Help! Multi-layered Issue Regarding Toddler's Sleep.

Hi H.:
Quite a tramatic thing for your little one to go through. I wouldn't change a thing.I'd give him back his pacifier for now,as during bedtime he needs soothing.What harm is it going to cause? His permanate teeth won't come in for a while, and even at that,the problems your concerned about,come about from a (thumb sucker) not a pacifier. If hes still happy in his crib,I'd let him stay. If you want to introduce him to his new bed,I'd let him have his sleep bag in his bed with him as well. What ever makes him feel comfortable and secure. We aren't looking at what looks good to outsiders here,its forfilling your sons needs thats key. I wish you and your darlin son the best.

Well you said the sleep/nap problems started when you took the pacifier away. So that's your answer.

I don't see WHY you have to take away his naps... at this age they STILL need to nap... although they MAY have sleep changes BUT this is due to their natural developmental changes and age. It will normalize... if you wait it out AND if you keep consistency in his sleep/nap routines and keep it the same.

BUT he is now having trouble "self-soothing"...THIS is why, he cannot sleep/nap. He does not have his pacifier. You can give it back to him... or give him something else to self soothe with.

I would NOT do ALL those "changes" at the same time...ie: toddler bed, no napping, take away pacifier, having his tooth knocked out in the meantime, stopping the sleep sack etc.

The fact that he is "still" in his crib is NOT a problem... he is comfortable there. My son is 27 months old and HE is STILL in his crib too.... he LOVES his crib. So we will keep him there until "he" grows out of it. Also your son WAS sleeping fine... until the pacifier got taken away. So, since this was your decision, you have to just struggle through it... and give him a lovey, or something else to soothe with.
My son has a stuffed cow he LOVES to bits and sleeps with.

Sorry have to run, but just my thoughts.
Good luck,
Susan

We had a similar experience, luckily he didn't loose his front teeth, but he does has a canopener smile to show for his fall. The dentist told us his teeth were loose, not sure if from the fall or the binky, so we chucked it and our dream sleeper went out the window with it. He completely regressed, wanting mom or dad to sleep with him again (he's in a full size bed, has been since 17 mos).

It's been a pain, mostly at nap times, and I won't lie some days it takes and hour or 2 and all my patience, but he does finally sleep. On the days that it's just not happening, I let him take books in his bed, no toys, for a quiet time, but he knows he has to stay in his bed.

More recently, he started wanting to sleep on the futon in my office (I work from home), so
I would let him lie down with teddy and a blanket and pillow, turn the lights off and sit at my computer and work (but not talk to him) and he'd almost always fall asleep. The relief has been that he started preschool last month, and he has to nap with all the other kids at school, so naptime and bedtime are getting a lot easier (mostly because he's just plain tired after a day of hard playing at school).

It also helped us to wake him up a little earlier the morning, then he tired and ready for a nap after lunch.

Good luck Mama!

Hello! Such trama for the little man. I love your friend's suggestion of setting up the "big bed" in his room with the crib and having his nap/quiet time in there. I would try that without the sleep sack - tell him that is for night time. Also, do you have a portable dvd player that he could lay in bed and watch maybe a favorite show before his nap? Maybe that would help him adjust to the big bed at least during the day. Also, when you do put the bed up - maybe let him pick the bedding he likes or at least the colors so it feels like his.
I hope his transition is good .... my daughter is a bit the same way, so I understand.