BabyWhispererForums.com
SLEEP => Sleeping For Toddlers => Topic started by: Mad mum on August 02, 2005, 10:40:08 am
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Hello
I'm new on here but just a tad bit desperate and i'm after some help.
When my son was born 16 months ago i'd spent a large amount of time watching the discovery channel and seeing Tracey's programs and once my son was born we faithfully adopted the pu pd method so the point that we had a fantastic sleeper from about 6 weeks on[sickness and teething aside]. Before he changed he would sleep from 7.30 till 6.30 no waking up and usually have about 1hr and 30 mins sleep in the pm.
He is now 16 months old and following a nasty bout of sickness [tonsillitis] he has drastically changed. This was 3 weeks ago. He still goes to sleep fine at 7.30pm but will wake up at 12.30 ish and scream the house down. I'm at a loss as to what to do. I figured it could be one of several things ...teething [he only has 7 teeth], scared of being ill again or manipulation.
I've dived straight in with a variation on pu pd and i'm onto day 3. I go in and say shhh and rub his back. About 20 seconds after he's calmed down i leave the room. I did this from 12.45 until 5 am last night. I then gave up and went and sat in the living room and cried for an hour listening to his screams before going back into his room all happy and 'Ooooo Good morning Mr Sun shine'. As soon as he see's me he calms down and starts smiling - about 5 mins after i leave his room he's screaming again.
We don't use props - he has a favorite soft toy and he's in a grow bag. I don't know what i'm doing wrong but i work full time and i feel just about as low as i can go now.
He is hardly sleeping during the day [he's at nursery and maybe is getting 35 mins tops] and he looks so pale with big bags under his eyes. I so want to see him settled again as he's a much happier little boy.
Please, if anyone has any solutions, suggestions [that don't involve ear plugs and sleeping pills - FOR ME!! :o) ] please let me know.
I am thinking of contacting a sleep clinic if this continues - sadly i'm pretty much on my own. I have no family near and no friends that are happy looking after kids so there is no respite.
Thanks
Beth
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I'm so sorry things are so rough for you right now. If I could come see you and offer you a break I would - where abouts do you live?
I'm definitely no expert but what worked for us was to lay him down and leave the room straight away, regardless of whether he was still crying, then slowly count to 10, go back in, lay him down and leave straight away. He couldn't settle with me in the room so I had to leave but I didn't want to leave him crying so this is the compromise I settled on. I don't know if it would work for you but you could always try it for a few days and see. It's worked great for us.
Keep us informed on what you decide and how things go.
PS. Henry also only had 7 teeth until he was about 17 months old. He popped the 8th one and has been steadily working on 3 molars since then. Have you tried pain meds before bed? It probably can't hurt and might help.
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Hi Beth,
Sorry to hear you're having a rough time right now! My ds has also been a great independent sleeper, but after having his first ear infection a few weeks ago, it went haywire!
I would first check with the doctor and make sure he is all better, just so you can rule that out right away. If he is healthy, then chances are he has developed a new habit or something. How was he through his illness? Was he falling asleep differently? When my ds had his ear infection he was falling asleep on my bed watching a video :roll: for a couple days. Once I knew he was better, it took a couple of difficult and trying days, but I did get him back on track.
Post back and we'll try to help!
Carrie
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Hi,
I would just like to agree with Sarah, Henrys mum. I posted about 3/4 weeks ago with basically the same problem, Sarah came to my rescue amongst other kind mummys. I took on board the pd and walked out of the room, left a small amount of time and went back in again.
My ds would not settle without me in the room and would scream and scream until I went back in.
Ds now has his bottle, story I put him in is cot and walk out of the room and thats it until morning!
The past few nights he has woke at about 2am (2 molars coming through) and it has only taken approx 5 min and he is back asleep again.
Fingers crossed, touch wood (don't want to jinx it) it has worked.
Try it, it may take ages, but it has worked. I had 10 months on constant wakings and not able to leave the room until he was fully asleep.
All babies are different but this worked for my lo.
Keep us posted, and keep smiling :D
Maxine
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Hiya
Day 4 and we've had a break through. I was going to hold out and keep him up till his normal bed time last night be due to the hideous night of zero sleep the previous night and a grand total of 45 mins sleep all day i put him to bed at 6.30. I also plugged in a night light .... the result [i'm building a little suspence here] .... he slept through until 6am ...
I never once believed i'd be happy to say the day began at 6am before i had him ;O) but 8 hours of unbroken sleep for me was such a joy.
I'm hoping we're back to normal but i know there is no guarantee.
Thanks for the support!
Beth
ps - thank the lord for YSL liquid eye concealer
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Hi again,
So glad you had a good night, 6am doesn't sound so bad after a good nights sleep.
Fingers crossed it continues.
Off to the Chemist tomorrow to buy some YSL concealer!!!!
Maxine