3 year old sleeping problems HELP!

[flib]

We have a 3 month old baby, an almost 3 year old and a 6 year old. My almost 3 year old has never been the best sleeper. Before the baby was born she would wake up every night and come and sleep in our bed. She's stopped doing this but now we're having problems getting her to sleep at night.

I am trying to keep the same routine - dinner at 6pm, bath, milk and yoghurt, stories, bed and lullabies. We used to then say goodnight and then send her back to bed if she got up. Some nights this would go on for 2 hours and we'd give her milk or whatever else it was she was demanding.

Now I'm trying to sit next to her bed until she falls asleep. This works ok if it takes half an hour or less but sometimes it's an hour or more. I do leave the room sometimes but tell her I'll come back. We have made a rule that she can't have milk or anything once she's gone to bed - this helped as she understands she can't have it.

Any suggestions?

I am slowly going mad as I have a new baby as well, not to mention my son who has to share a room with her. He has been staying until after she's asleep but now school is back he needs to go to bed earlier.

I think it's an attachment issue so I don't want to do anything too tough. I want to support her so she feels safer and goes to sleep easier. Well that's the theory!

Thanks

Flib

[Can I?]

Sigh...we had one of these. It was so tiring. In the end we used a couple of things that helped him to fall off to sleep easier. Same as you, a bedtime routine etc were important What we added were - epsom salts in his bath (very soothing, you can also add lavender - salts make the bath slippery so be careful if you try this one). Music or story tapes in the bedroom. We found that he would lie down and listen and once he lay still he was out like a light. And a night light. Just a gentle glow so he didn't feel so alone in the dark. It also meant he could see enough to have a little toy or whatever in bed with him and play himself off to sleep.

Hope you find the solution :)

[defaipe]

for my 3yr old we read stories.. lights out and she has a drink with her and a torch(might be hard while sharing with her brother though).. if she buggers about she loses the torch(never once have we needed to take it though!).
then its off to sit next to cot of my 15month old. not quite sure how im going to do all this with a newborn next month tho!

goodluck with her sleeping..

[Wondermum]

Hi flib is your DD still having a day nap? If she is it may be a sign to cut it out now and just do it occasionally when she is really tired. Other than that maybe try a dull night light in her room at bed time. Keep up the routine you have going, be consistent and give her lots of reassurance :fingerscrossed: she settles down soon.