About 6 weeks ago I cut the tip of my 23 month old DS pacifer in attempt to wean him. (we had a horrible time trying it cold turkey). This small snip didn't seem to bother him and nothing changed. 1 1/2 weeks later, I snipped it again. He was very upset over his pacifier this time and became difficult to get to nap or sleep for bedtime. A few days into it, he was still so mad he decided to climb/fall out of his crib. Immediately I put him in a toddler bed in fear that he would hurt himself if he tried to climb out again. The first nap in the bed went perfect. Ever since its been a nightmare!!!! I know that he had 2 major changes in his sleep routine (pacifer and bed) however it has now been 3 weeks since he has been in a toddler bed and there is no end in sight. He has always been a child that needed alot of sleep, and has always been a great sleeper. He hasn't napped in weeks, and is exhaused by 4pm. He is so overtired, he has trouble getting to bed at night now, and is waking up for several hours during the night. It doesn't appear that he is getting his molars, and I did a "trial" giving him motril twice to see if it made a difference in case it was teeth- that didn't make a bit of difference.
These are the things I've tried:
door closed
door open/baby gate
different sleep music
no sleep music
books/toys in bed with him
cry it out (difficult for me to do, I went in every 5 minutes to console and put back in bed) HE NEVER FELL ASLEEP!
bed rails on the sides (this helps to keep him in bed when he wakes during the night, but he still fights falling back to sleep)
constellation night light
So...I can't figure out why after 3 weeks he hasn't caught on that this is now his bed, and that at the same time everyday I am gong to lay him down for a nap. Oh yeah, and he is waking at 5 am now b/c obviously he cannot soothe himself back to sleep. Prior to all this he woke 8-9am !!
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP AND SUGGESTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
