Weird Sleeping Patterns

[reneewrc]

My daughter (2 years old) has very weird sleep patterns. She has changed where she sleeps in her room about ten times now.  First she would move from the bed to behind the door on the floor.  She then slept in the closet for a few weeks, then in her play tent (which is no longer in the room), and now on the carpet by the door.  It takes at least an hour for her to go to sleep after crying.  Her normal bedtime routine is a bath, getting ready for bed and a book.  She also wakes up in the middle of the night crying for myself or my husband.  She has a night light and the door is always open to her room.  I am not sure what to try next.  I took out her toddler bed (she refused to sleep in it) and put a full sized mattress on the floor (so far that hasn't worked either).  I have also removed anything that I think could be scaring her.  I was wondering if switching her room with her brother might help??  I am out of other ideas please help!!

[scarlet37]

So sorry your daughter is having troubles. As a mom it is frustrating when you don't know what to do.

This may not be the advice you want to hear but have you ever considered video taping her while she sleeps? Do you still have your baby monitor in her room? These may just help getting the info you need to know which way to go from here. She may be scared or maybe it is a REM disorder or maybe a breathing disorder.

Best of luck and please post back if you find any cause.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

Switching rooms is not going to help.

There are a number of factors we need to consider here. One, she cries for about an hour before sleep. Which could mean she "does not want to sleep". Why would she avoid sleep ? Has she seen any nightmare recently which keeps on coming and scares her? Is she afraid of the dark ( the night light may not be of any help). Or is it something else ? Dose she want to sleep with her mother ? Could be !

How closely attached is she with you ? If she goes to school, does she cry there ? I have observed that children in this age often avoid sleep because of the anxiety of separating from their mother the next morning. They insist on keeping the lights on. Is that the case with her ?

Has she seen any disturbing scene on TV or has anyone narrated to her any weird story ?

As I said, the possibilities are numerous. What we need to do is keep on trying to find out what could it be. You are at a position where no doctor can go and think. You can be the best observer of you child. You need to observe and think. There is no hurry.

Regards

[Suri123]

Hi, relax! child at that age would do the things as they wish, it will take some more time to get adjusted and to follow things in an organised way, forcing them will not work. continue your routine to put her to sleep in time but don't force or fine her. If you are very concerned, seek help of child specialist. Take care, bye.

[Suri123]

Hi, hope your daughter is doing better. How is her health and sleep these days. Have you got evaluated her completely. Your thoughs would be of great help to some of viewers of this section so keep updating. Take care.