22 month old is such a bad sleeper

[ReigningQueen]

I have to force her to have a 1 hr nap in the day and she won't go to sleep til 10.30 and is up at 8
She goes to sleep with great difficulty and wakes up several times in the night. I can shush her back to sleep the first couple of times then she ends up in my bed and still wakes up several times after that.
She's always been like this even when we used to co-sleep. I stopped co-sleeping hoping that she'd sleep better but no. I tried her in a toddler bed instead of a cot but she would just get out continuously.
About once a month, she'll have a night where she doesn't sleep at all. She had one of those nights last night so I only got 2 hrs sleep.

I've put her to bed now and she's crying and I'm just getting angry. Why won't she sleep?? She's had hardly any sleep last night and only a 1.5 hr nap. I think I'm going to go mad at times.

I have 2 older kids and had no issues like this.

[chocolatedrops31]

I would say she's completely overtired by ten pm and probably hyper, meaning she can't calm down. Would try a long wind down period, bath, story, cuddles, then bed by 7:30 pm. No sweet food, drinks or tv. Don't get her out of bed if she protests, just sit with her if necessary until she's asleep. Sorry if you're doing this all already, but I think bed time at 10 pm will make things difficult.

[ReigningQueen]

Thanks for responding. I have tried earlier bedtimes but they haven't worked. They've just resulted in her waking up in the middle of the night and wanting to play. I've spent so many nights watching tv while she runs around. The only time she 'sleeps through' the night is when she goes to bed around 10. Even 9.30 results in her waking up and acting like she's had enough sleep at some godforsaken hr.

[chocolatedrops31]

What happens if you refuse to let her out of her cot and say bedtime is for sleeping. I wouldn't let her up and playing. If you do this night after night and allowed some screaming, she might get the message. I'm assuming she's tired in the day and so needs the additional sleep. In any event i would suggest talking to her gp and health visitor

[ReigningQueen]

She just cries and cries.

[ROARmeow]

OP, I really feel for you. It is so hard to understand if you've never been through it.

DC2 (23 months) sounds similar to your DD. Gave up her nap at 15 months, still awake for around 2 hours a night etc etc.

I also have an older child who never had these issues so I'm baffled.

No advice for you, but solidarity!

[ReigningQueen]

Thanks Roar. I'm going crazy at the moment trying to sleep train her. I know she can just be put down to sleep in her cot as that's what she does at grandparents but just cries and cries at home.
I'm afraid I'm losing my patience and just keep getting annoyed.