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What the hell are we doing wrong now?

3 replies

PerchanceToDream · 04/01/2013 20:22

Hi all. Really hope someone can give me some advice.

We're in the middle of trying to sleep train 22mo DD after a terrible regression at about 18 months and the change from cot to toddler bed.

We've seen a sleep specialist HV who told us she's basically overstimulated and we've put into action a whole host of things to make her calm down and sleep through the night. We're half way through a six week regime which seemed to be working but Christmas has put paid to that it seems - we were at my mum's and DD was in a strange new bed in the same room as us.

Every night we do the whole Supernanny thing - putting her back in in silence, back in, back in ad infinitum until she eventually drops off on her own. At best it's been 14 attempts, at worst, about 72 and well over an hour of back-breaking lifting. I'm doing it now as I type in the other room. It's been 45 minutes and she has absolutely no intention of going to sleep. :(

In terms of sleeping through, there's absolutely no pattern - one night she'll be up 6 times and the next, she'll sleep solidly for 12 hours. We're very strict with her routine now and as far as I know, we're doing everything right. It's just not working.

DD has always been a super active baby and highly strung - she crawled at 6 months, walked at 10 and has been talking in full sentences since 18 months. I just have a terrible suspicion that all these sleep problems are just part of her personality. She never, ever shuts off. If she's overstimulated, she overstimulates herself. (I should add that she's such a happy, outgoing, confident little thing generally).

I'm so frustrated. We're doing everything right. Nothing works. We're not winning at this at all.

Any advice greatly received! Thanks.

Oh, PS we're going back to sleep specialist on the 16th. Can't wait.

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shoesontheglasslamp · 04/01/2013 21:36

Hi

I'm not sure if this will be much help, but I've just started reading the No Cry Sleep Solutions for toddlers to preschool age. I haven't read it all, just dipped into it today, but it seemed to speak a lot of sense about sleep for this age group.

You've probably had most of the advice in it from the sleep specialist, but something might strike a chord.

Good luck.

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PerchanceToDream · 04/01/2013 22:05

Thanks shoes I'll certainly have a read of that. I gave up after an hour of Supernannying tonight and made DP take over. DD was fast asleep within 5 mins! Hmm

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knackeredmother · 05/01/2013 22:24

My dd was like this, we tried everything until at the age of 2 we realised she just doesn't need as
Much sleep as other kids. We stopped fighting it, she goes to bed when she is tired, life is so much better and less stressful. She is 5 now, still awake but sleeps solidly once she eventually drops off. Shell be up around 8 tomorrow, never naps and is full of energy all day lOng.
Sometimes we are too blindsided by the uk obsession of dc in bed by 7.

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