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Toddler wakes 5/6 times a night screaming please help!

13 replies

Josie5 · 21/01/2014 20:43

I feel like I'm going bonkers with lack of sleep and I'm at the end of my rope. Our 23 month old has been in a bed for about a month. She is getting used to it but wakes up every night many times screaming and crying. She has never been a good sleeper she's slept through the night about 10 times in her life, she was still having milk and we've knocked that on the head. She is tenacious and tells me she doesn't want to go to sleep she wants to stay awake all of the time. It would be fine if she stayed awake in her room but she wakes and then wants us to know she is awake. I thought it might be night terrors but I don't think it is. I thought it was the dark but a lamp has made no difference. We've talked about what she'd like in her room and she chooses what the wear in bed and what books she'd like to read.
I don't know what on earth to do. I get so angry with her usually shouting at her is the only way to get her to sleep.
Sorry very long post. If you have any tips at all please post I'm desperate.
Ps she wakes up the baby too

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TheGreatHunt · 21/01/2014 20:47

Well something is clearly wrong with her... Poor girl :(

Has she got molars coming through? Could she have intolerances hence not sleeping well (eg dairy)? Have you tried giving her some weak peppermint tea before bed, just a couple of sips, to settle her tummy?

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Josie5 · 21/01/2014 20:50

She has excema and were cutting out dairy which is helping her skin her molars are coming through but they've cut now
She's never slept well since a baby. I'll try the peppermint tea thanks

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TheGreatHunt · 21/01/2014 20:55

She might well have dairy intolerance causing heart burn hence the crying and screaming.

I would march down to the GP, demand a referral to a paediatrician and get help. It's not fair on her or you. She's not getting enough sleep neither are you!

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Fairylea · 21/01/2014 20:55

Did the milk help her to sleep better before?

If so I'd bring it back. It really doesn't matter.

What kind of bedtime / wind down routine do you have? Have you tried sitting by her bed with a bedside lamp on reading a story? Sorry if I'm being daft and you've already tried all this!

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Josie5 · 21/01/2014 21:02

I think the milk is making her excema terrible we have a long bedtime routine bath peppa pig books and hugs. The excema started when her baby sister arrived she is now 9 months old but she's come round to her now. I won't bring them milk back she was demanding bottle after bottle and would then have a wet bed and sheets 2/3 times a night. I think I will take her to the gp again. I don't know what a pediatrician can do but I will do ANYTHING. Life is not pleasurable anymore for any of us

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TheGreatHunt · 21/01/2014 21:08

Yes I can imagine its awful :(

What creams are you trying? Because the ezcema might make it (sleeping) worse.

Also what washing powders? Have you changed them since new baby? The wrong stuff makes my DS's skin flare up.

A paediatrician specialises in children.

Keep a diary and use this to explain how bad it is.

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Josie5 · 21/01/2014 21:24

We have a very greasy cream in the bath for washing it's a barrier type cream then we use double base ? Cream and hydrocortisone for when it's v bad but I've stopped using it it looked like it was burning her skin. She may well be uncomfortable but she was like this before the excema!

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TheGreatHunt · 21/01/2014 21:27

I found creams without parrafin in the best (but expensive).
Stuff like burts bees

Have a think about what could have changed - diet, milk, washing powder?

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FlossieTreadlight · 21/01/2014 21:31

A daft thought - I'm reading from your second post that you've potty trained. Hope I've read that right. I thought (and might be wrong) that kids would struggle to be continent at night for a fairly long time after losing nappies during the day. She's not thirsty is she? Worth trying pull-ups at night and offering her water?

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Josie5 · 21/01/2014 21:32

We've changed washing powders cut out milk and all dairy I'm not bathing her as much as it dries her skin. Will try Burt's bees I'm worried the skin on her face will scar she picks it so much thanks for your help

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Fairylea · 21/01/2014 21:37

I am wondering the same as flossie.

Is she wearing a nappy or pull ups to bed? 23 months is extremely little to be dry at night.

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Josie5 · 22/01/2014 07:44

She wears a nappy to bed and we give her water

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Josie5 · 22/01/2014 08:04

Apologies she is not 23 months. She is 2.5! Sleep deprivation for you

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