My 2 1/2 year old has always been easy to put to bed, but in the last few weeks she has started throwing tantrums when we put her in her crib. She cries and screams for about 15-20 minutes before finally falling asleep. Does anyone have any experience with this? Any ideas on how to help her fall asleep more calmly?
Thank you!
B.
Thank you so much for all of your advice! We put a night light in her room a few nights ago and it seems to be working. Now, she just falls asleep without any tantrums.
Try a big bed and remember they go through stages--especially at two they change and will sometimes be harder to put to sleep. We read books and lay down with the kids after bath and teeth. Having the rountine is helpful, too when switching to a big bed, because they know what is coming.
Sounds like she may be overly tired. When my kiddos get too tired they cant settle down. When that happens we hit the sack earlier the next night!
I have a 2 & 1/2 year old also! A little boy. He has an older brother-6 1/2. He has been in the bottom of their bunk bed for almost a year now. Maybe she is feeling confined. You may want to take the mattress out of the crib and lay it on the floor. Make sure everything is toddler-proof! Also, try the normal stuff- relaxing lavendar bath, book in a rocking chair with a soft light, white noise and/or move the bedtimes later or even earlier. My son takes shorter naps in the day and sometimes no naps at all. That may be hindering bedtime also. Good Luck!
Hey B.,
I had the same problem with my older son and now am having the problems with my younger son. I know it's hard to hear them cry and scream but if that works then go with that. I have night lights in my kids room to make them more comfortable, also is her door open a crack or do you shut it all the way. I found that if you leave the door open just a little it easier because they can still hear you in the other room so won't be as scared if the door is completely shut. Maybe try a favorite blanket, or stuffed animal might help as well, that's what I have tried and worked for me, hopefully they will work for you as well....
D.
Little about myself: I am a SAHM I have a 7 year old boy a 6 year old girl and 4 year old boy. Married to a wonderful but challenging man for almost 6 years.
Just be consistant with what you are already doing. Crying herself to sleep is okay. She will learn how to work through this...it is something I think all kiddos go through at some point in their infant/toddler years.
~K.
You may want to transition her to a toddler bed or a twin bed. She may just be getting a bit big for the crib. We moved my daughter to a twin bed when she turned 2 and she LOVES her "big girl bed". She has never climbed out of it and just sits in it and sings or talks to herself when she wakes up until we come to get her. She had started to get a bit whiney about bedtime just before we moved her too and now we have no trouble at all.
Good luck to you!
No sugar after 4:00 and start them on sleepy time teas, and I have heard of child massages, feet, hands neck and head, oops i am sleepy.
Sounds like it's time to get her out of the crib... let her be in a "big girl bed" and read her story to fall asleep by.
My oldest went thru this and I had no clue what was going on. I started asking around and I was told that this was a sign she was ready to move out of her crib. We put her toddler bed together and started the transition, which was very easy because she was more than ready. Good luck!
Dear B., take a few minutes to read a short story
after you laid down your daughter. Calmly, place her on her crib, sit down on a chair or stand along the bedroom wall and read the story in a soothing voice, even is she begins to scream or play...once the book is read say good night and leave. Your baby will realized soon enough that if she makes noise, she won't hear you. Read the same book every night, since they like repetition...do not let her choose the book, you do it. At 2 1/2 yrs. old kids may suffer separation anxiety. One doctor told me that as a mom desapears, the child feels as if you're going away for ever....of course some kids are the exception and they'd like to have all the control. So give it a try, tell your baby good night with the sweetest voice she knows! Say good night and tell her love her. And then go, take a load off!
Good night!
About 18 months old, my son did the same thing, only he was climbing out of the crib and crying (screaming) at the door. We put his mattress on the floor while we got a toddler bed, and that seemed to end the problem.
I agree, she could be overtired.
Or she could just be ready for a big bed. She is at that age where they want to start controlling a few things in their life. It may be simple things like what socks to wear or what food to eat for lunch ...or it could be other things like being able to get out of bed when she wakes up.
I would start the transition to a big bed. Get a twin size or toddler bed and start naps in that, then eventually do nighttime in it once she has learned that when you are put to bed you stay there. ;-)
