BTDT toddler Moms please help[!!!!!

Dh and I are at our wits end..Please help...

Since about 3 months, Ava has slept 7pm-7am in her crib. Sleep was never an issue.

She is turning 3 on Monday, and is now in the BIG GIRL BED.. The crib is still in the room. Even though she doesn't sleep in it, she doesn't want us to take it out. So fine, no big deal.

Ever since she started to sleep exclusively in the bed (her own choice), bedtime has been torture and she is up all night long coming in and waking us up.

She seems to be scared. First we thought it was nightmares- know I think she is testing us.

I have tried it all..rewards, bribes, punishment, a door gate...you name it..Nothing is working. Please tell me how to get her into bed and how to make her stay there.

We haven't had more than about 4 hours of sleep a night this month. She wasn't even up this much as a newborn!!!!! Please help---We are fighting because neither of us wants to get up anymore!!!!

Re: BTDT toddler Moms please help[!!!!!

We went through the scared thing (and still do occasionally) with DS1, who is four now. He's been in his bed since 2-1/2.

Most of his fear stemmed from the darkness, so we bought a lamp and put in the lowest wattage bulb we could find and let him sleep with the light on. We phased it out eventually.

Is she saying she's scared of anything in particular? I guess I'd just try to assuage her fears. But if you really suspect it's just testing, and that she's just getting out of bed because she can, the only thing I think will work is persistence and consistency. Just keep putting her back in bed.