Help! We leave in 2 weeks and my toddler is going crazy!

[ErinC801]

We leave for disney in 2 weeks and my dd (19 months) won't sleep in her crib anymore, clings to me and get easily agitated. Any tips? Hoping this phase will end before we leave!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

with leaving in 2 weeks are you packing suitcases? also you have the holiday this weekend before you leave. for your toddler a lot of things happening all at once and toddler is not sure what is going on. bet you are excited but wondering how you are going to get everything done. the clinging may not end until awhile after you are back and things are back to normal. plus if your toddler is anything like mine were at that age one or the other got sick for every holiday. good luck with your trip and have a great time

 

[jacknsally19]

i think kids at that age can go through a lot of odd phases that last for a week or so and then resolve. I know we had issues with my daughter struggling with sleeping around 15 months and I was at the end of my rope. 1. Because Iwasn't getting any sleep and my DD was cranky bc she wasn't getting enough sleep. Anyway, I ended up reading the Ferber book (which has a lot more info on kids and sleep than just the 'cry it out' thing). Anyway, he suggested that as kids get older pacifiers make it easier to fall asleep but causes them to sleep lighter and awaken frequently. We had tried everything except for eliminating the binkie - took it away and within 2 days sleep was perfect!
I am not suggesting that the binkie is your problem but I would totally recommend looking at his book to see what might be going on with sleep. It's such a great resource.

On a related note, I imagine your child will act very differently in WDW. We have gone many times and I can tell you sleep patterns change - later nights, no bedtime routines, and late mornings. Also, I find that the cast members are wonderful about engaging with your kid so they might be a little less clingy. Good luck!

 

[kandb]

We let our children sleep in our bed with us when this happened, we all slept well and no one was sleep deprived the next day. They slept with us for a few years and it was great for them and us.

 

[quagmire0]

This too shall pass. Our kids had/have plenty of days or weeks (or months when they were babies) where the world seemed to be crashing down - until one day it wasn't. Hang in there.

 

[Pesky]

Yep, phase. Not joyful but a phase. Try a special sleep friend. Our local toy store sells stuffed animals with rice and lavender that you can heat in the microwave. That might be enough special soothing to help her drift off to sleep. Also consider a white noise maker or some soothing classical music at bed time. Oh and since she won't sleep in her crib right now, what about moving her to the PNP already? She'll likely be in one when you travel and maybe the difference is enough to help her sleep.

 

[Aliceacc]

I would give her as strict a "normal" routine as possible. Ten minutes before dinner, you wash hands and warn her that dinner is approaching. (When my kids were that age, time was measured in terms of "episodes" of Cyberchase-- their favorite show at the time. Minutes meant nothing to them, but they understood episodes.)

I think she's probably nervous about change, so stability is your friend.

 

[Bluegrrl]

It's a phase. As much I hate to say it, it's a phase. My boy has started getting out of bed and crawling into out lately. It's really annoying! I've noticed that a lot of kids here have gotten wacky with spring time change. Oddly enough, Disney might help in that your munchkin will get so tired that she might tucker out in bed by herself.

 

[Tondee]

Does your child go to a daycare? When my child started napping on the mats on the floor, we moved him into a toddler bed. You will still have to set the boundaries. Maybe a new bed would be exciting enough to stay in? Many things could be causing this behavior. A phase, allergies, maybe even fighting off a bug. My son is very cranky in the fall and spring due to his allergies. I would start by trying sleep training all over again. Maybe rewards for staying in her bed. Also, let her know she can be near you but not on top of you. Practice having her sit beside you while you work on things. Just find what works for your family. The good thing about Disney is that she will definitely fall asleep after a day in the parks!
If all else fails, hand her to Daddy/Grandma, and go get your nails done!