

Bring him to your bed, he will sleep longer and so will you.

Its a maturity thing, being able to sleep through the night. Its like potty training or walking... they will do it when they are ready and with little to no encouragement from you.

I sleep with my little man and i can see his little improvments. We went from waking every 2 hours a couple months ago, to now going at least every 3 hours, w/a longer 5-6 hour stretch in between. He is also teaching himself how to fall back to sleep... he will nurse for a few minutes, and then roll over and roll around a little until hes comfy and fall back to sleep.

Try just giving him lots of attention durring the day... he may be waking because he wants to be with you.

Answer 6

My daughter, who is 16 months, used to wake up in the middle of the night because she was cold. She never kept her blankets on so we eventually just dressed her warmer and she slept just fine since then. I would suggest figuring out why she/he wakes up.
Is she hungry? Try feeding her closer to bedtime
Cold? Dress warmer (worked for me!)
Wet? Reduce bottles/cups before bedtime
Wide awake? Too many naps during the day maybe

Answer 7

i do feel sorry for you, but your doctor is right. you just have to let him cry. good luck to you.