22 Month Old and Separation Anxiety

HI A.,

Sleep deprivation is very difficult!! Does your daughter have her own room? Do you have a night light in her room? Does she wake up crying for you? If so, you can go comfort her, tuck her back in and say it is time for sleeping and leave. It is so difficult when they cry for so long! What you want to avoid is getting in the habit of staying in her room. That could set you up for more difficulty down the line. If the baby is sleeping in your room, is is more likely separation anxiety. It could also be bad dreams.
Consistency and follow through is key to her transitioning through this phase. Be loving, kind and firm about what your expectations are.
Hope you get some sleep soon.

Presentinthemoment

A.,

Are you putting her in bed and leaving or staying with her until she falls asleep?

I had a similar situation and in the night time routine before and after reading a book, I would start speaking life into what I wanted to see happen meaning, "you are going to sleep so deeply and soundly tonight and mommy will see you first thing"....as she drifts off to sleep and you get her in that phase when she is almost totally asleep....plant those thoughts in her mind and remind her how she is your special girl and how much you love her. Tell her how proud you are of her sleeping all night long.

Is she in a bed or crib?
CG

Have you tried co-sleeping, at least once she wakes up? I realize this is controversial for some, but you may want to check out www.askdrsears.com for more info. I finally decided our collective sleep was more important, and we all sleep better with co-sleeping. Evidence doesn't indicate any long-term problems from co-sleeping.

I don't have much advice. We have a 21 mo. old and a 3 week old and our 21 mo. old just started waking 2-3 times during the night in the last week or so!! Just what you want when you are trying to sleep as deeply as possible inbetween newborn nursing sesssions!!!

My husband has been going in and hugging her until she settles down and then tells her it's time to go back to sleep and that she needs to lay down- a lot of the time she does. It's as if if she does it on her own it's ok. If things are really bad we rock her in the rocking chair for a few mintues and then do the same thing- tell her it is time to go back to sleep and that she needs to lay down...she usually goes back to sleep within 5 minutes or so if we are firm about it...I have resolved to absolutely, under no circumstances bring her into our bed!!