My 2 year old who is normally a great sleeper has woken up the past 3 nights around 4am. This happened the night that we were springing forward, so that doesn't have anything to do with it. The first night, I went in there because she was screaming so loudly and standing up in her crib. I rocked her for a while, walked around with her, gave her milk, etc. Finally, after an hour and a half, I was able to put her back down (she was still awake). The second night, I rocked her for less time, gave her some milk and put her back in her crib telling her that I would lay on the floor. She watched me for awhile to make sure I was there and then finally went to sleep. Last night, I rocked for just a few minutes and then I laid down on her floor again (that's how I got her back in bed so quickly). She tossed and turned for an hour, obviously unable to sleep. I rocked her a little more and when I told her I was going back to bed, she told me to lay down (now I know I have a problem, here). I did lay back down on her floor and she finally went back to sleep around 6am, but I did not! I know I can't let a 2 year old rule where I sleep and I would let her cry it out but my 7 year old is in the room next door and I don't want him woken up. I'm exhausted! I need help!!! Any thoughts/recommendations??
Both my kids went through that when they were getting their two-year molars. They never could verbalize what was wrong but wanted something crunchy to eat. I used to go to bed with a cup of cheerios waiting on the counter! Once the teeth were in, they slept fine again.
Has she recently been vaccinated? Have her stools changed? Have any day time behaviors changed? Watch her closely to see if you see other changes. Another possibility is that she is having night terrors, but no way of really knowing that in one so young unless she can tell you.
Better to wake your 7 year old for two nights of getting your 2 year old back on schedule, than to have not enough sleep. It sounds like your baby has you trained! ;:0)
Whenever my two year old wakes up in that manner it is her ears. She gets ear infections without any other symptoms except the waking at night. If she does not settle down in a day or so you may want to haver her checked just for peace of mind. Good luck and hang in there.
We went through the same thing just a few months ago, and we also have another child sleeping in the next room. It's tough, but what ended up working for us was letting him cry it out. Our other son (who is only 11 months) would fall back asleep after our 2 yo did. One thing that helped was to put box fans in both bedrooms, to create some noise so it muffles the sounds the other child makes.
Good luck, this too shall pass!
I have a 23 month old girl that does the same thing. Her back teeth just came in and I was told that around 2 years of age is when this happens. Check to see if your daughter has teeth coming in, if so I'd try Motrin at bedtime to help her. Good luck!
Are you sure she is not teething...2 year old mollars? Have you tried just giving her one dose of tylenol at bedtime and seeing if that keeps her asleep? If it works it could be some teething pain. I'm NOT TELLING YOU to medicate your child to sleep but 1 dose of tylenol won't hurt and then you might find out if that is the cause. My son who is 18 months is going through this...teeth seem to all be coming in at the same time. Tylenol does wonders for us along with hyland teething tablets.
If you think its a tummy ache...you could try Colic Ease...I get it at the health food store in Frisco. Works great and it completely natural. I've given it to both my kids since they were infants.
I have been going through this myself. On top of it, my baby has stopped napping during the day and, she doesn't go to sleep without a fight until 9ish. Then, often she has nightmares and wakes up and I have to bring her into my bed at least 4 times a week. I am not sleeping either. I am waiting until spring break to send my eight year old to her grandparents so that we can put the baby down at 8 an let her cry it out for a few nights til she is on a new schedule.
Due to the fact that she falls asleep after you start rocking her, and wants you to lay down until she falls asleep, it doesn't sound like she has an ear infection. She would be crying during the day as well of she did. I do think most likely her teeth are bothering her and do agree with giving her some Motrin before bedtime. You do have to be careful about starting a habit of going in her room, giving her milk, and then rocking her to sleep. She is now going to expect that when she wakes up. I have twin 17 month old girls and one of them wakes up all of the time now. It is so hard but we do have to let her cry it out. I just make sure she is not sick before we do this. Good luck!
She may of had a dream or tummy ache the first night, and then it just started a pattern, but maybe you could leave her light on, and put some soft music on, and tell her mommy is right next door, or where-ever your room is and you can hear her fine, but need to go back to sleep. Give her a teddy bear or doll, and they have glow toys that when you push in them light up and also they play a soft tune or two. My nephew that isn't a year yet loves his and goes right to bed in his crib when his mom give him his , and falls to sleep pretty quick. Hope this helps.
Usually when my girls have had sleep disturbances like that they were hitting a mental growth spurt. Maybe her vocabulary is about to take off. It only lasted a few days but they usually weren't crying just playing in their beds. I second the box fans if you decide to CIO. Everyone in our house has fans in their rooms. Blocks out noise from dogs and cars too.
Oh, gosh. I understand the issue with not waking up your 7 year old. I kind of went through this with a much younger crew. I had a baby and a toddler sharing a room. We would always run to the baby when she would wake in the middle of the night b/c we did not want her to wake our toddler. However, you are at an advantage. Your older child can go back to sleep. I am confused why your are giving her milk - are you still breastfeeding? We do provide our two year old a sippy cup of water every night. It is comforting for her; especially when she was getting in her molers. She might even be having nightmares. Just remember she still is a little girl; my husband always has to remind me of this!
She may be going through a growth spurt and be hungry in the night. Try a soothing bedtime snack (no sugar or caffiene).
D. Kimbriel
Grandma to 2 beautiful boys
