Terrible SA in a 1yo. How do I fix?

[JackandJulia]

Hello!
Hoping I could get some advice please

My 1 year old has not been the best of sleepers ever but one consistant thing I did have with her is that she was really easy to put down for a sleep... ESPECIALLY at night time. After her bottle (and her nightly routine which has been followed since she was born) she would talk to herself and after 15 - 30 mins she would go to sleep.

last Wednesday I put her down in the afternoon and went outside for about 5/10 mins - I heard her crying but thought she would drift off after a little moan. Next thing her cry changed and turned hysterical. I went straight in and cuddled her and put her back down but she was so upset. I ended up rolling her on her side (facing away from me) and patted her bottom until she fell asleep. (I can identify nothing that might have scared her)

Since that happened i have a nervous wreck of a child on my hands. She cries her heart out if I leave the room and because I am in the room she wants to play! At night it is taking me over an hour to get her asleep. And when I do leave her to have a "little cry" its not a normal cranky cry, its really panicy. I reassure her I am there pat her, stroke her face tell her its bed time now go to sleep... nothing works!!! What do I do? I have a 2 1/2 yo who needs me too at night so I cant sit with her alone in the room for 1 1/2??

Any advice anyone has would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[deb]

Hmmm, they do go thru phases like that. Josie's worst SA was at 11 months; almost 9 years later I still remember it. LOL

Is she also teething, by any chance?

Also, are you able to get her outside to run around a bit more than usual before her suppertime? She might be more tired by bedtime and perhaps easier to put to bed?

Does she have a lovey?

[JackandJulia]

  Yes, My little boy went through this "phase" too but I find it so much more heartbreaking this time round and He needs me now too!

I do tire them out as much as I can and yes, she has her lovey xxx

Do you think I should try and play with her naps (she is still on 2 x 1hour naps during the day and a 6:30pm BT) i.e. transition to 1 nap at midday? She just seems like she wont make it that long?

[deb]

You can always give it a try with the understanding that it may or may not be related. J went to one nap at 11 months and Nat even sooner, but some kids hang on well past a year. Maybe try it for a day or so and see if it seems feasible.

Another thought is to check for ear infection; kids can for sure be clingier if they're fighting off a cold or some such.

[Tweakster]

Hi there, just popping this to Toddler sleep as your LO is 12 mths

[JackandJulia]

Ok - so still having a TERRIBLE time with my little Monkey.

Last night It took 45 mins to get her to sleep (7pm) and then she woke back up at 8pm and I eventually got her back down at night but only by giving her a bottle to settle 

She is is daycare. She wakes up at about 6am and by 8:45am she is back asleep. I have spoken to the girls as I think this may be a big factor influencing her night sleep (and the girls are super) but they said that even yesterday, she falls asleep by herself! they picked her up and popped her into her bed and she didnt even wake up!

I was thinking of trying to transition her to the one nap a day but the way she is it is just impossible!

What should I do???

[deb]

Will she let you leave the room for a moment during the daytime without hysterics? You can work on the SA while she's awake, leave her in her bed and go across the room to put away her clothing or some-such, tell her you're popping to your room for another piece of clothing, be gone for only 5 seconds and come right back like you said you would. Eventually they get that yes, you DO come right back, and being alone for that moment or two is OK.