Mother in desparate need of help. PLEASE answer!!?

Question

I have a 19 month old daughter who refuses to sleep in her own bed, she wakes up in the middle of the night and throws a screaming fit until someone goes to check on her. And once I or my husband does, she WILL NOT go back to sleep in her own bed. I love my daughter more than anything but every time she sleeps in the bed with me and my husband we both wake up with sore backs because it's so crowded. There's barely enough room for me and him as it is, and it just makes for more sleepless nights for the both of us when she sleeps in the bed with us. She also won't fall asleep in her own bed. If I try to put her in her bed at bedtime, even if she's really tired and about to fall asleep, she will again throw a fit until I go and get her. The only place she likes to fall asleep is on the couch downstairs and once I move her to her bed after she has fallen asleep I'm lucky if I get to sleep for 2 hours before she wakes up again. PLEASE anyone who has ANY advice on this leave a comment.

Answer 1

My son has the same routine every night. We go in his room and sit on the floor and read books. The last book I read is always the same one. He knows that after that one it's time to get in bed. That might help with getting her to sleep in her bed. As far as getting her to stay asleep in her bed, I'm not sure. I'm dealing with the same thing right now. Good luck!

Answer 2

My now-6 year old was the exact same way at that age.  It's mostly separation anxiety and she's really training you to allow her to sleep in your bed.  When my daughter was that age, we left her sleeping on the couch.  What does it hurt, really?  When she turned 2, we bought her a big-girl bed (twin bed) and told her that only big girls got beds like those, but they had to sleep in them.  She got it and really never turned back.  Try sitting on her bed to get her to sleep.  Once she's used to that, move the the floor, then closer to the door, and closer to the door until you can sit in the hallway when she falls asleep.  

Pretty soon she'll be all grown up and you'll miss this time with her.  :)

Answer 3

One way to handle this situation is to establish a nightly routine where you spend a little time with your child in her bedroom before she goes to sleep. For example, after she gets into her pajamas, have her lie down in bed with her favorite stuffed animal. Dim the lights and sit at the edge of her bed with her while you read her a story or sing lullabies. Then give her a hug and kiss and tell her that it is time to sleep and you will see her in the morning. In the beginning, she'll probably resist and the tantrums will escalate. Your job then is to escort her back to bed while giving her as little attention as possible. The theory is supposed to be that she's behaving this way because she wants your attention, so if you give her attention in her room before bedtime, and do not give her attention when she gets up, this should encourage better sleep habits. The first night she actually sleeps there, give lots of praise the next morning about how proud you are of her for being a big girl. Hope this helps a little...keep trying and good luck!

Answer 4

my daughter still does this and she is 5... its was my fault though cause her dad left us when she was 1 and i always wanted her near by and now that im married with baby # 2 almost here my hubby and i for the past 3 years have been trying to fight her on this. what we do is stay firm and consistent and its starting to work she is just very stuborn we make sure at 9:00pm on the dot she is in bed we turn her night light on and if she get up we start taking things away from her. yours is a little young for that still so at this point stay firm and grwonded dont give in you are the boss and i know its tiring and fustrating but stay calm and start bed time early so your not up all night! just keep putting her in bed and dont argue ignore her if she screams and crys show her you dont care and your not affected kids want attention whether it be good or bad sooo stand your ground and dad needs to help too

good luck!

Answer 5

I'm a mean mom but I didn't allow my kids to do this.  When they were that age, if they would wake up at night, they had to stay in their rooms because I turned the locks to the outside of the door.  After about 2-3 nights of this, they learned quickly that I wasn't coming to get them.  They even slept on the floor by the door those nights and soon learned it was more comfortable to sleep in their bed.  Quit going to her at night, even if she's screaming her head off.  Get earplugs and quit reinforcing the habit.

Answer 6

my 2 year old was the exact same she would not go to sleep in her room and then she Wake up in the middle of the night and need to sleep with mom and dad. i had to enforced it i told her her she was going night night in her bed like a big girl. she would throw a fit. after 10 min i would go tell her everything was alright and she needed to go to sleep. i did that about 3 to 4 time before she gave up  and fell asleep. it took only 2 nights and a lot of patience but she goes to bed when i tell her to she even climbs in her bed and gives me kisses. and after about a week of putting her to sleep in her room while she was still sleeping she would not wake up in the middle of the night wanting so sleep with mom and dad. i hope this help and good luck

Answer 7

Get a bigger bed and let her sleep with you. It's the greatest thing in the world to have your children in bed with you. I wouldn't have it any other way.