28 Month Old Vomits at Bedtime

Updated on August 12, 2011
L.W. asks from Florence, KY
14 answers

Hi Ladies
We can put my daughter in her crib with no problem. after about 10 mins, she will start calling for us...I usually let her call out for about 10/15 mins, then i go in. however when I go in she wants out. When I tell her no, she starts screaming hysterically....I leave the room anyway and she gets so worked up she will vomit...What am I doing wrong.
My SIL had the same problem. Her pediatrician recommended not going in after vomiting and letting him sleep in it..she said it worked for her after 2 days, but that just seems strange to me...anyone else have this or can let me know what i can do?

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So What Happened?

2 days and we are vomit free.!! :):) I havent had to really do anything but I think subconsciously I am making bedtime more engaging and talking. I didnt put in the original post because I was in a hurry but we have been doing a route since she was 6 weeks old.. have never veared from it (not even 1 night) she has sleeped great since about 4.5 months old.
We also started having her pray too. usually before bed, after reading her books, I pray to God to keep her safe, but now I lay her in her crib and have her repeat after me saying "now I lay me down to sleep etc etc.." That has helped because she is in the crib and i am able to get away after saying "amen"

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M.P.

answers from Lafayette on

My daughter used to vomit on command whenever she wanted something. we stopped freaking out when she did it. we basically did full out cry it out for two days and it stopped. she no longer pukes when she cries, unless she's really upset or sick. it just took a few days of her freaking out. it was the hardest thing to do. but i'm so thankful i did it. now she lays down and goes to sleep without struggles.

The reason they reccomend to leave the vomit is because, well at least in my daughter's case, it was a control thing. she is not sick, she was doing it to get what she wanted. after she learned it wouldn't work, it ended.

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M.B.

answers from Sacramento on

Wow, can't believe the pediatrician suggested letting her sleep in her vomit.
I hope he or she does not have any kids and I highly doubt he or she has ever inconvenienced themselves by sleeping in a wet, dirty, stinky bed. That doesn't prommote sleeping at all.
-Not a fan of CIO. I "worked" w/my son's issues of sleeping in his own crib and we don't have any problems.
-Make sure there is a nightlight in the room.
-Create a bedtime routine.
-Stay in the room in a comfy chair for a few mins.
-You can even let her know you'll come back and check on her...and do!
-Make sure she is not hungry or thirsty when it is time to go to bed.
-Make sure she isn't scared (nightlights help w/that and promising to check on her).
-Make sure you're not putting her to bed too early.
-I try to "wear" out my kids so they will be tired and read for bed.
Makes mommy tired and ready for bed too but I don't have problems w/my kids going to bed so they don't hate it.

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D.W.

answers from Gainesville on

One thing I did with my kiddos was to stay with them with my head down on the side of the crib and my hand on them till they were asleep. It usually didn't take long after finishing our bedtime routine and I placed them in the crib. Small price for me to pay to give my kids a sweet nite nite before it left the room. And neither of my kids had trouble putting themselves to sleep when they were older, going back to sleep in the middle of the night, etc. People seem to have this notion that if they comfort and love their children to sleep that they will create these little dependent sleep monsters. Crazy! I held, rocked both of my kids to sleep and they go to sleep perfectly independently 98% of the time every night (they are 6 and 33 months). And when they need extra love to get to sleep they get it. No biggie.

I couldn't and still can't imagine why or how people allow their kids to cry it out at bedtime. I want a peaceful, calm, sweet time at bedtime. I am sitting here completely horrified that a doctor would suggest leaving an toddler to sleep in their own vomit and that your sil actually did it-for 2 days! Parenting doesn't stop at night and it doesn't stop because we say it's time for bed.

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L.P.

answers from Pittsfield on

I would never ever let my child sleep in vomit! How cruel. If my child's pediatrician suggested such a thing, I'd find a new pediatrician ASAP.

I don't believe in CIO either. I know I would hate it if I was scared or upset and no one came to comfort me. I also wouldn't recommend staying with a child until they fall asleep- because I did that with my 1st child and he still couldn't fall asleep on his own when he was nearly 4. I wasn't sure WHAT to do. Then I saw an episode of The Supernanny where she was showing parents with the same problem what to do.

I started sitting in the room, near his bed, where he could see me. I had myself positioned so I was not facing him, but he could see the side of my face. I would sit there, but no eye contact, no communication. Each night I would sit a little farther away from the bed until I was in the hall but where he could see me. Then I was in the hall, but just out of sight (but he knew I was there). After that, I could be in my room reading a book or magazine until he fell asleep. Never got to the point where I could be downstairs. He was too afraid to be alone upstairs at night, but that was ok with me because he was at least falling asleep on his own- and I would just wait to go downstairs after he fell asleep. The whole thing took about a week, but was worth it.
Hope this helps, it helped me a lot. Good luck :)

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S.P.

answers from Philadelphia on

It seems like she gets hysterical when you go in, so just don't go in at all...

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R.M.

answers from Topeka on

Oh my goodness, I cannot believe that Pediatrician would allow her own child...much less tell someone else to let their child sleep in their own vomit!!! What if the child had aspirated vomit and choked to death on it? I am just aghast!!
I am not a fan of the Cry it out method at all..I never used it with my own children and now that they are grown and have children of their own they do not use it for their sons either.
I think that when a child is crying, especially a young child...that is enough reason for we, as parents, to become involved and help them deal with their emotions.
Could you go in and read quietly to your daughter, with her still in the crib and you sitting in a rocking chair nearby? Or sing to her until she settles down and drifts off to sleep? Do you have a bedtime routine, time for her to settle in for the night...brush her teeth...read books together or do something else quiet and relaxing?
I think it may take some experimenting on your part to see what is going to work but I definitely would NOT allow her to vomit and then sleep in it...and I would not allow her to just cry without intervening in someway. I would not be angry with her...that isn't going to solve anything...just be calm and softspoken...don't turn on lights or do anything to make her thing that crib time is over.
Good luck to you

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K.U.

answers from Detroit on

I would just stop going back in the room - tell her when you put her in the crib that it's bedtime and she needs to go to sleep, period. Do you have a bedtime routine that helps her to wind down prior to going to sleep? i.e. bath, jammies, story, cuddle, etc.

I can't believe anyone would recommend letting a child sleep in a pile of vomit - that's just cruel! Not to mention disgusting!

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L.R.

answers from Des Moines on

Well the good news is - this is just a phase and part of growing up, becoming independent but still too immature to know they are safe and sound while you are in the lounge (or where ever) while they are in bed. Also at that age they are feeling lots of emotions and still not wonderful at expressing them. So take it easy on both of you...my son is 2 yrs and 8 months and I read him a story in his bed and lay with him for about 10 minutes then tell him I'm going and that I will be at the end of the hallway (which is where the lounge is) if he needs me - it took a few nights but he is much more secure about night time now and lays there and goes to sleep.

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E.B.

answers from Seattle on

I cant believe the doc told you to do that. When my older son gets worked up he is a puker. She should be old enough that if is so worked up she vomits, explain to her its night night time and only sort ''HELP'' her clean up the mess. tell her mommy doesnt like having to clean up big girl messes. Tell her night night time is for everyone. now she can go on cleaning messes, but they will be hers to clean. She is pushing and testing you terrible right now. she is trying to see if moms a sucker. You need to be firm. consistantancy is the key. my youngest will be 3 in june and we co-sleep. we have no vomiting issues. its, he get s violent because i am trying to wean him at the same time.

This just came to me too. To help with vomit mess clean up, line her crib with towels. its way easy clean up. then you toss them in the wash. thats what we have done for other reasons. or have a bucket that is there for her. Iff she gets worked up and needs to throw up train her to get it into the bucket. I know your ultimate goal is to break the habit but it will take a little time.

good luck!!
libby

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L.L.

answers from Great Falls on

well I started a bad habit with my boys I used to go lay with them until they fell asleep and then the older they got that is what was expected of me. It eventually got to where I didn't want to keep doing that but I couldn't really just leave. I started by putting a chair next to their bed and when they were asleep I left. the chair started getting moved closer and closer to the door. Me and the chair eventually made it outside the bedroom door and my kids started to realize that they were okay with me not there. Change is hard for kids, and I realized that my bad routine is what caused them to be like this in the first place. So be strong and take baby steps to getting them in a new routine.

ps. I can not believe her pediatrician suggested that she lay in her own vomit to get past this. I would be changing pediatricians if I were you

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S.D.

answers from Indianapolis on

OMG!!! That's totally abusive! I wouldn't make my DOG sleep in her own vomit! Disgusting:(
Have you asked what's wrong? Maybe she's afraid of the dark? Maybe she's been having bad dreams. Does she have a nightlight? Music to listen to?
Have you tried not going in at all? It sounds like she only gets upset once you've gone in. Maybe if you just ignore her unless she's crying she'll give up?

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S.B.

answers from Cleveland on

I'm not saying you should or shouldn't do "cry it out" but it sounds like that doctor isn't even following what the Ferber method says to do. He says to clean up your child calmly and quietly without a lot of interaction with the child and then put her back to bed. Here's a brief overview:

http://www.babycenter.com/0_the-ferber-method-demystified...

I think it's just gross to let a kid sleep in vomit and I don't see how that would possibly make her want to go to sleep by herself in her own bed! If she's just calling for you but not crying or screaming, you may want to try not going in and see what happens. You could tell her ahead of time that you are nearby and can hear her, but it's time for her to go to sleep by herself. Every kid is different - she may just settle down by herself if you don't go in. Good luck!

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K.G.

answers from Columbus on

I agree with Sharon P. This only happens when you go in so don't go in. She will be fine.

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P.G.

answers from Dallas on

I'm assuming that pedi was "old school" cause I'm sure that's a health hazard. There is acid in vomit - that's just stupid. The moms have some nice ideas. Extra loving before bed time and having her clean it up. Good luck :)

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