Tantrums in the Middle of the Night!!!!! Anyone Can't Sleep in This House!

I feel for you. Sleep deprivation is a awful and we hate to see our little ones miserable.

A few questions came to mind as I read your request:

Has there been a change in her bedtime routine? Do you have a bedtime routine that will help her learn to expect that bedtime is near?

Did this behavior change correspond with putting her in a toddler bed? If so, maybe she isn't ready for this sort of change in her surroundings.

You mentioned she lays behind the door and cries. Is the door completely closed? If so, maybe she is scared by that.

Does she have a snack before bedtime? If I skip the evening snack for any reason, my daughter (also 19 months) will wake up in the middle of the night.

Good luck!

Hi R.,
I have to say, I wonder if the fight to get her in her bed is worth all the sleepless nights. I wonder what would happen if you called her bluff and acted like it was perfectly normal for her to sleep on the floor. Don't react to the tantrum and go to bed. Happily kiss her goodnight and close the door. When she falls asleep, leave her there and let her be.

Tantrums are often much more affective if there is a parent on the receiving end that gets upset and reacts. They tend to not be so interesting if the reaction is nothing and the audience isn't plussed by the drama.

What I suspect will happen is that she'll sleep there on the floor for a couple of nights and then decide that her bed is far more comfortable and go back to it. The consequence of sleeping on the floor will be that its uncomfortable and no fun, much better in the bed.

With my two kids, I find that tantrums stop if there's no audience and that consequence is the best teacher there is. It gives the child the choice and control, while helping them make the decision you know is right and wanted all along. Good luck!
L.

Floors can be uncomfrotable for adults, but children are much easier about sleep surfaces. If she crashes on the floor, I'd say let her go there. Eventually she'll discover that her bed is move comfortable and sleep in it instead. Until then, I'd say uninterupted sleep for all is more important than sleeping in her bed. Can you put a gate in her doorway?? If so, that might help you keep her in, but be able to check on her without disrupting her if she falls asleep right at the doorway.

Did this behavior coincide with moving her into the toddler bed? If so, she might not be ready. My daughter is 2.5 and still in her crib. We decided to wait until she showed interest, herself, in sleeping in a "big girl bed."

If you want to keep her in her toddler bed, I might let her sleep on the floor as long as she is warm and safe there. Eventually, she will learn that bedtime is bedtime and will find her way to her bed for the night.

I feel your pain on the sleep deprivation. It is so hard. If all else fails, my pediatrician recommends the Ferber sleep book. I have it but have not gotten to read it yet--to tired to read at the end of the day!

Good luck.

Has she always done this or did she used to sleep in her bed fine? Maybe she isn't ready for the toddler bed. If it were me, I'd let her sleep on the floor. It won't hurt her, and she may get a full nights sleep. At least for a night or two, then try again.

For our son, we put a gate in his bedroom doorway so that we can leave his door open a little so he won't be scared. We just don't want him getting out of his room and falling down the stairs in the middle of the night.