This mom needs some help.... Fast!

[Not so Dumbo]

Last night DD1.5 stopped going to bed. It's like she developed a case of imsomnia. Up until now she was a great little sleeper, I've never had any trouble getting her to sleep. Last night I put her to bed at 8p which is her normal bedtime and she wouldn't go to sleep. She got out of her bed and pounded on her door, just screaming at the top of her lungs. I went in and tried to get her back into bed, with no luck. She just kept crying and clinging to me like her life depended on it. I let her sit in the dark with me and after a few minutes she wanted down and started running around like she was on speed. She kept this up until 10p, two hours after I put her to bed. By then she was exhusted and I made her lay down and I rubbed her head until she fell asleep. Which only took a few minutes.
Fastforward to today and at naptime she wouldn't go to sleep either. Samething, pounded on door and cried. This time I wouldn't go in and after an hour she fell asleep for 15min and then woke up crying. When I went in she was still laying on the floor.
Now onto tonight, it was the samething as last night, but worse. This time when I tried to let her cry for 15min. she hyperventilated and it was even harder to get her to calm down. I gave her some tylenol just incase somethng was hurting her, but it didn't make a difference. I've never seen her so upset and acting like if she lets go of me she'll die. I just got her to sleep and it's 10:15.
Any ideas of what might be going on?

 

[ENSOCK]

Isn't this about the age for them to start with separation anxiety? Maybe you could try tomorrow instead of putting her to sleep with the door closed, leaving the door open or laying down with her? Also, if you don't have one maybe a nightlight in her room. Something could have spooked her and she is now afraid of the dark?? Good luck, I hated this stage where they could not tell you what was wrong! Pixie dust to you!

 

[MamaCoog]

Has she already cut her molars? My son is 14mo and we are having some trouble with his sleep schedule lately. Maybe try some orajel and tylenol to see if it helps at all. Hope you find something that works!!

 

[mommyceratops]

Both my 2DS started having nightmares about that time? Closer to 2 maybe...anyway....just a thought. You will get a lot of advise on this. Do what is best for you and your family.....

JMO...Something scared her, you don't know what it is...There are different ways to handle this, I am not a tough love, leave to cry, I never could do that. I reassured my boys and stayed with them until they fell asleep and were ok. (but my DS7 still comes and gets in bed with me when he is scared not wanting to open that debate just telling you)

You have to do what is best for you. Sleep always won out for me, I didn't care where it was as long as it was sleep.

I have 2 sons, One son never went to bed early and the other is out every night early. My DS7 now tells me he is noctornal and does not need sleep!

I would call your doctor and discuss it if it keeps up. My feelings on this you just don't know. When my neice was a 2 they lived on a farm, in an old farm house, and she kept waking up at night screaming and her mom made stay in her room crying all night. This went on for over a week, then the mom went to change her bed and there was mice droppings all under her bed ....Yes, she had mice running around her all night and that was what scared her! No wonder she was up all night screaming.

So my theory is you just don't know if it is at night! JMO

 

[Aliceacc]

For starters, could you get her a night light? And/or let her go to sleep with a light on? If she's tired enough it won't keep her awake.

How about switching her monitor, so she can hear you talking? The sounds of you and your husband, turned way down low, may help.

Could you play classical music softly in her room? It really is soothing if you choose right-- maybe some lullabys from Brahms? Hit your library and try it; if it helps you can invest in some.

Does she have a stuffed animal/blankie that gives her comfort? If not, do you want to invest in one?

 

[bellebud]

Both my 2DS started having nightmares about that time? Closer to 2 maybe...anyway....just a thought. You will get a lot of advise on this. Do what is best for you and your family.....

JMO...Something scared her, you don't know what it is...There are different ways to handle this, I am not a tough love, leave to cry, I never could do that. I reassured my boys and stayed with them until they fell asleep and were ok. (but my DS7 still comes and gets in bed with me when he is scared not wanting to open that debate just telling you)

You have to do what is best for you. Sleep always won out for me, I didn't care where it was as long as it was sleep.

I have 2 sons, One son never went to bed early and the other is out every night early. My DS7 now tells me he is noctornal and does not need sleep!

I would call your doctor and discuss it if it keeps up. My feelings on this you just don't know. When my neice was a 2 they lived on a farm, in an old farm house, and she kept waking up at night screaming and her mom made stay in her room crying all night. This went on for over a week, then the mom went to change her bed and there was mice droppings all under her bed ....Yes, she had mice running around her all night and that was what scared her! No wonder she was up all night screaming.

So my theory is you just don't know if it is at night! JMO

I totally agree w/ all this.

My kids have always gone through different sleeping issues/stages. Sometimes you figure out what's bothering them, sometimes you don't. Sometimes nothing's *bothering* them, but their body is readjusting to all the physical and mental growth they're doing, and they're just up - can't turn their brain off - just like we adults sometimes. but for kids, they then get over-tired, which makes everything way worse, then since they're awake and older now, they're more aware, and can get scared in the middle of the night.

One of my nephews (2.5yo now) started jumping up in the middle of the night - screaming as if someone stabbed him, cried so hard he'd vomit, even w/ his mom comforting him, and it would take an hour to calm him down (i'm going to say it was about 1.5yo this happened). Dsis-in-law stripped the bed every day, thinking maybe something was biting him, and she tried everything. They never figured it out, but it did stop after a few months. She was also thinking night terrors, or just nightmares. Nothing 'fixed' it, it just went away, and she dealt with it as it happened. she put a futon mattress on his floor so she could lay w/ him when needed.

have doc check her out for ears, teeth, etc, but it could just be 'nothing' like that - it could be mental (nightmares, wanting you, etc). Good luck, and remember, it will pass, and is totally normal.

 

[bgirl29]

Bellebud that sounds like your nephew was having night terrors. My son went through that for awhile too. Nothing could console him, holding him or talking to him had no effect. Eventually we figured out to tell him to lay back down and go to sleep and he would. Very strange thing those night terrors.

 

[Mom2JPL]

Has your daughter recently been switched from her crib to a big girl bed? Maybe she needs to get back in the crib. My son started crawling out of his crib around 1.5 - took me less than a week to get him a crib tent for his bed after naps became a nightmare and he wouldn't fall asleep at night (and this was from a kid who took great naps and slept great at night).

My youngest is 16 months and she's been having trouble sleeping lately - looks like her bottom incisors are trying to break through - and she's been miserable to get down at night. We still do our same routine (in her crib by 7:30, 8:00) say goodnight, turn out the lights and head downstairs. She fusses and cries (we'll go back up to comfort her if it's longer than 5 minutes) and then she'll usually go to sleep. Alos, the nighttime baby ambesol (sp?) does seem to be helping take the edge off for her.

 

[Disneychix]

I too am having sleep issues with DS who is 12 months. He's always been the BEST sleeper and would go to bed smiling at us. For the past week it's been Cry-Time every night. Even a sleep over at Grandma's wouldn't soothe him and he's been up all night every hour.
We got hurricane gel for some bottom incisors coming through but that just mildly helps. Could that be all this is? Just these horrible teeth doing this to my little boy?
Also, he can't seem to get comfortable in his crib and gets 'up' on all 4s but just starts crying and won't lay back down. Any suggestions on solving this problem?

 

[Not so Dumbo]

Thanks for your replies and suggestions. It was a long night lastnight. She was up from 3a-5:30a. She defenitely isn't acting herself when it comes to sleep. I think too that she may be cutting her 2yo molars. We did switch her to a toddler bed a few weeks ago. Before we did that though we had put her railing down and left a footstool there so she could get out on her own. She was pretty used to having some freedom before we switched her. She has the same mattress and sheets and the bed is in the same spot. We do have a nightlight in her room and I have a CD player that plays instrumental disney music all night.
Besides just being exhusted from her being up all day and all night, I don't want her to develop any bad habbits and start thinking that she can do this all the time. Hopefully, it sounds like time might cure whatever is wrong. Sounds like it may be common at her age (21months)

 

[candee0512]

I have 3 night-owl children ages 21, 16, and 10, so I know your pain!

Here's what I would do: even if you just left the doctor's office the afternoon before this started, go back and have them look over your little one. An ear infection, for example, can come out of nowhere and children don't have the words to convey that something hurts like heck. Secondly, my first got into the habit of sleeping with us as an older baby (chronic ear infections + 2 working parents = whatever it takes to get a good night's sleep) and my pedicatrician told us to give our son Benadryl for a few nights to make him extra sleepy when we moved him to his own bed. This may be scandalous now, but it did work. Of course, always ask your doctor.

Sweet dreams,
Candee

 

[brergnat]

We do have a nightlight in her room and I have a CD player that plays instrumental disney music all night.

Here's a crazy thought. Get rid of the CD player and nightlight. Seriously. Both my kids had sleeping issues around that age (1.5) and what ended up working was making the room DARK as possible and eliminating the "white noise". I had to buy room darkening shades, remove the nightlights, and take out the fans.

As much as some adults "need" white noise to sleep, MOST kids sleep much, much better in a dark, quiet environment.

Try it.

I also think maybe she is not "ready" for the toddler bed. Although she has been able to get out of her crib for some time, 1.5 is really young to transition out of a crib. She may have felt more secure in the crib. She's still a baby...remember that.

 

[Traveliz]

Here's a crazy thought. Get rid of the CD player and nightlight. Seriously. Both my kids had sleeping issues around that age (1.5) and what ended up working was making the room DARK as possible and eliminating the "white noise". I had to buy room darkening shades, remove the nightlights, and take out the fans.

As much as some adults "need" white noise to sleep, MOST kids sleep much, much better in a dark, quiet environment.

Try it.

I also think maybe she is not "ready" for the toddler bed. Although she has been able to get out of her crib for some time, 1.5 is really young to transition out of a crib. She may have felt more secure in the crib. She's still a baby...remember that.

I agree -- I never understood the rush to a big girl/boy bed - -I always say they called it a 6 yr crib for a reason -- I kept my daughter in it til she turned 3 - partly for security, partly because I didn't see any need to rush to the bed...we didn't do the whole toddler bed thing -- went right to a real bed from the crib.

Liz

 

[Bluesdad]

Here's a crazy thought. Get rid of the CD player and nightlight. Seriously. Both my kids had sleeping issues around that age (1.5) and what ended up working was making the room DARK as possible and eliminating the "white noise". I had to buy room darkening shades, remove the nightlights, and take out the fans.

As much as some adults "need" white noise to sleep, MOST kids sleep much, much better in a dark, quiet environment.

Try it.

This is correct. It is even worse depending on the color of the light. Blue is the worst. It affects the internal sleep clock (Circadian Rhythm) making it think it is still daylight and her system won't release the melatonin. Just a thought.

 

[minkydog]

My first thought is ear infection. Painful ears feel much worse when you're laying down. Since this is a new thing for her, you might want to have her ears checked. If she checks out and there's nothing physically wrong, try cutting back on the light & sound. A little tylenol probably wouldn't be a bad idea, either. I'd also consider bringing the crib back--just set it up and give her the choice. My oldest loved his toddler bed until it was time to go to sleep--then he wanted his crib!

 

[Not so Dumbo]

Well, we are onto night 3 now.
I think I will get her ears checked tomorrow. She has had reoccuring ear infections before, but usually she runs a fever and her ear turns red. But I'm going to have the checked anyhow. I'm getting desperate.
If that checks out and they are fine, I'll think about putting her crib back up. She has been fine for the last 3 weeks so I don't know why now that would bother her. Same with the CD and nightlight, she has had them since we brought her home. But something is bothering her, she won't even laydown when it's bedtime, so I guess I'll have to keep trying to figure out what it is. I guess I'll have to try the CD and nightlight if the putting the crib back up doesn't work. Do you think that maybe she is just figuring out that if she cries enough I'll come and get her and she doesn't have to go to sleep?

 

[justhat]

My son recently went through a similar phase. It lasted about a month and came and went without any apparent reason. He was always a great sleeper but all of a sudden started waking without reason for hours at a time and then he started to protest bedtime too. He acted like he was high on crack as well, wanting to run around and play at 1am! I really have no suggestions as nothing I did helped, but just as suddenly as it started, it stopped. Hopefully that will be the case for you.

I will add though, that if you've always had a nightlight and music playing in her room, I doubt that has anything to do with the problem. If you just started it, well then okay, I can see that. But if she's been in the same surroundings for most of her life and done okay with it, then I can't see how it would suddenly freak her out.

And I think having her in a bed is fine. My daughter moved out of the crib and into a toddler bed at 14 months and my son will be moving into a bed as soon as our home renovation is completed. The room he's in temporarily isn't babyproofed as well as I'd like so he's still in the crib, but he has been climbing out since 16 months so I really want him in a bed. I am not a huge fan of cribs, though I did use one with both kids so I'm not against them or anything. I just think there's no reason that they should be sleeping in a cage of sorts once they're mobile, potty training, etc.

ETA: I forgot to say that yes, I do think part of it is that she figured out you'll get her if she cries. I never left my son to just cry in his bed, but once he climbed out of the crib once, he learned that I would come immediately if he cried to prevent him from climbing, thus falling, out. He was always the type of kid who would go to sleep on his own after 5 minutes max of crying, but I couldn't even get to that point once he could climb out of the crib. So that made it a huge challenge cause he knew I'd come instantly. Of course, if she's hyperventilating, not much you can do there either.

 

[Steph9072]

I would say have ears checked.

I want to share our story with you

Not to cause anymore worry. My ds never slept through the night but by 9 mo. I was able to get him to sleep & he only getting up once for oh about 30 minutes. Then about when he was 1 1/2 or 2 it was like a light switch was flicked and he started sleeping less and less. To the point we were getting 4-6 hours of during a 24 hour period. This was affecting all of our lives. Sam was cranky and clingy. I was cranky and depressed to the point I went on anti-depressants.
Finally we ended up at the Pediatrician who sent us Riley Hospital for Children. They did a sleep study on him. In an 8 hour period my baby stopped breathing 10 times and his saturations went down extremely low another 6 times. That was the scariest thing I have ever heard. They removed Sam’s tonsils and adenoids. We now get between 7 & 9 hours at night and about an hour during the day. He is a happy energetic little boy. I am a happy Momma who is no longer on anti-depressants.

We went back right before Christmas and his breathing is 100% better. We go back on the 12th and they will schedule another sleep study…not seeing any results I know that he is better

 

[Traveliz]

Well, we are onto night 3 now.
I think I will get her ears checked tomorrow. She has had reoccuring ear infections before, but usually she runs a fever and her ear turns red. But I'm going to have the checked anyhow. I'm getting desperate.
If that checks out and they are fine, I'll think about putting her crib back up. She has been fine for the last 3 weeks so I don't know why now that would bother her. Same with the CD and nightlight, she has had them since we brought her home. But something is bothering her, she won't even laydown when it's bedtime, so I guess I'll have to keep trying to figure out what it is. I guess I'll have to try the CD and nightlight if the putting the crib back up doesn't work. Do you think that maybe she is just figuring out that if she cries enough I'll come and get her and she doesn't have to go to sleep?

Oh poor thing -- you are right -- she could just be figuring out its a great way to get your attention - but on the other hand it could be an infection or something too.

Good luck.
Liz

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I would have her checked by the ped as well. I know I am going to get jumped all over for this but this is how I feel. If she wants you to lay down with her then do it. She will only be young for a short period of time. She will not refuse to ever sleep in a bed because you let her sleep with you. I am speaking from experience. Personally, as long as they sleep I don't care if it is in my bed or theirs. I am not flaming you, but having a door closed that she cannot get open herself is probably scary as well. Kids go through all kinds of phases. Maybe she needs a later bedtime, maybe she needs less nap? Who knows? I am just not a tough love type of person. I would never let any of my kids cry for an hour and a half. Comforting her will not give her bad habits. Good luck.