Sleepy Suggestions

My 2 year old son used to fall asleep while we were holding him and then we would put him in bed. When he got to be 14 months old he stopped staying asleep and so we let him cry. the first week was awful but then he got to the point where he would cry from 1-15 minutes, depending. We were told by everyone that he would eventually stop crying but this never happened. When he turned 2 he stopped crying himself to sleep and just cried. I had had it. No more letting him cry. I put him in his crib and I got him a fish tank with a light and a filter so he has a nice water sound. I turn on the christmas lights in his room. And then I sit in his room with him until he falls asleep. Sometimes it takes an hour. However, while he is lying there (NOT CRYING! YEAH!) I am either reading or working on my laptop, so I am still getting stuff done. Don't know if this helps. Good luck!
S.

It's been a long time since I had a toddler, but I definitely remember the in-bed battles. My little one could scale the crib at about 10 months, and though I never actually purchased this, I shopped around for crib covers to help buckle her down (kind of like this: "http://www.kiddieproofers.com/product_details.asp?Product...)

One of the other things I remember helping to get my other one to sleep (she was the insomniac) was some oatmeal near bedtime. Fill her up, make her sleepy, and put her in bed. I always kept the local classical radio station on low in their room too as background noise. That way every move I made after bedtime didn't get their attention.

What you need to do is to make time to spend time just with her. Before you start your studying and then when you are working on your studies give her something to do too. Like give her some crayons and paper and let her draw or a stacker toy or something. She needs to just think that she is doing something when you are needing to get your work / studying done. My daughter is the same age and acts the same way. I hope this works and wish you the best of luck!

I highly recommend the "No cry sleep solution for toddlers".

My son who used to sleep all the way thru the night just recently started getting up cause he found out how to open his door... there is nothing more frightening that a 2 yr old standing in the hall way at 3 in the morning when you get up to go to the bathroom. Anyhow I purchased a door handle cover (this sounds mean) and put it on the inside of his door so he cannot get up when we put him down for bed, in the middle of the night, or at at nap time. IT WORKED... he sleeps right thru the night now cause he knows that he has no option of getting out. When there's not an option then theres not a struggle. Just leave her in there... eventually she will go to sleep... as long as she has a full tummy, is not thirsty, and has a clean diaper you have no reason to worry about her. After a wk of her 'testing' you she'll get the point and be a perfect little angel... it's only a phase... and only one of the tests she's throw your way. Put your foot down and she'll comply. Best of luck. Let us know how it goes!

I know this sounds really harsh, but it worked with my boys who are now 3 and 5. We had a real problem with them getting out of bed, so i placed a child safety lock on the inside of the door so they could not open the door. I could still get into the room if needed. I would have to let them cry or play till they fell asleep and then went in and moved them to their beds. Eventually they figured out how to fall asleep in their own beds and i no longer need to "lock them in" it only took about 2 weeks, and they were pretty painful weeks w/ banging of the door and up till they crashed nights. But, now they go and climb into bed with out much fuss.
Good Luck,
M. C

I unfortunately do not have any suggestions but I am sure looking for them. I am married but I play the role of a single mom as my husband travels a lot. I look forward to those evenings where my 3 yr. old settles down early so I can have some time for myself.

The best of luck to you!