2YO screaming and crying, refusing to go to sleep , what to do?

First let me say, DD has never been a good sleeper, but she always went to sleep without a problem around 8-9 pm.
Ever since we moved to our new place she has been little off, going to sleep little later than normal but without a problem..
about 2 weeks ago or so she started crying hysterically when I put her down at night. She cries and she screams , it's almost like she is afraid to go to sleep . So we just pick her up and walk her around and that's how she falls asleep. The day before yesterday she only had a 10 min nap in the car but the same thing happened that night, crying , screaming. AND yesterday we had guests so she didn't take a nap AT ALL. I am very much against CIO , but last night we decided to let her cry , just for a bit, but literally 2 minutes into it she was gagging and sounded like she was going to throw up, I went in and she was shaking, all sweaty and red and ready to jump out of the crib.
The only thing I can think of that could be causing this (?) is that I took away one of her pacifiers (she always liked to have 2 , one in her mouth and one to hold on to) around the time she started doing this . we tried so many things and nothing seems to help
If anyone has any ideas/suggestions how to handle this situation please do share

Thank you

Message edited 12/3/2009 8:25:57 AM.

Re: 2YO screaming and crying, refusing to go to sleep , what to do?

Is she talking at all? Can she tell you what the problem is? Could it be a new tooth? Maybe her tummy?

Re: 2YO screaming and crying, refusing to go to sleep , what to do?

I hate to twll you this, but she may be done with the crib and ready to move to a toddler bed.

I have read that at this age some children begin to have anxiety about being closed in.

Can you try letting her sleep in a regular bed and see if that helps?

Re: 2YO screaming and crying, refusing to go to sleep , what to do?

Re: 2YO screaming and crying, refusing to go to sleep , what to do?

my son did this I know you do not like CIO but I had to with twins.
I realized after he threw up he went to bed, now he stopped maybe worth a shot? a new toy something?

Re: 2YO screaming and crying, refusing to go to sleep , what to do?

Posted by lastchance1222

my son did this I know you do not like CIO but I had to with twins.
I realized after he threw up he went to bed, now he stopped maybe worth a shot? a new toy something?

Re: 2YO screaming and crying, refusing to go to sleep , what to do?

DD has just started doing this at almost 2. Some nights she's fine and others she screams and cries and has a fit when we tell her it's time for bed. She now has a ton of stuffed animals in her crib that she snuggles with. She also has 2 board books and a rubber ducky that she plays with after we turn the lights out. I let her pick a new book each night to bring in with her. She still cries sometimes, but we just give her kisses and hugs and tell her goodnight and close the door. We let her CIO and she usually falls asleep/gets quiet in 15-20 mins.

Re: 2YO screaming and crying, refusing to go to sleep , what to do?

DS just did this, a few weeks before he turned 2 also. He just seemed flat out terrified to sleep in his room alone, and did not want to sleep with us in our bed either. We actually tried CIO (and I am against it), but he cried hysterically for a long time, was no where near sleep. Afterwards, I felt bad because personally, I don't feel comfortable letting a frightened child CIO.

The only thing that works is if DH or I sit up with him until he falls asleep. And it takes awhile sometimes, well over an hour many nights. Same for naps. He has started sleeping through the night again after a couple weeks of this, but when he was screaming several times a night, I just started sleeping on his floor with him. It was the only way we both got sleep.

I think they become afraid of different things right around 2. Nightmares might occur also. It's hard to say what it is exactly, but I found the only way to help DS was stay with him until he could sleep.

Re: 2YO screaming and crying, refusing to go to sleep , what to do?

I went through this recently with miki

she is 2 1/2 and has been in a bed since January

I think her regression was due to us having baby #2...I would have to sit with her in her room holding her hand until she fell asleep

I did this for 2 weeks and then I bribed her with a trip to TRU if she went to sleep on her own and stayed in bed until the sun comes up (she used to also wake in the middle of the night asking me to hum to her)

It took her a few nights but she is back on track now