OT 12 month old sleep issues

[em-o-so'smom]

Hi All, I'm hoping for some support and advice. My 12 mth old DD was a great sleeper until or trip to disney in Feb. when she was 7mths. Since then more nights than not she wakes and screams to be in our bed (when she gets her way recently she hugs my neck tight and almost giggles). We created this by letting her sleep with us while in Disney while our then 3 1/2 and 2 1/2 DDs slept in the other bed. Since our trip we have tried many things to get her to sleep all night in her bed and she would have spurts of all night sleep but there were always interruptions to this...teething the most prominent. We are going back to WDW in Sept (40 days! ) and although 40 more sleepless nights for me and DH knowing she will end up in our bed (we are also going to FT. Myers and not bringing our own pack-n-play) we are conflicted between bringing her with us when she wakes anywhere from 12-4am or trying to get her to get back to sleep in her own bed.

What has worked for anyone else to get 1 year olds to sleep all night and stay in their own beds? Whether we do it ow or wait we need advice!

TIA

 

[Princess Roo]

Sounds like she may be "playing" you (from the hugging your neck and giggling comment). Honestly, I would probably tell her that this is the last night that she gets to come to your bed and then start enforcing it. You could keep going to her when she calls for you, but NOT take her out of her bed. Consistency is key!

I probably would either wait until after the next trip or else bring the P&P for that trip, though. Seems like it would be too confusing for her otherwise. If you wait until after the trip, you could start telling her way in advance of it that that will be the last time she's in your bed.

There are a lot of options...just a matter of what you are most comfortable with.

 

[Minnie_me]

Little ones do thrive on routine, and hers was disrupted. She thinks this is the new normal! So you have to show her another new normal....

This is what worked for us when our kids were little and not wanting to stay in bed (for whatever reason):

We call it "3 minutes". We do stories, songs, hugs, kisses and a drink of water. Then it's lights out, and we would say, "Okay, now it's time for you to stay in bed and get sleepy. I'll be back in 3 minutes to see how you're doing, but you need to stay in bed until I come back."

The first couple of nights, it took an hour or more of going back every 3 minutes! YIKES!

But then, it worked like a charm. We still did it after the problem was no longer a problem. We still called it "3 minutes", but it was more like 5-10-15 minutes, depending on the age of the child. It gives them the reassurance that you're going to be back (I am a firm believer in NOT lying to my children - - I would never say that I was coming back in 3 minutes and then not come back at all!), and you get to give them lots of praise for staying in bed, and they like that.

 

[NemoMOm]

Well, I don't have advice, but support. DS did not sleep thru the night until 2 yrs. He is now 2.5 and sometimes still wakes once every now and then. So, I know wht you are going thru, with him it just seemed that one night he slept thru and ever since he pretty much has. Good Luck