Multiple Night Wakings after illness

[Morgansmama]

Hi,

Our DD was sick for about a week with extremely high fever (turned out to be strep throat).  Anyhow, I was having to wake her up ever 4 hours to take her temperature, give her meds, give her fluids and a couple of times put her in a luke warm bath to control her 103.7 degree temperature. In the end, she landed up staying in our bed for the week + so I could watch her and catch a bit of sleep.  Well, of course, she now wants to be in our bed all the time.  She wakes multiple times in the night...almost seems like every REM cycle she wakes and can't settle herself.  She screams and cries for everything to get us to come in and get her. Last night she actually made it to 4 am before she cried for an hour.  I went to the door and told her it was still night time, stlll sleepy time and I wouldn't be coming back in to get her.  She settled after the hour of crying for another half hour before the crying started again.  My DH gave in and brought her to bed at 6AM.  I am pregnant with our second child, so have now began to nap.  This has led to DD napping with me either on the couch or in our bed. Sometimes she doesn't nap, but just has quiet time for an hour.  DD bedtime is 730ish.  I'm tired, I'm stressed cuz I feel like such a horrible mother for leaving DD. Am I scarring her for life.  My heart just rips each time we have to go through this.  Does anyone have any ideas on how to approach this issue?  I return to work on Monday after having the holidays off.

[brightside]

Is she fully well again? If so, then I suggest you try WI/WO to break the bad habits. You need to be 100% consistent though and not give in after an hour and take her to bed with you or she will just learn that she cries for long enough then you will give in. Its hard but usually works within 3 days and well worth it. Definitely only do it though if she's fully fit. GL

[*Vicki*]

I agree with Cath...another thing tho...you will see results after 3 days but by the fifth or maybe into the 2nd week you might have a relapse - but stick to your guns and it will be over pretty quickly...

Hugs hun {{{{{}}}}

Let us know how you get on...

[Morgansmama]

I've tried to look for info on the wi/wo method, but I can't say I've found anything.  Could you tell me what exactly it entails? And yes, our DD is completely well now. Thanks for your suggestions.

[Colin Macs Mom]

Here is a link to info on Walk in/Walk out
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=80750.0

[Morgansmama]

So, we've been at the wi/wo method for 2 nights without giving in to bringing our dd into our bed.  This seems to be the routine as in previous attempts with the wi/wo method (expect we now aren't giving in and bringing her to our bed):  DD wakes anywhere from 1130pm to 1230am and will go back down til the 4 o'clock hour.  From there she lays quietly anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes before crying out for me til I go in. I do the wi/wo and she will lay quietly again for 10 to 20 minutes.  This continues on til 6am when I finally give up and just get outta bed with her. I guess I just want some reassurance that I'm on the right track and our DD will return to being the angel sleeper she was for the first 2 years of her life. When DD wakes in the night she wants to go see dad, our dog, sleep in our bed, get me to read her a story...any number of things.  Is this separation anxiety???

[*Vicki*]

it does sound like it hun yes....poor you 

But you re doing great, stick to your guns - shes obviously getting the message...could takeup to 2 weeks (or more  ) but it will improve even further...just stay consistent and dont give in!!! 

[Morgansmama]

OK....I've been up since 4am with our LO. My DH finally had enough at 515 and got up with her figuring I could use some sleep. They went downstairs and "rested". I'm so blinking tired and so freaking nauseous all the time with this pregnancy, that I'm coming to my wit's end. The night before, DD only woke 2 times before the final time at 545 when I was getting up for work anyhow.  She had a 2 hour nap that day and was down in bed by 750pm. She awoke around 1am and I had to get up to tend her (WI/WO). She settled and then from 4am on til 545 she cried out every 10 or so minutes. What am I doing wrong???  Is there anything else I can be doing to assist her in learning how to self-soothe? I've got 7 months to get her on track before the new babe makes his/her appearance. It now feels like that won't be nearly enough time to "fix" things!

[VLR2006]

I just wrote a post about a similar situation.  I think i might try the WI/WO method too as it seems to be what they respond to best at this age (my son is 2).  He has always been a great sleeper and now wakes up at least once a night screaming for us to go to him.  we always keep it very quiet when we go to him, but had been getting out of bed for a cuddle.  the last 2 nights i juse went to him and layed my hand on his chest, gave him his turtle, and said your not getting up, its time for sleep.  and he went quiet !!! 

I dont think we are out of the woods but i know now that i'm sticking to this method and hope that he gets the hint that we are not getting up in the night.

I always found that illness was the only thing that woke him at night.  Your daughter had a pretty serious illness so just needs a bit of time to get out of the habit.

I have a 4month old who has just started sleeping through, but i'm still not sleeping !

Louise x

[Morgansmama]

We've been at the Wi/Wo method for almost a week now and things aren't improving.  Two nights ago our DD was put down at 745pm and her first waking was at 1130pm.  From then til 400am, she awoke every hour crying and yelling out for one of us. I did the Wi/Wo method with her. She would quieten down, but I'm not sure she went back to sleep.  From 4am on til 6am, we were in her room well over a dozen times.  From 3 min to 20 min she would be quiet.  That's it.  The next night wasn't quite as bad, but along the same lines.  She woke around 1230am, 330am, and from 430am on til 630am, we were in her room frequently. We are getting out of bed only because there's no point in continuing hearing her scream, whine, and cry while we're wide awake in bed pulling our hair out.  Is there any point in continuing? She's wide awake every time I go in there.  Is there any other method I should consider? I'm just not convinced this is working for her. Any suggestions on what we're missing?

[brightside]

Can you post her routine?  Maybe we are missing something. Sounds like she could be overtired which is causing the multiple waking. Keep with the WI/WO until we look at your routine. Make sure you are 100% consistent with it. I know its hard, especially when you are so tired but you don't want to give up now and undo all your hard work.

[Windsurfer's mum]

Hello
I am writing as I am going though the same problem with my 2 and half year old  who has always been ok at sleeping before. 
I would like to know if you are back on track and for any advice.
we did do  better last night we give him some medised at his first waking at 11 and he did not wake until 6 .
hope your getting rest and the bump is fine
clare