https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 22:16:59 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2911189 Thu, 05 Mar 2020 13:01:09 +0000 agold 2911189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: Thanks for the encouragement! She's doing so good. Three nights ago, it was 2.5 hours (mostly fussing on and off) starting at 1:30 am. Two nights ago, it was like 40 minutes off and on; and then last night it was 5 minutes. So, I'm really hoping we are fast on our way to sleeping through the night and can't even believe this is an almost 2 year old that I'm talking about. So I'm praying there is still hope for a family of solid sleepers! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2911063 Mon, 02 Mar 2020 13:59:51 +0000 MrsSRS 2911063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: that sounds like fantastic progress!!! I think as you phase out night bottles the night wakings will stop. She's already connecting sleep cycles and resettling herself if she isn't waking every three hours, so she just has to get used to doing that all night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2911060 Mon, 02 Mar 2020 13:38:59 +0000 agold 2911060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: Thank you for checking it! Her sleep still sucks, but I am seeing signs of improvement. Let me know your thoughts, if you will: </p> <p>- one night of sleeping from 11pm to 6 am, woke happy and sat quietly in her crib until 630. (she goes to bed at 730 or 8, so that night included one easy wake up)</p> <p>- she's letting me rock her and put her down to sleep easy at night; and her naps are equally easy. </p> <p>- she still wakes up during the night, one or two times, often with a 5 am wake up. </p> <p>- she'll usually do one easy wake up (I give small bottle, rock for like 20-30 minutes and put back down) and then she will wake up at 5 am, yikes. So I now let her sit and fuss in her crib until 6 am or 630 am depending on when she woke up. I'm feeling okay about this because no way I can wake up at 5 am. I just turn on alexa white noise thunderstorms on volume 8 in my room. </p> <p>- she slept all the way until 230 am today. I went and rocked her with a small bottle, but she would not let me put her into her crib. I tried 3 times over 45 minutes. So, I put her in her crib and let her cry. I felt so bad. Turned on my thunderstorm noise as I went back to my own bed. She actually put herself back to sleep after an hour (didn't cry the entire time) and she slept until 7 am. So, that was a win for me. </p> <p>I think I will try next to phase out the bottles I'm giving her during wake ups. I'm already giving less amount and more water. </p> <p>I will also let her cry if she won't let me put her down. </p> <p>Does this all sound right? Reasonable? Anyone have any other tips? </p> <p>Thank you for helping! She's almost 2 and I clearly babied her so now her sleep still sucks. I want it better for the benefit of everyone in the house, herself included! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2910894 Thu, 27 Feb 2020 21:12:03 +0000 MrsSRS 2910894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: hope your week improved! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2910524 Thu, 20 Feb 2020 13:32:23 +0000 agold 2910524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Update: Sleep still sucks. I see some encouragement. But, I broke down and bought a gliding ottoman to help me with long hours in her room. Ugh. I hope it gets to my house asap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2910437 Tue, 18 Feb 2020 17:30:43 +0000 Mama Bird 2910437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: for what it's worth, sleep at someone else's house can be very different. Maybe better, maybe worse. DS, who's my good sleeper, drove us up the wall at 20 months on vacation because he wanted to be downstairs partying with big kids. DD1, who was the horrid sleeper, actually slept through the night at 8 months on a trip. And when we got home, everything went back to normal. </p> <p>Maybe use the trip to catch some daytime zzzzs? When DD1 was a baby and we visited my MIL, that wonderful woman let me nap on her couch while everyone else went out. DH claimed that I'm being rude, but she understood :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2910436 Tue, 18 Feb 2020 17:07:40 +0000 agold 2910436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: I do not struggle to fall asleep at all, because i'm exhausted - unless my kids are in the bed. I pretty much cannot sleep with a child in my bed. And yes, I'm giving DD2 a whole child's dose. She a smidge under the weight limit. :shocked: Or else I would give her two! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2910434 Tue, 18 Feb 2020 15:26:27 +0000 MrsSRS 2910434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: are you struggling to fall asleep at your bedtime? Is she getting a whole kid dose? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2910433 Tue, 18 Feb 2020 15:22:20 +0000 agold 2910433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: Thanks for all of the encouragement. I know this will all change soon enough - for better or worse - and then change again. Yes, to melatonin. I am still giving it to my girl, but it doesn't seem to help her at all!! Do you think I should take it myself? I am leery because I need to be able to wake up for all of these crying episodes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2910431 Tue, 18 Feb 2020 15:02:41 +0000 agold 2910431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JJ2626: Yep. I don't totally have the funds for that right now, but it will move up the priority list if this doesn't stop in like a few more weeks. We go back east to see my husband's family every year. The timing of the trip varies. But I'm already dreading it because I don't want to go through this nightly hell in someone else's house when I don't have the crib and rocking chair and comfort of my own home. So yea, a sleep consultant may be necessary. Which is kind of crazy because I read baby wise and I do my own sleep technique things from my own research. But it never hurts to try different things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2910430 Tue, 18 Feb 2020 14:59:44 +0000 MrsSRS 2910430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: yes I eventually got a therapist and some supplements to help with anxiety which was mostly from fatigue. My therapist suggested I try those before a prescription since by the time I actually got a therapist I was sleeping most nights and past the worst of it and just dealing with the aftermath. 10/10 recommend a therapist. No useful advice for the parenting piece though. My pediatrician said not to be afraid of melatonin because rest for both of us is a health issue. So we were pretty liberal with melatonin use until DD outgrew the toddler sleep stage. And keep it up with the outside play, strong bedtime routine, etc. We turned a real corner at 2.5 when we introduced a toddler clock. Honestly, DD would still like to sleep with me. But now she understands that I will give her a big cuddle and then see her for more cuddles in the morning. She doesn't have to like it to accept it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2910429 Tue, 18 Feb 2020 14:58:18 +0000 JJ2626 2910429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: It seem like it can’t hurt to talk to a sleep consultant if you have the funds. Why not?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2910428 Tue, 18 Feb 2020 14:49:37 +0000 agold 2910428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: Thank you for letting me know. Did you really experience that? What did you do about it? I'm feeling a little sad during the day, and pretty ragey come 4 am after crap sleep. My little crappy sleeper is so cute and she's pretty awesome athletically. But she's a terrible sleeper and me and my husband both love to sleep and DH is a high needs sleeper with a dangerous job that he can't be tired at. By bigger girl is an awesome sleeper. My husband puts her to sleep and I feel like my bigger girl has become a daddy's girl. So I'm sad about that because i am always needing to be with my awesome little girl. I think this latest bout of sleep troubles has been about 3 weeks, together with sickness that made us home bound. So, all of that together and I'm a little sad. :bummed: But so much greatness is still going on. So I will try to just stifle these feelings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2910421 Tue, 18 Feb 2020 13:59:34 +0000 MrsSRS 2910421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: it can. I had it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2910416 Tue, 18 Feb 2020 13:06:23 +0000 agold 2910416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: Thanks for letting me know about it. Still crap sleep going on at my house. Can late PPD start because of crappy toddler sleep? Just asking for a friend.... just kidding. But man am I tired. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2910370 Mon, 17 Feb 2020 13:35:31 +0000 MrsSRS 2910370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: yep. We use an app called Insight Timer. I put on their story for them to listen to as they fall asleep and that's that. They like Dolphin Dreams, Moonbow Forest, and Yuri and the Dragons best. But there are bunches. It's like a bedtime story that eventually fades into white noise with some conscious relaxation suggestions at the beginning. I started using it when my kids were three and five. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2910369 Mon, 17 Feb 2020 13:29:00 +0000 agold 2910369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: That sounds like the dream put down! Can you please tell me about the "meditation story" you mentioned?</p> <p>@Mrs. Turtle: Nope, never late to the party! Thank you for chiming in. Sleep troubles still going on at my house with DD2. Lots of snuggles at bedtime is a-okay at my house. I love that time. But then go the heck to sleep please and sleep all night! :silly: That's what I'm going for. 80% of the time is perfect. I'm still battling with some sleep problems and its tough but I hope getting better. I have really taken the outside play suggestions to heart and am trying for twice a day. I'm in SoCal for crying out loud. There's not reason to not take them outside when its 63 degrees which I think is freezing. We've already accumulated some mud stained clothes to keep on hand for daily outside play. My dd2 is just the kind of girl that is so active and she needs it. So this has been a really helpful suggestion. DD1 is my buttercup princess who can lounge inside and sleep all day and night if I let her. DD2 is cheeky kiki who needs activity galore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2910212 Fri, 14 Feb 2020 10:37:44 +0000 Mrs. Turtle 2910212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: I'm a little late to the party here, but my oldest was a terrible sleeper until 2 or so. She did get better. She is 4 now, needs a lot of snuggles/ songs/ books to go to sleep, but sleeps 12 hours straight probably 80% of the time. Outside time is huge. The only time I don't take them out a lot is if it's raining really hard. If they're sick, we go out a little. If it's cold, we bundle up and go for as long as they'll last. I can always tell at bedtime on the days we don't get out enough. Also, we've used melatonin for 1-3 nights at a time to reset her patterns as well. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2910180 Thu, 13 Feb 2020 19:09:33 +0000 MrsSRS 2910180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: glad it was helpful. It will get better!! My terrible sleeper is four now and she goes to sleep independently. I give her a hug, turn on a meditation story, and walk out. It gets better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2910171 Thu, 13 Feb 2020 17:55:25 +0000 Mama Bird 2910171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: I was just wondering how you're doing! I'm sorry about the ear infections. Hopefully they'll feel better fast, now that you know what it is!</p> <p>We also had a very good night two nights ago, and then a very bad night tonight. Definitely making progress, though - DD gets up every hour (waaaah!) but goes back to sleep without nursing, and in her own bed. Also, DH finally got her to start walking, and it's so cute :happy: </p> <p>I feel you about the third child! DD1's sleep habits were THE deciding factor in when we decided to try for a third. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2910148 Thu, 13 Feb 2020 14:36:54 +0000 agold 2910148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: Thank you for your response. Whack-a-mole made me smile, so I will think about that every night now and hope it makes me laugh while I'm feeling a little crazy. My little girl is still sick. Both went to the doctors again yesterday and both have ear infections. Little one got blood work done this morning. Two nights ago was a good night. I dangled myself over her crib and had to do some crazy song and dance, but it worked. Worked last night at 2 am, but not this morning at 544 am. Yikes. I'm tired but I am praying this all passes quickly. Poor third baby will never be here because second baby still can't sleep through the night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2909995 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 17:48:53 +0000 Mama Bird 2909995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: don't be hard on yourself! It's really hard to stay sane on months of broken sleep. I'm not a nice person past midnight at all :bummed: Especially not when it turns into a game of whack-a-mole - one kid falls asleep, another one wakes up....</p> <p>I hope your LO starts sleeping!!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2909988 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 16:15:26 +0000 agold 2909988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: Thank you so much for telling me you did this for a week. I think I will do it for a week also in hopes for a reset. I really appreciate your response. :heart: I know my girl understands a bit. For a while, I could just rock her, she'd finish her bottle, I'd lay her down and say "mommy going to get more baba for you" and she'd say "ahhhhh, okay" every single night for maybe two months. It was amazing. So, maybe we are in a little sleep regression and I hope this melatonin trick works. </p> <p>@Mama Bird: You are an amazing trooper. I did something in January 2018 when my older girl hit a regression. it was rough but I was determined to not let her into our bed. My little girl is having all kind of teething problems, plus also sick, so I'm thinking that has something to do with whats going on. But she's also never been a good sleeper. Thank you for your supportive comment. I really am going a bit crazy at night over these sleep problems and I don't like being the mom and wife that I currently am being between the hours of 10 pm and 4 am. :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2909987 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 15:18:30 +0000 Mama Bird 2909987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: I sit on the floor! She has to sit down if she wants to be eye level with me. The first night, she was standing and screaming on and off for two hours, then I got her to sit and listen to a story, and she tried to fall asleep sitting up. When I tried to put her down, she got up all refreshed and very mad, and screamed for two more hours. And then it was morning! And last night she was up four times, but she'd only scream for a little bit, then lie down and let us pat her back till she nods off. She did this lying down thing when she was eight months old (for the two weeks of her life that she wasn't teething) so I knew she can do it... </p> <p>Oh, and she's got all her teeth except the last four molars. I kind of worry that we'll teach her to sleep, and then go back to square one as soon as the molars get moving. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2909985 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 14:29:26 +0000 MrsSRS 2909985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use melatonin for a week or two at a stretch to help reset the sleep cycle. Also, I found both my kids got to be better sleepers around two and a half when we I trodiced a toddler clock and trained some form boundaries with it. They were old enough to understand. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2909978 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 13:27:14 +0000 agold 2909978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: thank you so much for these thoughts. I agree about the thoughts on outside time. I remember reading that in some nice small Scandinavian country, moms will keep their babies bundled up in strollers outside of the coffee shops while the moms go inside and drink coffee with their friends. And I"m over here like, no kids, its 64 degrees outside and you have to stay in. So I've honestly kept them inside almost every day since January 21 when they first got sick. That is actually crazy. But we play good inside and I have lots of light. Still... its windy today but I'm taking them out no matter what. Also, yes to sleep coaches. I know my girl probably isn't the worst of the worst and maybe even normal to some degree. But gees... just go to sleep, baby. </p> <p>@JJ2626: yes! I'm adjusting all of this. She was doing nap at 2 until 4. But I am moving it to 1230 or 1 and having 3 be the latest. She goes down for nap fine. She's up around 630 or 7 every morning. And she's sleepy for bed. Her problem right now is that she doesn't want me to put her down. She doesn't want to come into my bed (which I very reluctantly offer as a last resort), she wants me to hold her in the rocking chair. So crazy. I figure its a phase. But also, she has never slept to the night. </p> <p> @ALV91711: Thank you so much for letting me know your kids didn't always sleep through the night. Most of my friends and family seem to all have perfect sleepers and make it seem like I'm doing something wrong or, worse, my kid is a terrible kid. I am really pretty much upset by all of this. And yes to doing what is best for us. I actually have had both kids in my own bed a couple of times the last couple of weeks. I never wanted that, but I learned the oldest girl does really well. And, well, if it gets the baby to sleep somewhat, then that's a win. </p> <p>@bhbee: That is so great to know about room sharing! My oldest is a great sleeper. And it seems that neither lets the other bother their sleep. So phew. Good to know in the event (!!!!!) we have a third or, we just want them to share a room. Because, how cute would that be?? I'll probably do a bunk bed in one room just to let them have the option. Both still in cribs right now. And yes. Lots of activity. My older girl doesn't really need much activity. But whoa my second girl is a tiny little beast. So I can absolutely imagine I'm doing her a disservice by not getting her outside more. </p> <p>@JJ2626: :heart: :heart: :heart: </p> <p>@Mama Bird: I'm so interested in this. Do you sit in a chair? Does your girl eventually lay down? Mine is standing and screaming like an insane person. </p> <p>@Ajsmommy: My two are different personalities, too. The one I am having trouble with does amazing independent play during the day, but is also so needy for me at the same time. So maybe she just needs companionship at night. But I'm hoping to avoid that becuase I love to put them to sleep and then do my own thing for an hour or more at night. And I also like the option of waking up early if I wanted to (assuming I actually got decent sleep during the night, which I haven't gotten in a long time). And good thought about a a big girl bed. But I will keep this feisty little one in a crib for as long as I can until she settles down a bit.</p> <p>Thanks, all, for your comments!!! I crushed up a half a tiny little baby melatonin pill last night after a crazy 2 hour put down attempt. She slept through the night. Thank God because DD1 was sick again and up like 4 times. Yikes. Who else has done melatonin? Now I want to do it again tonight but I likely won't because I'm not sure about it in general. I can't even remember when we last used it and I am surprised we even had any. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2909966 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 10:54:47 +0000 Ajsmommy 2909966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You are def not alone. My soon to be 3 yo DS still wakes up most nights. We will get 1-2 maybe 3 a week where he doesn't wake up. But it's been my hardest struggle so far with kids.</p> <p>He did show a huge improvement when we moved him from the crib to a queen bed. In the crib he never STN but he started to a few times in the bigger bed. Now he wakes up and just calls for me. I honestly just think he needs company or a companion, if I lay with him i end up falling asleep and he'll be fine all through morning!! But if i dont' fall asleep and stumble my way back to my own bed he undoubtedly will wake up again!! </p> <p>It has nothing to do with outside activity or his naps bc we have done it all and he still wakes up. I'm hoping at some point he'll just grow out of it.</p> <p>And all of this is with DS.. my DD, first born is a FANTASTIC sleeper and always has been. STTN starting at 2 months. but they are vastly different personalities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2909944 Mon, 10 Feb 2020 22:07:35 +0000 Mama Bird 2909944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We sleep trained DD1 at 15 months, and now are sleep training DD2 at nearly the same age. They both had/have horrible sleep habits because I don't know how to sleep train when there's an older kid in the house who has to be up for school in the morning...</p> <p>So basically we waited till they were old enough to understand what we're saying. And then DH would stay next to the crib and talk to them if they wake up and start crying. I couldn't sleep train DD1 because if she saw me, she wanted milk. So while DH was with her, I was hiding. DD2 seems to be more laid back about that - last night DH and I took turns getting up with her, and she seems to have accepted that I'm not getting her out of the crib either. But we're still working on her not waking up every two hours... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2909941 Mon, 10 Feb 2020 21:06:30 +0000 JJ2626 2909941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: and yes, you’re definitely not alone so don’t feel bad! But you also don’t have to necessarily resign yourself to it either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-sleep-help-4#post-2909940 Mon, 10 Feb 2020 20:51:09 +0000 bhbee 2909940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Kind of left field but one thing that really helped my wild child son sleep better was room sharing with his older sister! Physical presence means a lot to him all the time and I think it was one reason he would get up at night. We didn’t do it until 3.5 (when #3 came) and they’ve so far been able to keep the same bed time. We do have to still (just turned 5) sit with him until he falls asleep. </p> <p>I also agree with lots of activity and tightly controlling nap time and length if possible. And early bedtime! All that depends on the kid but probably worth playing around with. </p>