HELP!!! We have recently moved in to a 2 bedroom. My daughter who is 17 months, will not have anything to do with the room when it comes to sleeping. For the first week she was great didn't have an issue, the 2nd week was when this all starting. A little back ground. We were in a one bedroom and she slept in her pack and play at the foot of our bed, cause that was the only thing that would fit in our tiny one bedroom. Now the only thing that has changed in our nightly routine is that she now has to go upstairs to take a bath, and she has her own room. She was still in the pack and play but we now have a crib for her. She will not have anything to do with either, the only way she will sleep is in our bed. I will not have her getting used to sleeping in our bed. I took her to the doctor and they said that I SHOULD let her sleep in our bed if she starts to cry when we bring to bed in her own room. I don't agree with this, but I don't think I have the strength to just listen to scream and cry for hours.
HELP!!!! I have tried everything, I am at my wits end!!!!
Thank you all for your suggestions. I went against what the doctor had said and did things my way. My youngest sister came and go her early on a Saturday and did not return her until Monday evening. Bless my sister and my parents. In the mean time, I hung curtians in her room, put all her toys on one side of the room, the dresser on the other, to help with the echo, it's a large room, compared to what she was used to. Took a couch pillow, 2 blankets, and 2 small stuffed animals and put them in there. When she returned to the new apartment after a vacation at Grandma and Grandpa(they just let cry it out)we took her up to her new room. My mother told her that she was big girl here too, and has her own room here just like she does at their house. That night when it was just me and my husband. We did our normal night routine, both went upstairs with her, laid her down, and never heard a peep. No crying, screaming.... Nothing! She has slept in her own room in her new crib for a week straight, not an issue, she is even taking naps in there. My husband and I are so happy that we have our bed back!!! I think spending the weekend with my parents and sister, in her own room up there, helped a lot!
You should let her cry in her room. Pat her back while she is still in her crib until she gets tired and then she will lay down. When you feel she is totally asleep walk out.This will last a week.Or go in talk to her tell her to lay down and that you are not coming back and eventually she will know that you are not coming back and go to sleep. Good luck my 20 mos still gets up and I talk to him and leave...
We went through a similiar situation with out youngest when we moved from OK to Maine. He had shared a room with our oldest and the move to his own room was hard -- for all of us!!! But we ended up having to let him fall asleep in our bed and carry him to his after he was asleep. Some nites it meant back and forth several times -- he's 2.5 now and he will finally fall asleep in his room. I'm positive there was a better way -- but it worked for us. I kept telling my self it was "only for a season" and I wouldn't always have to get up 3 or 4 times a nite to adjust the sleeping situations. LOL! Let us know how it's going -- and hand in there!!
This is a big change for a baby, but I wouldn't let her sleep in your bed. Maybe try putting her in the pack n play in your room again for a week or two. Then bring her to her room in the pack n play for another week or two, then the crib. This would give her time to adjust to the new setting.
Also, you could let her fall asleep in your bed and then transfer her to her room. I have done that when my son is sick and doesn't want to be left alone.
Let me know what happens!
~A.
Hi L.-
I went through this with my son-we actually didn't mind him in the bed for a bit, then it started wearing on us. We also didn't start getting him into his room until he was in a big boy twin bed. You may think about getting her a toddler bed (we got our son one at about 18 months). If you do, if she gets up and comes in your room, just be persistent and keep bringing her back in her bed. Eventually, she will realize she is not going to go in your bed. Good luck!
Maybe try to introduce a cuddly sleepy buddy or blankie something that will help her not feel alone. I would introduce something to her right at bedtime and say this is your cuddly sleeping buddy, maybe only give it to her at bedtime, buy something new so you can name it this. Just a thought, it sounds like she is lonely. Hope this helps a little! ;)
L. I know from experience that this issue can be VERY stressful, so hang in their. I wish I had a quick fix for you. It is very hard for babies to change their routine, and sleep is almost always the same issue with most of us. My daughter has never been a good sleeper, she was in our bed untill she was 2. And even in her own bed she still wakes in the night looking for me or my husband. My doc however told us that we need to get her out, and as long as we know she is healthy and their is nothing harming her then we need to let her cry and deal with it. I could not do it though. My daughter one night cried for 3 hrs, My husabnd and I just did what worked for us. Which is give in and go to her when she calls. I figure she will grow out of this, and as long as we all get a good night sleep we are happy. Good luck, It seems like a lot of change for her, she has a new room, and new bed. I would just give her some time, and keep trying the crib. Does she nap in the crib?
I went thru a little of this with my son. He was 8 months old when we were finally able to move him from the pack n play in our room to his own room upstairs in a crib. I started him out at nap times in the crib and at night in the pack n play. Then after a little while we moved all sleep things to the crib. It took a little while but in the end, it did work out. Believe me though, it took like a month or so before the crying finally ended! Good luck!
Hi L.!
We just moved as well and my daughter is scared of her new room! Every night we have to check the closet AND put something heavy in front of it so that "monsters" cant come out.
Hope you find some good help!!!
H.
Maybe if you spend some time with her playing in her room and helping her get comfortable in her new room then that will help. Does she like when you read to her? Maybe read to her while she is laying in her crib. I would try things like that, maybe a night light. Something in her new room is scarying her and she probably doesn't know how to tell you what it is. I think you are right about not letting her sleep in your bed, I have heard some nightmare stories about kids that get used to that. Hope this helps and good luck!
A.
Ok, I totally understand your not wanting to hear your daughter cry it out. I went through the same thing. Believe me, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. My 9 mth old son was sleeping like a newborn for such a long time. I was becoming sleep deprived and depressed. My only option was to let him CIO for my own health. I spoke with his doctor and he highly encouraged me to do it. The first night wasn't too bad. I did his regular nighttime routine, kissed him, told him I loved him and night-night. He flipped out and cried for 40 min straight, no breaks. Then suddenly, he sat down (i have a video monitor) and lean over and slept. It was amazing. He woke up a couple time through the night, I did not go get him, his crying lasted maybe 5 min. THe second night, I did the exact same thing and he cried for maybe 10 min and then slept through the night. The third night, again, did the same routine and he cried for 30 sec. and then slept through the night. I cannot even begin to tell you how happy I am that I did this for us. His bedtime behavior was a learned behavior that I had to break for the both of us. He didn't like it, but learned that he could put himself to sleep. We can't always teach our children lessons that they will enjoy. This was something he needed to learn. As his mom, I needed to do this for the both of us. Hope this helps.
Try the Ferber Method. Richard Ferber wrote a book called 'Solve your child's sleep problem' and it has been a god send for me several times. Another suggestion would be to put one of your T-shirts on a stuffed teddy bear or something and put it in her crib so that she can still smell your scent when she is away from you. This was the only thing that got my son out of my room and in to his own once we moved him from the bassinet in to the crib. Good luck.
