any and all advice appreciated!

DD is 2 1/2 she was an amazing sleeper until a few months ago
Now, it is horrible.....
It is not so much her sleeping it is her falling asleep and waking up
All she does is cry and scream until she passes out and then she wakes up crying and screaming exactly the same way
I have no clue what to do anymore
We have gone in a thousand times reassuring her, we have given her blankets, night lights, leaving her room light on, stuffed animals, pictures of the entire family, her favorite toys etc....nothing helps
I have stayed up all night listening to her and it seems like she is having night mares - she cries in her sleep calling for me and saying no no no it breaks my heart
what can I do ????
we are at a complete loss
she is screaming right now - we have been in and out 10 times and it has been 1.5 hours so far
HELP!!!!!

any and all advice appreciated!

Is she having night terrors? Does it seem like she doesn't respond to you when you go in?

My DS used to have them (and occasionally still will if he is overtired) and he seemed to be awake but not respond and just cry when we went in. It sometimes lasted like 2 hours (even though if you read up on night terrors it says they last for a shorter time).

Maybe this is not what you are talking about, but if she is in fact having them frequently I'd talk to the pediatrician.

Message edited 3/8/2015 10:02:10 PM.

Re: any and all advice appreciated!

Re: any and all advice appreciated!

Could it be molars coming in?

My DD does this and we don't go in. If i do she expects it and cries mote. They went from having the door closed and a night light/projector and sound machine to not wanting the sound machine then no light and now they need the hall light on which we leave on all night. For going to sleep I have had to sit a few mins in the room, then sit outside where she can see me and finally I said I'd be right back and I can leave. If she cries I just reassure I'm right here.

any and all advice appreciated!

I don't have advice, but just wanted to say my dd is the same age and seems to be going thru something similar. She's been waking up a lot lately throughout the night crying for me, and she sounds so frantic and terrified. Usually I go in, and cuddle with her on the rocking chair for a few minutes and she passes right back out. But she will often wake up crying again a few hours later. Dh and I have asked her why she woke up in the middle of the nigth, and I think she's having nightmares, because she will say things like there was a scary man or a lion in her room. That makes me feel so bad for her! I used to do CIO if she was waking up a lot, but knowing she's scared now that she can talk enough to tell me about her nightmares, I feel too bad just leaving her alone. Luckily she's been falling back to sleep quickly even though she's been waking often. Dh and I have tried to be extra careful about what she watches on tv to try to avoid anything scary that might lead to more nightmares. Good luck! I know its so heartbreaking to hear your little one crying and screaming. I hope this is just and age-related phase that passes quickly!

any and all advice appreciated!

You said any and all..

Two hours is such a long time. I could never have made it. I'd have gone in there and slept on the floor until she fell asleep then left her. I never let AJ CIO. But she did sleep on her own. Still if she had a bad night I was always there. Some called that spoiling her or ruining her sleep habits etc. I only have one. I figured no one was sleeping if she was screaming or crying. I'd rather have some sleep rather than up all night for both of us.

AJ had night terrors around 2.. HORRIFYING!

I held her all night in my arms and we slept on the couch a few times. She doesn't cling to us now. She's a good sleeper and I don't regret it.

Sorry if that's not what you want to hear.

Re: any and all advice appreciated!

I'm the mother that put her kids in their own rooms, in their cribs the day they came home from the hospital - I 150% believe in CIO, I let them fuss before I raced in to pick them up, I didn't hover over them the second they opened their eyes, I didn't hold them every waking second if they cried

HOWEVER, they both went through a phase at around that age, and there was just NOTHING that would help them get to sleep (these are 2 kids that would sleep anywhere and never gave me a problem otherwise)
So, either myself or DH laid on the floor next to their (toddler) beds until they fell asleep ........it wasn't fun, and I was paranoid it was going to be a disaster for the next 5 years ........but it was fine.
It probably took 6 months, but they grew out of it.

any and all advice appreciated!

My dd is the same age and has always gone to bed smoothly but recently she started with "tell me a story", then a second and third and then she needs water and then she needs a specific animal, then she tells me she doesn't want to go to school. She's totally stalking and I worry it's going to get worse! Also she calls out in her sleep a lot and says things like no! And I don't want to! I think it may be the age. However her 2yo molars are in the middle of coming in. See if you can take a peak with a little flashlight.

Re: any and all advice appreciated!

Mine have nightmares too. DD talks in her sleep, so we know what they are about.

When it happens, I wake her up and tell her she's ok and I'm here. I reset her blanket and pillow, brush her face with my hand & leave.

She falls asleep well though.

Re: any and all advice appreciated!

Thank you for all the replies
Last night she only cried for 20 minutes and then fell asleep
I think I might try music in her room and see if that calms her why she is trying to fall asleep