Topic: going to bed Posted By: Laura Date: 07 Jul 2000 4:17 AM
I have a two and a half year old and up until now she has always gone
to bed on her own, after I've left her awake and she falls asleep quite
happily.However, a week ago she had a nightmare and now on't go to
sleep on her own and insists on either myself or my husband being in
the room with her until she falls asleep - which can take an hour. This
also happens if she wakes in the night, when one of us has to stay
until she's fallen back to sleep and then sneak out. I've tried being
patient, leaving lights on, going out and comign back in at intervals,
but she simply won't have any of of it. When I start to talk about
bedtime she literally starts to freak out, screaming, making herself
sick etc. I'm finding it hard to draw the line between being patient
and not letting her take advantage of me, which I am quite sure she is
now. I desperately don't want this to become a habit and need some
ideas of what to do, as she's never done this before. To make things
worse, I'm going away on business in less than a week and I want to try
and sort this out before I go.Please help.Laura
I have an 8 year old child who has been spoiled by us at bedtime, we
have been laying down with her until she falls asleep. Recently we
have tried to stop this habit, however she has been taking almost 2
hours to fall asleep. She says she has a sore tummy, or just can't
settle down. I am very frustrated, and am losing my patience. I have
tried to leave a light on, read a story and visit for just a few
minutes before I leave the room. My husband and I are very
frustrated and worry about her and how she will function at school when
it is taking her until almost 11 pm to fall asleep. Any suggestions?
Subject: a five year olds nightmare delimna From:Kari Date: 09 Sep 2000 2:56 PM
We have a HUGE problem in our home right now, that we need help with
and would appreciate shared stories and/or experiences.About four
months ago, while at a Christian School that my son of 5 years
attended, one of his school mates told my son "that when you sleep at
night, the devil gets into your mind"!We have had night after night of
NO sleep or very little, with my son waking up every couple of hours
terrified. We have tried everything that we can think of......lights on
in the his room, in the hall, in the bathroom, prayers at night,
reading out of the bible, pictures of angels over his bed, he wears a
cross around his neck, he sleeps with one of my night gowns, warm milk
and calming herbal tea, no sugar, talked to his school about the
problem, talk and talk and talk to my son, try to love and surround him
with nothing but positive reinforcement..........BUT I AM AT THE POINT
OF BARELY FUNCTIONING FROM LACK OF SLEEP AND SO IS MY HUSBAND, AND MY
SON AS WELL...... And we can't get mad or upset with him because it
isn't out of manipulation that he is waking up. Even when I have fallen
asleep next to him, he still wakes up scared to death calling out
"MOM"! He is falling asleep at school mid day from exhaustion.Any ides
from anyone?Sleepless in Los Angeles (Kari)
I have twin boys who are one and they will not sleep all night they
take around 4-8 bottles a night. on top off that they dont go to bed
until 11 or after at night. what can i do?
I'd be interested to know if they take naps during the day and what
their eating habits are like. As long as you continue to give them the
bottle they will not break their dependence on it. First you should
check with your pediatrician to make sure their diet is not lacking and
then you should begin to cut back on what you give them during the
night. Yes, there will be sleepless times during the night but you
need to help them create new routines to get back to sleep instead of
the comfort of the bottle.
Subject: waking up in the middle of the night From:Jorge Date: 04 Apr 2001 8:41 AM
My 15 month old boy wakes up in the middle of the night and does not
want to stay in his crib. He wants to sleep with mom and dad in the
master bedroom. As soon as he is fallen back his sleep we take him to
his crib, again he wakes up and start crying. I’d like to know if it
could be that he does not understand why mom and dad sleep together and
he has to sleep by himself. Would it be ok if one of us would sleep in
his room?Thank you.
Subject: Sleeping w/ Mom and Dad From: Heather Date: 04 Apr 2001 10:39 PM
Letting your child fall asleep in your bed and then transferring him
back to his own bed causes confusion for him when he wakes up. He
knows he went to sleep in one place and now he's not sure how he ended
up in another bed, alone. Consistency is the key! If you want your
child to sleep in his own bed then put him there to begin with and
leave him there throughout the night. You may experience a few fussy
nights but eventually he'll get the idea that he needs to be in his own
place. If he cries, go in to comfort him for the first few times but
then as time wears on just check on him without his knowing. Let him
comfort himself back to sleep and you'll know that he's safe. I know
this might sound rough but I had to do this with my daughter when she
was a baby. We even got to the point where we would lay on the floor
next to her crib with our hand through the slats. Talk about
uncomfortable!! As for sleeping in your child's room - don't start
something you're not prepared to continue for a loooooong time. The
same thing will happen if you and he fall asleep in the same room and
then he wakes in the night to find you've gone as him coming into your
bed until he falls asleep.
Subject: sleep(twins) From: April Lyons Date: 07 Jul 2002 12:53 AM
I have two children two years apart I do not know how you bed down your
twins but they were in your belly for nine months have you tried
putting them in the same bed together?It would make them feel more
secure and also eliminate bottles at bed time especially 4-8
bottles.Give them 4-8 ounces and no more you could cause gastric
problems.I always gave my babies 1-2 ounces of baby cereal to fill up
there bellies begining at one month of age but make sure it is liquid
like as not to choke them!
