Waking Toddler

I had the same problem when my daughter was that age, until a friend told me about the "Ferber" method. Though I don't agree with all of this method, I did find that it worked to let her cry for 5 min. then go in just long enough to pat her back or talk soothingly to her, let her know you are there, then leave. Go back and do the same in another 10 minutes if she is still crying, then wait 15 min, then 20 min, etc. She will probably stop crying after 15 min. I only had to do this for 2 nights until my daughter changed the behavior. Give it a week. But, let me tell you, those first 10 min. were the longest of my life! It was so hard not to go in, but it was for the best. ____@____.com

C. - I feel awful for you, but remember this too will pass. I had the same problem with my daughter and made the same mistake and then tried to fix it by lettinge her cry. It's very hard to do. We tried all kind of things until we found something that worked. My feeling is that you may want to ease her out of having you there, by making letting her cry for a bit, if she doesn't stop, call out to her that you are there for her. As a last resort go in. The experts say you should not let a child cry for more than 15 min. Good Luck to you and may you get some sleep soon. :-)

hey my son use to do that too
what i did was i would go in there first then calm him down then wait 5 minutes go in calm him down then 10 minutes then 15 minutes and eventually he was able to calm himself down with in a week

i hope this helps

Wrong or not...I always get up with my kids when they wake up at night. I will even fix a bottle and let them have it. and sit up with them while they drink it change a diaper and then put them back to bed. So I too over the years have set myself up for disaster. I just figure if they are waking up, they must need something??? I am a softy wwhen it comes to these things. You have to do what you are comfortable with. www.livegreeneasy.com

Hi C.,
My name is K., I am a SAHM with a 10 yr old a 3 yr. old and an almost 2 yr old. I know it can be hard to lay there and listen to your child scream and cry. I have found tha this is what worked for me. I would let my children cry for about 5 min then go in and sooth them, i would tell them i was there and it was ok and pat their baks or rub their tummy. But i would not do it till they fell asleep. That is the problem, YOur daughter can not console herself when she is waking in the night. It is always ok to check on them and calm them down but to rock them or sooth them till they fall asleep is the problem, when you have stopped and they wake up again b/c they cann not feel you or they moved and woke and now you aren't there, they are upset and can't calm themselves. I also found that I would go in every 5 min at first and then stretch out the min. between my going in so that they would be in their room longer without me there and it seemed to help and then one night they just stopped waking and expecting me to help they fall back to sleep with my help, they could do it all on their own. YOu need to do what feel right but don't let her keep you there so that you don't sleep, that will do no one any good. I hope it works for you and that I have helped even in giving you and idea on what you feel is right. it does get better.
Good Luck.
K.

Hi C. - I think you are right, she knows if she cries, that you will come to her.

The previous advice to go in after 5 minutes, 15 minutes is what I have done too. It works well.

I also play night-night music on a CD player for my boys, if they wake up, I put it on for them at low volume, that seems to help.

I think we all go through this at one point or another with our kids. I am sure you and your daughter will work through this soon! Good Luck!