Help - 2 1/2 yr old suddenly won't sleep

[puffinchops]

Hi

I'm new to these boards but have BWSAYP book. Very briefly, my daughter has always fallen asleep independently and slept well in her cot, and any phases of night wakings have always been fixed very quickly by controlled crying (controversial I know).

But, she recently vomited in her cot which scared her, and so we decided to make the jump to BGB in the hope that it would seem different. How wrong we were. For the past 4 weeks she's been getting out of bed, crying hysterically - sometimes she'd go to sleep fine, but then be awake an hour later. She's actually got worse and gone from being up several times but easily settled, to now needing me or DH with her. After reading BWSAYP, we decided to try regaining her trust, and so my DH is currently on the 3rd night of sleeping in the room with her.

My questions are regarding what we do next? Tracy says on night 4 to go to bed but sneak out once asleep, and return if they wake. To us this seems like it's breaking the trust again, and we thought it might be better to tell her that Daddy will sleep in her bedroom, but that he's got some work to do first, and then he'd go in later. We're also not sure if she's ready for night 4 as she still hasn't slept without waking and needing reassurance yet?

Thanks for reading my long post if you got this far! Any help/advice would be so appreciated as we're desperate!

Thanks

[momtonb&ab]

have you considered putting her back in her crib?    she may feel safer there.

[puffinchops]

Hi

Yes we tried that straightaway but it didn't work - she jumped over the side. So we're stuck with BGB from safety aspect.

[momtonb&ab]

fair enough   i think you should stay with her longer.  in the BWSAYP she is not considering that CC has been used multiple times so it may jsut take some time to regain her trust.   

move your mattress in and sleep in with her for a week, so she becomes sure you will be there when she wakes.  tweak her routine to get her to bed early (so if it takes time to settle her you are not always fighting the OT monster).  once sleep improves (however long that takes) then begin Tracy's GW by counting four good days sleep and then start removing.  tell her what you are going to do in the day (once she is rested and used to you being in her room).  i know it seems like a lot of work but to reestablish her trust you should stick with it so then you can re-teach independent sleep where she knows you will come if she cries. 

hugs!

[puffinchops]

Thanks so much for your advice, we're on night 4 of being in her room and last night she only woke once so hopefully things will continue to improve.

Thanks again. x

[momtonb&ab]

keep us posted.  we are here to help and there may be hurdles, but you are doing a great job!  it will all be worth it when it is done!