losing my mind! (toddler sleeping related) LONG

Ok I thought I had an ok handle on this newborn and toddler thing. DD was doing fine with the baby aside from one or two tantrums which we handled. She really loves him so there is no issue there. DS is a difficult baby. He has reflux and is not happy alot of the time. His sleeping is also pretty bad. But I felt I could handle that because DD was being so good.

Now however for the past 5 days or so, she has been fighting naps and nightime and it is making me crazy. Since she was 6 weeks old she has slept 12 hours at night and now all of a sudden she is up screaming at 3 or 4am, waking the baby, asking us for all kinds of things (water, new blanket, change her diaper etc etc). We entertain her requests to an extent for this is going on for like a hour every night! We got her a nightlight thinking that was the issue but its still happening. The baby is 3 months old so I dont know if its related to him. Also we put her in a toddler bed about 3 weeks ago and she did fine with it until like 5 days ago. Also at naptime, she is screaming the minute I shut the door so she has not really napped for a few days. I know she is tired because she has preschool and is very active. I am at a loss as to what to do because she is not really able to understand a reward system or anything like that and I cant let her CIO because she will absolultely outlast us at this point and because she will wake the baby (whose sleeping is horrible to begin with so I REALLY dont want her to wake him).
Anway, sorry this was long but does anyone have any suggestions! I am just beyond tired at this point between the baby and this new behaviour from her! TIA!

Re: losing my mind! (toddler sleeping related) LONG

If she was always a good sleeper, it may be a reaction to the arrival of the new baby.

My older DS didn't "act up" until DS #2 was about 2-3 months old. His way of getting attention was to be afraid of things, needing our soothing/attention in ways he had not before.

We have sound machines in both of our sons' rooms, so if one wakes up screaming, the other will sleep right through it.

If you guys stay in there for an hour, comforting her, she will keep doing it. I understand though why you are giving in and not letting her CIO. How old is she? Maybe she is not ready to give up the crib. When my older son didn't nap, his nighttime sleep was disrupted too. That could be why she is waking up.

I would try standing my ground and letting her CIO for the naps. That may resolve the nighttime issue. I am sorry you are dealing with this. I remember the newborn/toddler days well...it was hard.

Re: losing my mind! (toddler sleeping related) LONG

thanks so much! She is 2. I know for sure she needs the naps especially for good nighttime sleep. I am such a stickler for the naps and it has always worked in our favor. I guess I thought she wouldnt be reacting to the baby now because he is 3 months now. But I guess it is a delayed reaction so to speak. I was always big on CIO too because it worked so well for us in the past but i am afraid to do it now because of the baby waking up. I am going to try the sound machines. Thanks!

Re: losing my mind! (toddler sleeping related) LONG

I'm having a similar issue with my 26 month old. He was never a great sleeper, but for a few weeks now he's regressed so much - waking in the night 1-3 times (we don't always go in) and waking up super early in the morning. The past two nights he's been better - not waking at night and sleeping from about 8 to 6:30. He's been really reluctant to nap as well.

I'm not sure what it is, but there are others with little ones the same age who are having similar problems. Maybe teeth? Also, they say that they start having nightmares/dreams around this age...

We do our best to explain to him that he has to sleep in his own bed and that we have to go now, etc. to help with the settling, because we feel that he can understand us now...but other than that, not sure what you can do but ride out what is hopefully just a phase

Re: losing my mind! (toddler sleeping related) LONG