Toddler Not Sleeping - Port Huron,MI

Could she be done with naps? I know it sucks to lose naptime as your "downtime" but she'd probably go to bed earlier and easier. Can you institute quiet time in place of naptime? You could have her stay in her room and play with quiet toys or put on a video to keep her calm. At night do you have a good routine? Turn down the lights in the house, turn off the tv, bath, books, some snuggle time, go to sleep. How about yourself? Do you have any way to get a break and reenergize yourself? I find when I am run down and cranky it affects my kids too. If I can keep myself pleasant and positive (and some days that's super hard), I see the good effects of that as well. This may be a little odd, but does she get a lot of one on one time with you? Times where you are focused on her and playing with her and connecting with her? Sometimes when I am very caught up in doing things around the house- paying bills, laundry, vacuuming, making dinner, etc, she will act up-even though I'm home with her for hours all day long. The craziness at sleep times may be related to getting all your attention, even though it's negative. Think about how much energy you're putting into getting her to sleep, you know?

Have you cut down juice, sugars and dessert? Do you go in an comfort her everytime she cries? My son is starting this at 3 and it seems like he really needs us when he cries, but it isn't a real cry. He is testing us. If we show that we are not going to give in to his demands then he stops and is asleep in 5 minutes. I am much more of a softy so I let my husband put him to bed. He was such the perfect angel going to bed when he was supposed to until we got him his "big boy" twin bed. It's been a struggle every night but we know he doesn't really need us, he just doesn't want to go to bed yet, even though he is sooooo tired. But we just shut the door and he usually settles down in less then a minute and falls asleep. What is your reaction to her crying?

I also agree with a routine, even it is as simple as brush teeth, read a book, go look at stars out the window, then bedtime. The going to find stars still gets my son up and ready to go to bed. Once he is there is a different story, but we aren't giving in! ;)

Hi C.---I recommend you visit www.askDrSears.com. Dr. Bill and his wife Martha, along with 2 of their sons, have written numerous books on children, pregnancy, breastfeeding, etc. I would be $ that they have some great advice on how to get your little one to sleep.

I do know that a warm bath at night helps to make you sleepy. Has to do with the temperature change and cooling after that bath. I also agree to watch her diet. Be sure she is eating whole foods. Minimize or eliminate processed foods, which contain lots of chemicals, and who knows what they are doing in the body.

Develop a routine, stick with it and she will learn to fall into that routine. It will be challenging at first, probably no more than what you are experiencing now, but it will be an investment in your physical and mental health.

If you need help with ideas on how to optimize her...and your...diet, please give me a call. I am taking a series of classes taught by a naturopath who has her PhD in nutrition. It would be worth you while to make sure the diet is not contributing to her sleep habits. Good luck, and I look forward to hearing from you. D. ###-###-####

I'm not sure if someone already recommended it, but the book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" is awesome! I know you have no time and reading is the last thing you can do. However, the book has quick outlines at the end of each chapter for sleep deprived parents to put into action those items quickly. Also, there are problem solving specific questions and answers. Anyway, I followed the book since birth with both of my girls and they sleep like a dream (my six-month-old sleeps from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. straight and my 2 year old sleeps from 7:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.). I hope that this book can help you too because I can't imagine being a single mother, let alone one without sleep!