My 2 year old little girl has been a great sleeper until just last week. All of a sudden, she started screaming and pounding on the door as soon as we leave the room. She does this every day at nap and bed time. She didn't take a nap yesterday, so she went down very easy last night, but then woke at 3am screaming. She wants one of us to stay in her room with her and it takes her well over 2 hours to fall asleep. Any ideas of what could be happening? I was thinking nightmares maybe? I would let her cry it out, but her twin brother is just across the hall and she wakes him with her tantrums. I've tried putting her into a different room today for nap, but she is still screaming. I'm out of ideas! Please help!
Editing to add: They were both climbing out of their cribs very easily about a month and a half ago, so we moved them into their toddler beds and put bed rails up. I don't think the "freedom" is causing her to be so upset, only helping her to state her case louder by banging on the door.
We were going through this with my daughter so what we did is about 30 minutes before bedtime we go in her room and sit on the floor and read a book and then she lays down in her bed and we talk or tell a bedtime story. Pick things that are calming so that it's not just a 'time to go to bed' scenario. It really seems to work for my kids.
My daughter started doing this when she turned two in july. Same as you was great at going to bed. She did it for about a month. We bought a rotating fish light for their room. (she shares w/ her baby bro), because we were having problems w/ him.(still are) anyway we would say to her do you want your fishies on and she'd say yes that helps. She still has problems when my hubby works late so I say to her do you want daddy to come in when he gets home she says yes. I tell her to lay quiet and listen for him She will talk a bit and then fall asleep. He makes sure that he gets her out of bed the next morning. Anyway hope this helps. It was frustrating, but hopefully it will be over for us. Oh and on the nights she doesn't throw a fit in the morning I make sure that when we do our morning cuddles I tell her what a big girl she was for going to bed and how proud I was of her. Good luck!
H.
So my son and a few other friends kids seemed to go through a bad phase around nap/bedtime at around or before the 2 year mark. Mine was short lived, about 2 weeks. During that time I just made sure our routine was super structured and I reverted back to how I taught him to sleep in the crib. I would do our routine, leave the room, he would cry and I would give him 3 minutes, I would go back in reassure him and get him calm, and leave again. I would repeat this until he was asleep. After a couple of weeks he went back to going to bed fine...very weird but it was a phase and seems to be something pretty common. I wish you luck though!!!
Could also be two year molars so consider that as well!!
Hi C., My daughter also went through that faze too. I tried a night lite of her picking out, I tried music to relax too, I even tried warm milk and tea before bed time. I was then informed that around the age of 2 children start to realize that they are dreaming. My daughter had night terrors for a while and every so often now, but I do know that now is the time they realize they are dreaming and it does frighten a lot of children. Try to ask her if she remembers anything that scared her while she was sleeping one time or I just tell my daughter to think of good things when she is laying down, something that makes her happy. then she wil always have sweet dreams. Good Luck
And I would DEFINETLY NOT LISTEN TO M R
Hi C.!
I hope it is as simple as opening the bedroom door just a little. My daughter started screaming just after her second birthday (last Novemeber) and when my husband said why not try leaving the door open a bit it seemed to work. Of course now we have developed the stall tactics (one more kiss, one more hug, etc) but it sure beats the screaming!
Hope this helps! Good luck!
If this were my child, this is what I would do:
#1. Rule out any health or emotional issues first by making sure she isn't sick, having nightmares, or any other need that clearly requires your attention. If none of these seem to be the case, go to step #2.
#2. Let her scream and pound the door. She is probably trying to get your attention to spend time with her. If you run in, it works. Guess what she'll do at the next naptime, in the middle of the night? Keep screaming. She will learn that screaming = mommy's attention NOW!
#3. The previous poster's suggestion of following the routine is outstanding. Follow the same routine with the same expectations and when it is bedtime say good night and let that be it. If she wakes in the middle of the night screaming quickly assess whether or not she truly has a need that requires your immediate attention. If not, let her scream.
I know many people will disagree with me on this, but if she is not sick or hurt then there really is no true 'need' to go to her whenever she screams. If your child screamed because you wouldn't give her five pieces of candy instead of one, I doubt that you'd change your mind and give in and give her more candy. You know she doesn't 'need' the candy; she 'wants' the candy.
Good luck to you and best wishes in finding a solution that fits for your family. If this one is not feasible, then by all means chuck it! Every family is different with differing needs.
My daughter went through the same thing. She actually had "night terrors" where we could not wake her. But now 3, she continues to scream at night and want us to come in and sleep with her. It's as if she's scared. We tried cutting back on sugar and t.v. and giving her consistent naps during the day (previously, she would not take a nap). This seemed to help tremendously, but what really did it was when we bought her a kitten. This cat sleeps in her room and now she is not afraid and Daddy and I can leave the room.
Did you just switch her into her big girl bed? Just wondering if a change could have precipitated the change. I try and leave my kids in their cribs for as long as possible.
