Help....

My 15 month old daughter will not sleep without me. I have tried the controlled crying and even driving around the estate at night to get her to sleep and then put her in her own bed but this doesn't work either. She just wakes up when I try to move her.

She has been in a good routine since she was 8 weeks old and now for some reason she will not sleep away from me.

It has been about 5 weeks now since she last went to bed properly in her own room and without me.

I am going out of my mind trying different ways of getting her to sleep in her own bed but nothing seems to work. Whats worse is I don't know what has happened to make her change so suddenly. My husband has tried getting her to sleep as well but with no luck. She is such a light sleeper too as I have left it until early hours of the morning to put her in her bed asleep and ensure she is in a deep sleep but she wakes up once I try to move her.

She will sleep in her pushchair in the day for a nap if we are out and in the car but if we are at home she won't sleep unless I am with her.

Does anyone have any advice/experiences for me? I don't know whether it would be worth bringing her cot back into our room and gradually introducing her to it again but will that cause more problems?

Please help if you can.

Many thanks

I am having the exact same prob with my lo she is 14 months. She goes down in her cot about 7.30pm but that only last till about 1am then she screams so much she becomes hysterical and starts choking! As soon as her head hits our pillow she is out like a light.

But she is driving us mad in our bed coz she moves about so much. She sleeps as close as possible to me moving me closer and closer to the edge. Then turns 180 degrees and kicks us in the face. She sleeps in the star fish position.

my lo has also always been a great sleeper. Slept thru since 6 weeks.

We also need HELPPPP!!!!

is it too early to but in a big girls bed - with a guard- I have a feeling she might just want more room. She is a big (tall) girl she looks like a 2 year old!

P.S Is it possible for them to have nightmares, she did a bizarre thing the other night!!

[Modified by: sarah1210 on January 12, 2009 10:48 PM]

Hi Sarah,

It doesn't look like anyone has the answer but us by the look of it.

I am going crazy with it all now. I have been speaking to my health visitor and she has advised me of the various things like controlled crying, sitting with her until she falls asleep, trying to control her day time naps but all is still not well.

She did mention a "big girl" bed to me and we have tried that but then the problems of getting out of bed and walking to the door started. It would be worth a try for yourself. Even if it proves unsavoury.

I am going to keep at the controlled crying and day time naps. Fingers crossed this is just a phase that will pass....!

Good luck with it all.

Logie.

Hi Logie and Sarah,
I remember your post and I remember writing back but my reply isn't here so don't know what happened there.
I had this problem for a while with my son (also born oct 07) and I do spoil him and at first to make life easier for us all I just let him in my bed but then I realised I can't do this forever, although it was really no problem I did want him in his own bed. I bought a toddler bed but he was exactly the same in it. I don't know about your LO's but mine LOVES the proper beds (not cots or cot beds i mean like proper adult beds.) And he is great in one, At first I put quilts on the floor next to it and pillows incase he fell out but he never did, he slept right through and fine on his own in the bed and in the morning he wouldn't climb out he'd just cry or shout to let me know he was awake, on the odd occasion he has got out but its very rare and he climbs out without hurting himself. So I have bought him a proper single bed with a thick mattress, he is so comfy in it and the sides to buy for one are quite cheap and handy if you have a wriggly sleeper on your hands. Don't know if this will help you but I thought i'd message back anyway just because no-one else seems to be. I don't really believe in controlled crying myself as I think unless started from a younger age it just won't work and will stress them out, plus I'm too soft and couldn't handle him being so upset over something I can deal with another way that won't make him be upset.
If you don't wanna do that all I can think of is perhaps getting them in their own bed (cot or whatever) and buying a night light they like, (I got fairy light birds for my son and he loves them, from ikea.) and sit with them until they drift off, letting them kjnow you are always nearby. Then if they wake up in the night it might be a long process but go and sit with them, don't get in bed with them but don't leave them crying. Just put the lights on and sit with them, read or even sing or just hold their hand, and wait until they fall asleep. It might take a while as they will be thinking 'Heres my mum to get me in her bed with her' and when they realise your not doing that, will probably have a paddy, but stick to it and the rewards will pay off. Even if they wake several times in the night try that and see how it goes for a couple of weeks, eventually they should wake up less and less uyntil they are sleeping right through.
x

Hi
My LO got like this after a period of illness, I am finding what works is to go into his room and lie by his cot whenever he wakes, sometimes I even put my hand through the bars so he knows I am there. It took a few (chilly) nights on the floor for hours but meant every time he stirred I could ssh him and he's drift back off.
I have never slept with my LO in bed with me ever, so whilst it's tempting sometimes I know it'd never work because he'd be too excited about being out of his bed and in with me so he'd want to play.
I think this sleep thing is a seperation anxiety, frequent waking wanting reassurance we're there.
Hope you've found something that works.