I recently went back to work about a month ago. I have since put my son into daycare for the first time. Since then he has not been sleeping. He won't take a nap at daycare and at night he is waking up every hour on the hour. I eventually put him in my bed, which I know is wrong, but I need to get some sleep sometime. Even when he is in my bed he is still not sleeping. Waking up crying, kicking in his sleep and everything. I thought maybe getting him a twin sized bed to see if that helps cause he is still in a toddler bed. Anybody have any advice???
Don't get him a twin sized bed now. He is having to adjust to the daycare center. One adjustment at a time is enough for a toddler. Wait until he has adjusted to the day care center, then he could handle the move to a twin sized bed.
P. S
Have you tried letting him cry, I know that sounds awful, but at this point neither of you are sleeping anyway. He probably will not at this point anymore since he is over 2. Some do give them up. Try it on a weekend when you don't work the next day.
I do have to say myself letting him sleep in your bed isn't wrong, listen at age 12, 13 ,16 he won't be wanting to sleep in momma's bed. He just a baby (toddler) still, he is adjusting and an hour seems like a life time to a small child. he's not having that bonding time he had before and if sleeping with you helps then if you don't mind it let him, I used the fisher price oceans wonder for my kids and at times they have slept with me (I am their security from the world ) I'm 44 and sometimes to this day would like to be hugged or held by my mother (she has passed 12 yrs ago) so he's being normal. Anyway my kids liked and used up until almost 5 yrs old that item it plays classical music, ocean sounds, it's really neat they loved that the light in it came on and the fish made bubbles, they have one now that has a remote. I gave one to my nephew 2 yrs ago when he and his wife had a baby they love it and still use it on their little almost 2 toddler.
Remember to be kind and patient to you and him this is an adjustment and trying a new bed twin size may help he'll have more room anything is worth a try and sleep is very important for you and him.
Letting him sleep in your bed isn't wrong if that's what it takes to get a little shut-eye - no need to feel guilty about it. Plenty of people co-sleep at some point temporarily because of "monsters in the closet," thunderstorms, illness, or just because the kids are going through a phase where they need a little more attention. And it does help the kids, especially if there's something else going on in their life (like a new daycare.) Look at it as a way to catch up on the snuggles you miss during the day.
When he wakes up crying, (whether he's in his own room or near you) just hold him, hug him, console him. You'll never feel guilty about that 20 years later. I wouldn't do the cry-it-out thing. Personally. I would worry too much about the long-term psychological effects.
This will pass. Before you know it, he'll be too heavy to pick up and hold, and he won't let you hug him because it's "not cool".
With any change, my daughters have always had a difficult time to adjust. He just might need some time. I have always did what my girls needed at that point in time - including letting them sleep with me or on the floor of my room. We went thru a hard time with my 2 and 1/2 yr old recently about giving a hard time about going to bed. My husband and I worked h*** o* a short routine with her- when it is bedtime, we take her to her room, read some books, talk about the day, pray, then time to go to sleep. It took a little while, but she seems to do better when she knows what to expect. Bedtime is difficult in my house (I also have a 4 yr old and 5 mo old). They all need something different that works for each of them. I would just try some kind of routine that he knows what to expect each night. I also give my children a 'bedtime warning' such as "In 15 minutes it is going to be time to go to bed or when this video is over it is bedtime". Yeah, we still have rough evenings, but it has gone down to a minimum. Good luck. Blessings to you and your family!
Letting him sleep in your bed isn't wrong.
I don't know what to tell you about his not sleeping, but it makes me wonder what's going on the daycare, honestly. I don't want to put fear in you, but it's your child, so it's worth checking out.
Hello, one of my three boys was like this and I tried everything and finally while at the storytime at the library one day another mother suggested playing the radio or stories on tapes. Witht he stories, they listen more to the words being spoken than to just music to lullabye. So, I began playing story tapes or CD's and it worked and to this day he stills listens to them when he goes to sleep and he just turned 12. You could even make a special trip with him every week - pick a day after you pick him up from daycare or on Sat. and you go together and encourage him to pick the story tapes out because you do want something on his level. If he helps you pick them out then maybe they will be even more special to him and let him know that this will be for him when he goes to bed. It will make bedtime more special and when he wakes up in the middle of the night, ask him if he wants to hear the same story again or pick out another one. I know this is hard to be enthusiastic about when you have been woke up in the middle of the night, but hopefully, this will take less time than trying to put him back to sleep or settle down in the bed with you. I don't know if this will help or not. Either way, I am praying for you. C.
I am a strong believer that the more tired a child is, the harder time they have getting to sleep. Your sweet son is not napping all day- he is exhausted. You probably are, too. Both of my kids had a tell as to when they were getting tired- rubbing the eyes or the nose,pulling at their own hair, yawning-whatever it is get use to starting the bed time/nap routine as soon as it occurs. If this means your child goes to bed at 6pm Or naps every 2 hours so be it. A rested child is a joy to be around. A tired child is a real challenge- particularlly to non family members. So ask your day care provider to do the same. I believe the book we used adopted this from was called something like "Healthy Sleep habits, Healthy child."
Also with all the stress your son is under he might need further incentive- we got a sleeping bag with an inflatable mattress in it at one of the big box stores for $30. They have them with Princesses, Cars or Spiderman- this was a real incentive to my oldest to sleep, after the second one came.
Also, this might seem crazy but an eye mask might also work wonders particularly at day care. You could buy one at the drugstore for $5 and then iron a superman transfer on it or have it embroiderded. The day care room is by definition a stimulating place. For the room to instantly get dark could only help your son. Our son loves his.
Lastly, I agree with the other responders. Give yourself a break! Perhaps your child sleeps with you for a bit now to get through this transition but he will not still be sleeping with you when he turns 5 or 10. Good luck!
