[BVB09]

DD2 was always a great sleeper and up until a month ago has decided that her bed is not a nice place to sleep.

She was always showing initiative to take herself to bed when she was tired, stay there and fall asleep till morning.

I have to note that she has been using a dummy as a sleeping aid up until 2 days ago when I decided to give the dummy to the garbage fairy. She is coping quite well without it so far, with little asking ! And gentle reminders that the garbage fairy took it away.

She slept through the other night without the dummy, no dramas, but of late I am experiencing major tantrums, sobbing, crying, wants me to sit with her, the kind of things that delay going to bed.

Any suggestions to help her gently go to sleep unaided, I do read her a book before she goes to bed and I do leave the lamp on and the door open.

Thanks,

[BeYOUtiful]

Can you sit with her, as you mentioned she is requesting until she drifts off? There could be many reasons for the change or sometimes they just want some reassurance.

[madammuck]

When we transitioned DS to his toddler bed his behaviour changed COMPLETELY. He was tantrumming like never before, clingy, whingey, just totally different. But, I always gave him the choice to sleep in his cot or his bed, and he always chose his bed so I assumed he was ready for it.

After a week or so I rang a very trusted baby and toddler expert/ friend and she told me this:

"Toddlers are much more sensitive to change than we usually know. If we take away something they're used to (especially a comforter like a dummy or nice, safe cot with rails), even if at first they seem fine, they will often display insecure behaviours until they get used to it.

"Stick with your decision, but know that you may have done it before your toddler was ready, and keep your expectations of their behaviour low. They may be toddlers, but not long ago they were babies."

I found this advice to be priceless. I guarantee your DD is acting like this because she misses her comforter. But she will forget about it eventually

[Allymeg69]

Ahhh, we are having similar problems at the moment with DS (2 1/4). The dummy went to the dummy fairies just before Xmas (we were planning on having Santa take it anyway, but a reason came up for it to go a bit earlier), and after some initial small protests, it seemed to be forgotten (although once or twice out of the blue he has asked for dummy).

Since then, however, we have had lots of broken nights, numerous demands to sleep with us (some justified, eg huge loud thunderstorms, but others just because he won't re-settle and cries for us and won't go back into his cot), delaying going to bed and general difficult behaviour around bed-time.

I am not going to give the dummy back now, after more than 6 weeks without it, but gee the current behaviour is a bit trying at times! I will just have to remember it may take him a bit longer to get used to the change.

[mini mac]

"Toddlers are much more sensitive to change than we usually know. If we take away something they're used to (especially a comforter like a dummy or nice, safe cot with rails), even if at first they seem fine, they will often display insecure behaviours until they get used to it.

"Stick with your decision, but know that you may have done it before your toddler was ready, and keep your expectations of their behaviour low. They may be toddlers, but not long ago they were babies."

I found this advice to be priceless. I guarantee your DD is acting like this because she misses her comforter. But she will forget about it eventually

This. And being consistent. Also encourage quiet/down time before you leave her. Sit with her and read a story etc to help her relax before you leave the room.

You may have to initially stay in the room until she settles, then every night decrease your time with her until she can do it again by herself.

Don't forget, a dummy is called a pacifier for a good reason. She needs to relearn how to settle.

ETA sorry OP, I didn't read properly that you already read to her. Be consistent and don't let her get to you. Keep encouraging the return to her bed (plus or minus aa book she can read to herself perhaps?) She's reached another development stage and probably pushing her boundaries too. What about buying a new soother... Maybe a little teddy of her choice to take to bed?

This post has been edited by Mini Mac: 29/01/2013, 03:06 PM

[Allymeg69]

Ah my famous last words about not giving the dummy back - DS was continuing to cause us so much grief at bedtime and during the night over the last few days that last night I gave in and returned his dummy - "Santa brought it back mum!!". And he settled (from a 3/4hr screaming marathon at bedtime) to sleep peacefully all night.

Sigh, perhaps it was just too soon to take it away, and with all the travelling and different things we've done recently, I suppose he might have been feeling a bit insecure. It will be a strictly bed-time thing only though.