Sorry bit of a rant!

My daughter 19 months and for the last 3 weeks or so been waking up in the night, I go in the room to make sure she's ok but as soon as I go to leave the room she starts having these screaming tantrums and nothing will stop her, I live in an apartment so I'm worried that the neighbours will complain as this happens every night early hours of the morning.
There is clearly nothing wrong with her yet she insists on throwing herself about the cot and screaming. I'm 21 weeks pregnant and finding this a real struggle to cope with as I'm now a single mum (Due to my now ex assaulting me). I've spoken to health visitor and all I ever get is "its probably just a phase she's going through", well thats not helpful I am at the end of my tether.
Help
Please xx

Have you tried controlled crying? My little boy was like this, just screaming in the middle of the night just to get my attention. We went down the controlled crying route and it really worked.
When he stared to cry, I would go in and lie him down and say 'night night' and then walk out and then leave it for one minute before going back in. Then I would lie him down again, say night night and walk out and leave it 2 minutes before going back in. Then do the same and leave it for 3 minutes etc. It was quite hard to do at the time but its REALLY worked and he sleeps right through now. And it took about 4 or 5 nights to get him used to the idea that I wasn't going to give in, but stick with it, it does work. So if you prepare yourself for a few bad nights, it will get a whole lot better after that.
Hope this helps and good luck hun xxx

Oh dear that doesn't sound like much fun at all,Im just going to throw a load of ideas out in the hope I come up with something useful :) it may just be because your circumstances have suddenly changed she is playing up and needs to know you're there and not leaving in which case you may find it is just a qn of giving it time, if you are stressed and pregnant could it be that you're unwittingly paying her more attention when she's being naughty making it something she's trying to get?
Maybe she's just too hot, it is horrible ATM
perhaps change her bedtime routine, bath, bed, book, warm milk- a wind down style
is she definitely tired? As frustrating as it is, somedays my lo (18mth) doesn't go down til 9.30 because he's just not tired!!!!!
Maybe you could let her run around in the park or something just before dinner and wear her out?
Perhaps turn a lamp on or turn the lights off, whichever!
Leave a cd playing in the background so it's not too quiet
errrrrrr ok run out now sorry, have to say the only thing that works for me is sitting with him til he's asleep and that is definitely something I need to change but I reeeeeeally don't want the stress lol good luck

Hi

My lo is 27 months and he has been in his own room from 3 months. He slept through from 3 months until he was 6 months then he suddenly started waking up around 6am and coming in our bed, which I didn't mind as we were getting up anyway. But he started getting up earlier and it's now at the point that he is awake within 10 minutes of us going to bed every night!
Health Visitor told me to try 'controlled crying' but it didn't work for me, Harrison has asthma and leaving him to cry just resulted in him being unable to breath and ending up throwing up all over himself, so I strongly disagree with controlled crying, if the child is crying they are crying for a reason, even if they only want a cuddle, they may just need the comfort, so leaving them to cry just shows them that 'i don't care what you want, its not my concern shut up and deal with it on your own', and I don't personally think that's the way to deal with a child. Having Harrison in our bed with us isn't too much of a problem but I do know it isn't ideal and it will not happen with the next one. I personally think that laying with them until they settle then leaving them and just keep putting them back in their own bed (without letting them get into a state) is a far nicer solution. Admittedly it may take longer than the 'i don't care' approach, but it will certainly be worth it.
I would also give a few of waiting4baby's ideas a go, Harrison often doesn't go to bed until about 9pm and I find he sleeps through better than if he had gone at his usual time of half 7.

Good luck
Sammi
xxx

My lo Eoin has slept through since he was 11 weeks old and has been in his own room happily since he was 6 months old. He is now 20 months. And I think controlled crying is great. As long as you have eliminated other factors that may cause your child to wake... like others have mentioned, too hot, too cold ect, or night terrors - Eoin went through a few nights of night terrors, I could tell that his cry was different to normal.. very high pitched and starting abruptly.. so on these occasions I settled him with cuddles and a lullaby tape each time, he was soon back to normal.

However, I do think Controlled crying is definitely worth a try, We have used it on a couple of occasions with Eoin and its worked a treat. It is not cruel and is so much kinder in the long run as your child will learn to settle themselves and sleep better, which will stop the sleep problems escalating and becoming more difficult to solve!!! It can take a night or maybe several of sticking with it but can work wonders. It does not mean abandoning your child at all... It is entering there room when they cry, briefly re settling them, saying something short and simple like "night night" and leaving the room, extending the interval each time... just as the other lady described. your child will be reassured that you always end up coming back in.. but is given a slightly longer interval each time to learn to settle themselves and to become a happy, confident sleeper!! so its not awful!!!

Hope this helps xxxx

[Modified by: Palmtree on July 06, 2009 11:20 AM]