Desperate Advice Needed for 19-Month Old Sleep Training

My first step would be to take her to the pediatrician. They can examine her for things like spider bites and investigate whether there is some sort of physical issue at hand. Perhaps she's developed reflux and needs to have her last feeding earlier. Does she have a fever at all? Journal her diet. Has she had any major changes in her diet that could be causing some excess gas. That can be very painful and little children don't yet know techniques for easing the pressure like we adults do. Your pediatrician will be able to guide you through the process of eliminating physical causes and techniques for overcoming this temporary issue.

This sounds absolutely awful. Once anything medical is ruled out and a good/soothing bedtime routine is established, I honestly think I would just let her throw up. It's common for children to have stages of sleep schedule upset as they go through certain developmental milestones. If she does throw up, clean it some to make sure she's not swimming in it or choking, then go back to your bedroom. Make sure you have a sheet protector over the mattress so any throw up isn't seeping through.

Does she have a nightlight in the room or something she can snuggle with? Try lightly perfuming a tshirt or slip or something of yours and giving it to her use as a lovey.

Dr. Sears is an expert in this area and has some good advice here:
http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/sleep-problems

I understand your frustration totally as we went through the same thing w/our DD who is also 19 mo's now. Slept straight through the night for many months fine, then all of a sudden out of the blue- refused to sleep in her crib, screaming and waking up to 6 X's a night.

Let me start off by saying that it will pass. Just as fast as it came on, she went back to sleeping straight through the night again after about 4 mo's. I know this is a long time to be exhausted so here's some advice i hope will help and what we did.

First we made sure nothing else was wrong with her medically, got her checked out. When she was first born she had GERD so we wanted to make sure she wasn't having any stomach or digestion issues that may have felt worse when laying down. Once we ruled that out, we would make sure of all the basics things- was she hungry? diaper, room at right temp? , etc. etc. When all these issues were ruled out, we did a very gentle method of sleep training making sure that we started only at a time when nothing major was going on, no new transitions that may cause her stress, no illness, etc.

We put her in her crib after normal bedtime routine of bath, then bottle, brush teeth. She would be very sleepy but not asleep. Of course she would cry. I'd leave the room and close the door and listen on monitor. I'd time it for every 5 mins at the most- go back in - not picking her up out of the crib- soothe and rub her back (she would stand up) and I'd gently put her back down and put her blanket on her. We did this for upwards of about 30 mins at the most and after 3 days - it got much better. Instead of waking 6 X's it was maybe 2-3 times. Also - we didn't think of it too much but her fave animal in the world is a duck. someone got us a pillow pet duck and we put it in her crib- that same night, she slept through the night for the first time in months!

During this period of non-sleep - if it was the middle of the night- we would also bring her in bed with us to sleep, that worked out b/c we could all sleep for longer stretches of time. We didn't do this a lot but occasionally we would. She wasn't confused by us doing a very gentle sleep training combined with bringing her into our bed occasionally. It really worked and now she sleeps fine.

I also believe that TEETHING was a big part of the problem. They can feel the discomfort even before you can visibly see that they are cutting teeth. We kept a frozen teething ring in the freezer and during the night wakings would let her suck on it for as long as she wanted to get some relief.

Sorry you are going through this- I know how hard it is.

Ahhhhh, I have a friend with a "puker". :)
He could do exactly what you're describing. When she was preggo with her 2nd, she realized that something had to give.
Up until that point, she'd be in there cleaning up puke 3-4x every night. Basically, the toddler was winning. He could puke on command after awhile.

One night she hit her breaking point, and left him in his puke. He eventually gave up and fell asleep. And he also got the message that that "game" was done. He sleep like a champ again now.

So it's gross, I know, but I'd leave her in her own vomit for a night or two. She'll get the message.

Sounds like she had a traumatic experience and now is having a hard time getting over it....

can she express herself in words yet? if so - ask simple questions....and listen for her answers...did she get bit by a spider or bug? I know my BFs daughter got bit by a spider in her crib - she still has the scar on her back and was terrified to sleep in her crib/bed for months. they ended up taking EVERYTHING out of the room, cleaning everything in front of her and changing her room around.

I'm truly sorry this is happening...I bet it's hard not getting sleep!!! I wish I had better advice for you.

This may sound strange to some, but I'm gonna put this out there. My oldest child has had sleep issues off and on throughout her life. One of the issues with her, is that she HAS to have enough hours of sleep, whether it is napping or going to bed early. So, that is my first suggestion, try to increase hours of sleep...go to bed at 7:30? Secondly, my mom suggested praying a specific prayer for her to prevent her night terrors. This actually worked, she was so scared and tired when she would scream out, I really think that there was a spiritual element. Lastly, hard as it is, go back to your regular routine. Side rails up, to bed alone, maybe a quick comfort, then leave. She is smart, and knows what she wants...you and Dad there with her! Hopefully only a few days of crying/vomiting and she'll be over it? Good luck, this is HARD!