At the end of my rope

[HugsBunny]

With my 2yo!!!!!! He's almost 3 and has always been an absolutely shocking sleeper but he's just doing my head in. How a child can go from barely being able to keep their eyes open to then not staying in their bed for the next two hours is beyond me!!!

Nothing works with this child! I've tried to just go in and put him back in bed again and again and again and again but he still comes out. I've confiscated toys each time he gets out. I've yelled. I've threatened to smack and then followed through with it (out of sheer frustration) and feel awful about it. Please, if you feel the need to comment on this aspect of my trial and error experience, type out your post but then hit 'delete' rather than actually post it. I don't need to hear how terrible smacking is, it just doesn't work on him anyway.

I just don't know what else to do!!! My almost 7yo is an angel to get to sleep but he and DS2 share a room so DS2 keeps him awake with constantly getting up and playing and DS1 needs his sleep as he has school.

It's not fair on any of us for this to continue. It sucks. It really does.

Can anyone suggest something else to try? I don't want to co-sleep with him as its not fair on DS1 - though DS2 usually ends up in my bed by morning anyway and we're currently living with my parents so giving the kids their own rooms just isn't an option.

Please, please help.

[1BabyMama]

Firstly .

I know how frustrating it can be as I have been through the exact same thing with my almost 3 year old DD and it took me almost 10 months to get a result. I tried EVERYTHING. In the end I dropped her day sleep and brought her bedtime forward to 6.30pm and this has worked wonders. No more tantrums at bedtime and she goes straight to sleep. Before this she would still be up at 10pm and eventually DH or I would have to go to bed with her. Her bedtime routine is dinner, bath, playtime, book or puzzle in her room and then bed. We do leave a lamp on in her room with the door open a little. She also has lullabies.

Good Luck

[HugsBunny]

Firstly .

I know how frustrating it can be as I have been through the exact same thing with my almost 3 year old DD and it took me almost 10 months to get a result. I tried EVERYTHING. In the end I dropped her day sleep and brought her bedtime forward to 6.30pm and this has worked wonders. No more tantrums at bedtime and she goes straight to sleep. Before this she would still be up at 10pm and eventually DH or I would have to go to bed with her. Her bedtime routine is dinner, bath, playtime, book or puzzle in her room and then bed. We do leave a lamp on in her room with the door open a little. She also has lullabies.

Good Luck

Thanks, I've tried that too and it did work but he'd sleep for a few hours then wake and be hell to get back to sleep. Also, when he doesn't have a day sleep he is an absolute horror. He's like Jekyll and Hyde!!!!

Maybe I just need to suck it up and cut out the day sleep again. Something's gotta give and at this rate he's gonna break me before I get through to him.

I can't go on like this.

[1BabyMama]

Thanks, I've tried that too and it did work but he'd sleep for a few hours then wake and be hell to get back to sleep. Also, when he doesn't have a day sleep he is an absolute horror. He's like Jekyll and Hyde!!!!

Maybe I just need to suck it up and cut out the day sleep again. Something's gotta give and at this rate he's gonna break me before I get through to him.

I can't go on like this.

You poor thing. I was at my wits end with my DD. Although we have solved the going to bed issue she still wakes through the night (not every night) and comes into our bed which we will have to resolve soon as bub no. 3 is due in December. Have you any idea why he is waking? My DD wakes as she has night terrors. We've been doing it now for about 4 weeks and the first couple of weeks were tough as she was really tired by the time 3pm-4pm come around. When DS goes down for a nap at Midday I put a movie on for her to watch and tell her it's quiet time. It does take time to adjust and I really didn't want to give up her day sleep but it had to be done otherwise I would have lost it. Sorry I can't be much help. I hope something works for you soon or someone else has better advice.

[Tainted]

My son is 19 months and has always been a terrible sleeper. I ended up co-sleeping as he wanted to feed all night, then manganged to (briefly) get him into his cot for a few months. It all went downhill again but the last week or so I've been making a real effort to get him to sleep for longer periods and ideally in his own room.

I started by turning his cot into a toddler bed, and putting up some animal night lights in his room. I made a huge deal about what a big, grown up boy he is to have his very own bed/lights. Everyone that has been to the house gets a tour of his new room (he loves pointing out the new additions!)

The first few nights I jumped into his bed with him until he fell asleep, just like I would get him to sleep in my bed. I also had to jump in with him when he woke up at night for the first few nights, and resorted to putting him in with me for a couple of hours if he wouldn't resettle.

Its only been a short period of time but already he is getting better. He is happy to run up to his room at night, have some warm cows milk in bed while reading a story, then turning the main light off and getting to sleep. The last couple of nights I have been able to sit next to his bed, stroking his hair until he fell asleep which is a HUGE improvement for us. Last night he only woke twice and slept in his bed all night. I keep his nightlights on all night which he seems to be preferring.

Could you try reorganising his room to make it more special/exciting? Or try a new routine? I hope he sleeps for you soon, sleep deprivation is not much fun.