25 month old just went into big girl bed, woke up cause couldn't find comforters

[elf]

We moved dd into her bed yesterday for her nap.  She knew it was happening (spoke about it for weeks, bought the bed etc etc made her a big part of it) and she did cry when she saw us take down the cot but then she started helping.  It went pretty smoothly, the main problem we had was making her understand that she can't jump on the bed!  She did her nap yesterday in it and went to bed easily.  However........  at 12.30am I heard her crying and I went to her and she was standing at the door saying 'Mummy, mummy, I can't find my dummy and rabbit" (this is what she goes to sleep with).  She was so upset so I put her back into bed, gave her her dummy and rabbit and she went straight back to sleep til 7.15 this morning where she was lying there happily when I went to her - she had found her rabbit and dummy in the morning.  I noticed that she had actually looked through a drawer at 12.30am for a dummy (where she thought she could find one).  She has not woken at night in about a year!  However, I know she wakes at night but what I mean is she doesn't need me.  In her cot there were dummys scattered for her to find and we had a bumper around the cot so the rabbit never fell out.  Her rabbit in her bed last night wasn't on the floor, just hidden behind her head.  My big question is, should I get a night light for her so she can see where things are?  She has always slept in the dark.  It broke my heart to think that she woke and was so distressed for not finding her comfort items and I know that if she can find these then she will sleep just as she did in the cot (I am hoping of course!).  Has anyone ever encountered this?  I don't want to introduce a night light if it would make things worse, feel a bit confused as to what to do???

[lilisuze]

We have just introduced a little velcro tab on rabbits ear for the dummy. Even though my lo is still in a cot, it could work to attach it to the pillow (does she have one). That way it can come off but still moving around. Not sure if this would work but worth a try.

With regards to the light. We have one, and i think it is already a prop so if you can get away without it i would not recommend a nightlight.

She might just settle in. Give it a few days and then let us know how its going.

Lili xx

[clazzat]

We have had this on and off ever since we moved dd1 to a bgb.  I think it is just one of those things - I tend to find that it will happen 2-3 times in one week and then not again for a few weeks.  I suspect that how tired she is has a part to play as well.  We moved dd1 ages ago - maybe 6 months? - and we found that when we went on holiday a few weeks ago it happened nearly every night.  I think that being unsettled and in a strange place meant that it mattered more to her that her daggy was close to hand - maybe once your lo has settled in to her bgb a bit she won't need quite the same reassurance.

I'm not a big fan of night lights, although I have never tried one.  My girls have always slept in proper dark and I think it makes a big difference.  Incidentally, I'm not convinced that being able to see would change the situation - I think that they also need the reassurance of mummy coming in to help.
Cx

[elf]

Thanks for your prompt replies.  Day sleep today went well.  I went and bought some night lights but my husband thought that we should give it another night and not introduce lights to her seeing as she sleeps so well in the dark and is not afraid etc...   We made a place against the wall for her dummies and she lined them all up like soldiers and talked to them so hopefully she will remember where they are and we also explained that her rabbit would be there, she just had to move her hands to find it.  And it could well be that the first night was a bit daunting as I'm sure that there would be times that she would wake and not want those things.  Anyway, she is tucked up in bed now and it went smoothly so I think that before I go to bed I will make sure rabbit is in a place where she is likely to find it through movement and see how we go.  At this stage she doesn't have a pillow but with the rabbit she cuddles it and when I check on her at night it is mostly across her chest so she seems to like it right on her.  Most times when I check on her the dummy has fallen out of her mouth and she never generally wakes so I'm not sure whether last night she panicked a bit in the new bed.  I'm pleased to see both your replies about the night light probably not being the best solution.  It could actually encourage her out of the cot to play!  And she has never needed light, in fact during the day her room is dark too - always has been although she can sleep in lighter rooms too.  I will let you know how we go...

Thanks so much x

[elf]

Just thought I'd let you know that she slept through last night   I peeked on her before I went to bed and her rabbit was snuggled right up against her face and I placed a couple of dummies around her.  When I got up at 7am I could hear her chatting in her bed and when I went in she had her dummy and her rabbit with her.  Fingers crossed the first night she just panicked a bit?  She seems to love her bed and throughout the day she goes to it and checks that the dummy and rabbit are tucked up under the pillow so she is reassured that everything is there.  I will use the nightlight as a last resort but am hoping that we won't need it at all  I hope last night wasn't just a one off!!!

[clazzat]

Glad to hear that she had a good night.  It must be pretty scary going from a cot where you are enclosed and safe to a bgb where everything is much more open - and as toddlers they are often excited about the idea but not so happy with the reality!  Hope she continues to be happy in her bgb.
Cx

[lilisuze]

yeah for the bgb success. Hopefully the panic is over now!!

Lili xx

[clh]

Yay for the success!  I was going to suggest holding off on the light & letting her practice for a few more nights.  I think it is in large part a "getting used to it" thing.  hope tonight goes as well. 

[elf]

Last night went fine too.  Tucked in and asleep around 7.15pm and heard her start chatting at 7am!!!  Rabbit and dummy both with her in the morning so she obviously found them when she needed to