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Q
Orlando, FL
Please help - I am haveing a problem putting my toddler to bed without him throwing a fit and banging his head. He won't stop crying unless I go in there. I feel so bad leaving him there crying sometimes I will go in the room and get him out and put him in bed with me till he falls back asleep and then put him back in his crib ! It's crazy and getting out of hand I know I probaly messed up by putting him in my bed when he cries but I don't like to hear him throw a fit. So for about a month now I put a movie on for him and once the movie is over he does the same thing !!!!! PLEASE HELP
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Q
Denver, CO
I am a mom of 2 children, 4 1/2 son and a 2 1/2 daughter. After having my daughter I thought I was done, I had the perfect family, one of each. Once my daughter was a year and a half, I started having these desires to have one more. I just kept feeling like something was missing and that was 1 more child. I have been explaining this to my husband and of course he doesn't know what that feeling is like and is always looking at the financial aspect of things. I am happy that I have 2 healthy children and we can give them everything they want in life, but I just don't feel "DONE". I am trying to get over it and my husband and I have had MANY conversations about 1 more. He is now telling me to have my birth control taken out and we will just see what happens. I can't just go and do that knowing that he doesn't want any more children and I have been trying to prove to him what I feel for 1 year now. How do I make a decision if 1 more is truly something he would want, just doesn't want to admitt it after I have been arguing about it for so long or is he just telling me this in hopes that it makes me a happier person??
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Q
El Paso, TX
Hi Moms,
My 3 year old is and has been fully potty trained for over a year now. But lately she's been wetting herself, not by accident.. she'll go to the restroom and stand by the toilet, but not go. She waits until she wets herself then she gets on the toilet. I dont know what to do! My husband and I have been telling her to go every 30min and she does but if we dont.. it happens again... Do you think this could possibly be an attention problem? I think I treat my kids all equally... but there's always that "middle child syndrome" Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks
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Q
Phoenix, AZ
I'm looking for advice/ideas on how to Potty Train my 3 year old son. How do I know he's ready? At times I think I am influenced by other family and friends that comment on him not being potty trained. At the moment I am a stay at home mom so i'm thinking this is a great time to get started. Any advice would be helpful! Thanks!
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Q
Tampa, FL
My daughter is 23 months old. I think she is ready to be potty trained. My question is: has anyone used the method described in the book "Toilet training in less than a day". If you did, did it work for you? My mother in law swears by it, but I want to hear opinions from other moms who used it more recently. I would appreciate any input on that. Thanks a lot.
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Q
Sacramento, CA
I have a 2 year old son and another son who will be born in about 3-4 weeks. I will be having a repeat c-section so will be in the hospital at least 4 days. Being away from my first son is going to be really hard on me (probably harder on me than on him). I'm wondering about visiting at the hospital - my husband thinks that visiting too much might freak him out - and for me his visiting is more for me to see him than for his sake other than to meet his brother and then know where I am. I don't want him to think I've abondoned him for 4 days. What have your experiences been with the issue of having the sibling visit at the hospital and what advice do you have? Thanks!!
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Q
Dallas, TX
I have been texting my ex husband. Not to get him back but kinda to be
sneaky and find out what he has been up to yada yada. He usually texts
me back and tells me how his relationship with his current wife is
going bad yada yada. And as a friend I tried to talk to him about it
and find out whats wrong etc.... Anyway apparently she found out that
we had been texting and I dont care because it wasent like that
anyway. Now she is threatening to sue me for text messaging her in
response to her texts. Grrrrrrrr! I mean I think I have a right to
keep in contact with the father of my children. *venting* Please feel free to comment on what you think and what you think I should do.
I do understand yalls point as far as getting into their relationship. I guess I was just trying to be a friend in that matter. I wasent trying to find out about his problems rather just trying to be a friend to hear out the problems since he decided to mention that they were going through problems. And when I said I was trying to be sneaky and find out what was going on I meant job wise since his job situation has been flakey. All I have ever done was ask how he was doing and we just do the basic chit chat on how we are. Nothing long just standard. But then he starts talking about how he wants me yada yada. Again I was not trying to intrude and be secretive and in fact I didnt know it was secretive until she started writing threatening me. And by no means was I trying to counsel him. I am wayyy over him was just trying to be a friend. Some may think that is weird and yeah I do see her point in being mad. I guess I am just trying to find out how to fix it as far as her not hating me soo much.
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Q
Dallas, TX
Hi, just wanting some opinions on small families and big families. I came from a small family just one older brother and i always wondered what it would be like to have more brothers and sisters. I currently have a 14yr old daughter practically grown and a 19mth old son. My husband wants one more kid but I am thinking 2 more. not to big not to small.
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Q
Richmond, VA
My daughter is almost 1 and for months now has had a really hard time dealing with the bedtime routine after her bath. As soon as we start to dry her off (laying on our bed, with a big fluffy towel) she starts crying and screaming. We give her toys to distract her, sing to her, try to do it slow, try to do it fast, we've tried everything we can think of. She cries while we put on her baby lotion, diaper and pj's, until she gets her bottle in bed. I'm guessing she is just tired and knows its bedtime, but I hate that she gets so upset. We've tried an earlier bedtime thinking she was just overly tired, but 9 times out of 10 its the same. Any suggestions?
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Q
Milwaukee, WI
Hello-My daughter just turned 1 and we are having LOTS of trouble getting her to sleep at night. She has always been a great sleeper. Over the last month I got in the very bad habit of rocking her to sleep now I'm trying to get out of it. I've tried staying in her room with her, I've tried letting her cry for as long as 20 minutes (I can't go longer then that), I've tried complete darkness and a night light. Any thoughts?
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Q
Houston, TX
we have a routine everynight of milk, book and bed. She goes to sleep in her crib but wakes every night wanting us to get her and put her in bed with us. She slept through the night from 2 months to 4 months then got sick and we started oputing her in bed with us (on our chest) so that she could breath better. How can we break this habit and have our bed back to ourselves? i cant stand to let her "cry it out", but is that my only option?
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Q
Fort Wayne, IN
My son is 1 year old and does not sleep through the night. I know this is not uncommon, but was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions for getting your child to be fine with sleeping in their own bed. My husband and I end up waking up and moving him into our bed, because he will not stop crying, he only gets increasingly frustrated and more awake the longer he cries. Literally my husband and I have listented to him cry for hours, with no sign of quiting. I know that having your child sleep in bed with you is a bad habit to start(so I don't need anyone telling me how bad it is)I just wants suggestions.
Thanks
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Q
Lancaster, PA
My 13-month old daughter has gradually, in the last month, decreased from 14 hours of sleep to 11. She would sleep 8:30pm - 8:30am which was great, and then a 2 hour nap. But then she woke up at 8, then 7:30, 7, and now 6:45am. Not only that, but she is napping for only 1 hour during the day. And she now wakes up crying, while she used to sit quietly and happily in her crib. I'm going crazy, because it's hard to get anything done during only a 1 hour nap during the day! I know she will be needing less sleep as she gets older. Is this normal, though? To decrease by 3 hours of sleep all in a month?
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Q
Pittsburgh, PA
Sorry, I have yet another request...
A month ago my friend came over with her rather boisterous 18 month old. My dd got increasingly stressed and ended up having what I would call an emotional meltdown whenever she came near her. I ended up having to sit with her in another room until the movie we were watching was over. I tried again going to lunch with the same girl but the minute her daughter screached in delight my dd lost it. I had to leave the restaurant and send a waiter to get our stuff.
Now, for the record my dd NEVER cries...she communiates well, though, she just isn't a crier unless in pain, and now this. It has gotten so bad that I had to spend July 4th alone on the porch with her at a family gathering. Even at the grocery store a kid said, "Hey, Mom ..." she was hysterical. On our walk last week a 2 year old got withtin 10 feet of her and you would have thought he was brandishing a knife. I feel terrible for her, it is soooooo upsetting to see her like this.
Consequently I haven't been able to get together with friends and can't do Mommies groups or LLL meetings. I am a very social person feeling very alone and isolated. I still take her with me for errands, but if I see a kid coming I sneak away.
I have callous friends who say, "take her to a nursery school...force her to stay"..please if you have advice like that, I don't want it. To me that's like saying "if she can't swim, throw her in the water, she'll learn".
Had anyone been through this? It seems she is okay just until the kids open their mouth and go over a certain decibel. I am REALLY upset about this, so PLEASE be gentle, ladies...thanks..
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Q
Atlanta, GA
Please dont tell me to read "Happy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby" I have read it all and want to roast marshmellows over it when I burn it in my backyard. We have let my daughter cry for over an hour every night for two weeks. My husband and I start fighting with each other over everything then finally go into get her. She is horribly frightened and her hand are shaking. Or she has vomited. I am not letting my sweet girl (a very happy child by the way) go through this!! I was just let go from a job where I held a position for eight years and I can't take this stress. When we bring her in our bed (everyone is exausted and miserable) She sleeps like a log, we however don't.
So our night goes like this
830pm- rock to sleep
9:30 wake up
10:00 rock to sleep
11:00 let cry over an hour
12:15 bring to bed with us
I LIKE rocking my kid to sleep. I LIKE taking naps with her but everynight she whas been in our bed and I am afraid she's going to fall off the bed one day. I read Mark Weisbluth's book and it is so cold. "clean up the vomit when she's fallen asleep" And he recommends "letting her cry indefintly" at night! Hello insane asylum!
I am over it! These babyies feel abanded, that's why they cry! Who can claim to understand the physcology of an infant!~ (sorry but I am stressed!)
Can someone help?
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Q
Phoenix, AZ
I have a 10 year old daughter who tells me off and on that she has a boy that likes her and what should she do. I think that she means what should she do about it. I am stuck on what to do about it b/c I have told her many times that school comes first and that boys can wait. She has asked me about what should she do if he wants to kiss her and she cant wait till her first kiss. Her father (who she lives with most of the time) and I disagree about sex before marraige and those kinds of issues. Im not sure what to tell her anymore. she and I have talked about relationships and a small bit of sex talk and pueberty. I havent told her the whole detailed deal about puberty and stuff cause she gets anxious , it seems to scare her a little too I think, and seems to want it to happen right away. I think she is trying to grow up before she is ready. I havent told her dad how often she talks about boys b/c he seems to not take me seriously and blows me off about serious issues. He has a girlfriend who is the same way. Plus I want to keep her trust so that she can come to me with these kind of issues. I dont know how to handle this b/c her older sister isnt interested in boys or relationships at all right now (she is 13). My daughter is a little hard to talk too b/c when I tell her important life lesson stuff she seems to not believe me and doubts what I am telling her is true. I want to bond with her over this kind of stuff. Oh yeah, she also is a person who likes please everyone and wants friends so badly. When she meets new people she tries to show off and acts very much the drama queen which to me isnt who she is and so she seems "fake". I just want her to be herself and have told her that people will like you for you and if they dont then they are missing out on a great person so its thier loss. I worry b/c when she does get into a relationship it may be harmful for her and she may do things that arent good for her. I understand all we can do is teach them and guide them, they have to make the choices themselves but how do I help her know what the right choices are when she gets so many conflicting messages on what is right and what isnt? How do I help her? is anyone elses kid ike her is it "normal" for her to be this way? aaahhh i feel stuck. thanks for reading my book. hahaha :)
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Q
San Diego, CA
Since he was about 8, my son has been peeing on the floor whenever he has a BM. He completely disrobes whether at home or not because he's afraid of getting pee on his clothes and shoes. I've gone in with him and so has my husband to try to tell him how he should "tuck it down". That didn't work. He either says "it's" not big enough or he says pee will get on his testicles and fingers. I've told him to use tissue. Sometimes he pees first, then sits down but nothing ever lasts. I've tried talking to him, taking him to the Dr, punishing him, making him mop it up 5 times and then rinsing 5 times. Nothing seems mto work. I've never heard of this type of problem. We're at our wits end. He doesn't have any "special needs" or medical conditions. From the ages of 3 to 8 there was no problem. There are some times when he doesn't do it but those times are far and few between.
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Q
San Antonio, TX
Hello ladies! I have a problem w/ my son. He is turning 1year on the 22 of Feb. and he still wakes up every 3 hours at night for a bottle. He is only up for maybe 10 min. so I've not lost too much sleep from it. This is the first child I have not had to work with and put in daycare so I have been letting him go at his own pace. I keep thinking he's gonna get himself off the night feeds but he drinks every bit of the bottles I give him. I have tried only giving half formula and more water thinking that if it doesn't taste good he'll stop waking up but he wakes up faster for another bottle. I want to get him to sleep through the night but my biggest fear is how do I get him off of the bottle at a year if he is still so dependant on it. My first and second were drinking their formula primarily out of a sippy by 10 months and they pretty much took themselves off the bottle so this is very different for me. I am not against letting him "cry it out" to some extent but the fact that he is drinking all 3 bottles at night 6 or 7 oz. each makes me feel like he must be hungry. Please help!
Just to add- Cole was born 2 wks early at almost 11 lbs. and he is at least 22 now. He eats table and jar foods during the day along w/ his formula. He is a good eater!
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Q
Sacramento, CA
Hi All,
My 11 month old still wakes up every hour at night wanting to nurse. She will not go back to sleep unless I nurse her. I am so tired, does anyone have any suggestions on how I can ween her or at least help her to sleep throught the night.
Thank you!!!!!!!
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Q
New York, NY
I did the thing that my doctor and all the books told me not to do, namely, let my baby fall asleep while breastfeeding, then put her in her crib once she's already asleep. Now she's 11-months and I'm trying to get her to be able to go into her crib while still awake and fall asleep on her own. She always has lots of energy and really fights sleep. So when we put her in her crib even if she's exhausted and her eyes want to close she fights it and jumps up and wants to come out of her crib, wants to nurse, etc, so she can fall asleep. No matter how much I soothe and comfort her and rub her back or whatever she just won't close her eyes and go to sleep. The only other way she falls asleep is in her stroller or sling, or when her dad holds her and walks her around at night, she'll finally nod off. I don't want to upset her too much by making her stay in her crib if she really wants to come out, because i don't want her to have negative associations with her crib. But she gets SO upset being in there when she just wants me to pick her up and let her nurse. Suggestions?
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Q
Los Angeles, CA
MY SON EATS GOOD DURING THE DAY BUT HE WAKES UP LIKE EVERY TWO HOURS THREW THE NIGHT. THE ONLY WAY HE GOES BACK TO SLEEP IS WITH A BOTTLE.I AM SOOOOO TIRED.BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE CRYING IT OUT. I GIVE HIM A WARM BATH, AND LOTION HIM UP.I PUT CLEAN PAJAMAS ON HIM I DO THE WORKS BUT ITS LIKE HE HAS A SLEEP DISORDER.PLEASE HELP
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Q
Odessa, TX
I've always had sleep issues with my second son. This is our problem now. He's been taking a nap in the morning and one in the afternoon. He's starting to cut out the morning one, which I think is a little early since he still gets so cranky. He's only taking one 1 1/2 nap a day. He's cranky and wants to be held, which i can't carry him around all day long. I play with him and spend plenty of time with him, so that's not the problem. I've tried going in and calmly laying him back down. I've tried holding him to calm him down. i've tried letting him cry it out. That's never worked for him. It only makes it last longer. He is sleeping great at night now. It's just naps that is really hard for me. My oldest takes a nap in the afternoon from 1-4. my youngest will only sleep for half of that. How can I get him to be a better napper???
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Q
Los Angeles, CA
I recently was out of town visiting a friend who has a 14 month old son. I found myself staring and studing him as he "ate" his snacks. He was so delighted and happy to shovel handfuls of cherrios, fishy crackers, pretzles, ect... into his mouth and chew it, but never swallowing them. he would spit them right back out. My friend informed me that he has come a long way he use to put one piece of solid food into his mouth, gag and throw up his meal. as the week went on I believe he would eventually end up swallowing a very small portion of the food just from the sheer volume he would consume. she has been taking him to a specialist but they call it speach thearpy. I was wondering if anyone has seen heard or experienced this problem. I am a little concerned because he is just barely making 18lbs and if this is a special condition or if their is a solution I would very much like to help her.
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Q
San Francisco, CA
My 14-month old girl has started gagging herself. The puts her fingers in her mouth and dry heaves. It is the strangest thing. She does it randomly, and it doesn't seem to be linked with hunger or overeating (she has done it before a meal, after a meal, during diaper changes, in the car..). It's not a daily behavior, but she does it several times a week. She has successfully made herself throw up a small amount on a couple of occassions (once at Target!). I am hoping this is just a weird phase, but am wondering if any of you have experienced this before? She has a routine Dr.'s appointment tomorrow, so I will be asking her Dr. as well. Thanks!
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Q
Kansas City, KS
I have a 14 month old daughter who is still waking up 2-3 times a night to nurse. I know she is waking up to comfort nurse. She is very capable of soothing herself during the day: nap time, falling asleep on her own at bedtime. I have weaned her down to just nursing before bedtime (and of course all night long). What should I do? Would weaning her completely help?
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Q
Chicago, IL
My sister has a 14month old son that won't sleep through the night (he has never slept all the way through the night). They live in a 2 bedroom apartment, and she has a 15year old daughter from a previous marriage. Since the daughter has her own room, the son sleeps in the bedroom with the parents practically within arms-length of the bed. I wondered if anyone else has been in or knows of someone in this situation and can help with any suggestions. He wakes up one to two times during the night. They have tried just letting him cry, but she says that most of the time he just keeps crying until he's having a major fit or it just makes him become wide awake. They have to pick him up and rock him back to sleep. She is also still nursing him at least once a day (sometimes at night to get him back to sleep). Thanks!
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Q
Cleveland, OH
My son is 15 months old, won't sleep the whole night without waking up!
Before you ask, yes, he is teething! Has a few more teeth coming.
He is a binky baby, and will cry for that if he can't reach it or if it falls out of the crib. But, recently, he will sit up in his crib and just scream. He still has the binky in his mouth, eyes are open and just screaming! I think he might still be sleeping. I let him cry, cry and cry, but I have a 6 year old and a husband that I don't want disturbed, too.
Is it possible that he has separation anxiety? I need advice from the mamas! If I don't get a good night's sleep soon....I think I will be the one crying!!!
Thanks in advance!
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Q
Chicago, IL
I was just wondering if those of you with toddlers can tell me if it sounds normal that my 16 month old doesn't really play with toys. I have an entire corner of our family room filled with toys, but he only plays with things he finds around the house and/or follows me and tries to "help" me with the dishes, cleaning up, etc.
Should a child this age be playing independently more? Any ideas would be appreciated.
S.
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Q
Dallas, TX
My son just turned 16 months last weekend and has all the sudden stopped napping, I lay him down for over an hour and he still will not nap. Is it normal to stop napping so soon? I realize every child is different but I've met Moms who have 3 year olds that still nap. Very frustraiting.
Thanks,
M.
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Q
Jacksonville, FL
HELP!! My 16 month old son has learned to climb out of his crib. He doesn't sleep well anyway since we moved. He will not go to bed now without us and has ended up sleeping in our bed for at least part of every night. I was never a big "let them cry in out" fan but for nap time I decided to give it a try. Well, after 2 minutes he figured out how to climb out of the crib. Has anyone had a similar experience and any advice on how to keep him in his own bedroom??
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Q
Los Angeles, CA
Hi Moms,
My 16 months old boy is a beautiful baby with great personality. The problem is that when we are home, he is constantly clinging on to me and nagging. It seems like he is bored all the time. It is to the point that I can't get any work done during the day (he doesn't take a nap). He would never sit and play by himself. He has always been like that, even when he was an infant. But these day it is really bothering me, because he doesn't take naps anymore. Is this normal? Why do you think this is? Maybe I am getting him toys that are not too exciting. I am trying to give him as much attention as I can, but I am getting tired and I can't get any work done.
Thanks moms
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Q
Oklahoma City, OK
My son who is 17-months-old is still not sleeping through the night. Here's our situation:
At nine-months he was diagnosed with "severe acid reflux." He began medication at that time which seemed to help his reflux during the day, but he continued to wake up several times throughout the night. Since then, I have (recently) taken him off of the medicine since most kids "grow out" of reflux. He seems to be doing well during the day (i.e., no spitting up) but at night still constantly wakes up. We've tried letting him cry it out although we've used the method of going into his room in intervals to give him a source of security. Now we're cold turkey letting him scream w/o going in at all. Nothing seems to work. My five-year-old never had trouble sleeping so I'm at a total loss as to what to do. He is in general, a "tempermental" kid. He is very high strung and does not like being uncomfortable. So I don't know if this is just something he's got to kind of deal with and "suck it up" or if something is truly bothering him. I'm likely rambling at this point due to LACK OF SLEEP! Does anyone have any advice?
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Q
New York, CT
My daughter is 18 months old and she is all of a sudden on this kick where she will not keep clothes on for anything, and this includes her diaper. For a little while keeping her in zip up jammies was helping but now she has even figured out the zipper and gets out of those. I get up every morning to find her in her crib as naked as the day she was born. The last couple of days i have even tried putting a piece of tape across the front of her diaper and she just rips it to get it off. Help i am at my wits end if anyone has any ideas please respond quickly.
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Q
Des Moines, IA
Our child has always been a great sleeper. From the time that he came home from the hospital he was sleeping through the night at 6 weeks. And even up to now, he never whines or cries when I put him down for a nap. He has been sick off and on this whole winter and is just now getting off his last sickness. The last three nights he has been waking up all throughout the night sometimes up to four times within a hour. It has gotten to the point that my husband will go in and sleep with him on the floor until he falls asleep after waking up and crying and then he'll end up putting him back in his crib. At about 3 am or so when he continues to wake up, I will go in there and sleep with him in the rocking chair. He's fine once we go in there. Stops crying and sleeps. We both know that this is a TERRIBLE habit to get into (even though we both love snuggling with him :)But it's the only way ANYONE gets any sleep in this house. Without having a camera in his room, I never know if he is crying because of something that he's very upset about. Like, one time I went in there and he had his foot caught in between the rails of the crib. So, to have him cry himself back to sleep on his own is hard for me to lay there and let happen because I never know if he is actually hurt or not. Any advise will help. Is this normal at this age?? Funny. Never thought I would be one typing a request...
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Q
Dallas, TX
I have two requests in one, so please bare with me.
First of all, my husband and I are having big issues with my son only wanting me.....all of the time. In the evenings, all he'll do is follow me around with his arms up (wanting me to hold him) and cry. This makes it hard to do anything, like make dinner. My husband will try to take him, entertain him, nothing works. He doesn't want him, only me. I do work, but only 3-4 days a week of which he is in daycare. Last night, he wouldn't even go near his dad and pushed him away any time he got close to him. It is frustrating for me, and is starting to hurt my husband's feelings. There are days where he and his dad are buddies, playing outside, and he will show affection to him. Is this normal toddler behavior, or should I be concerned?
This leads to my second issue. I am still breastfeeding at bedtime. Part of it is because, it is so easy. And at the end of the day, I want easy. But, I am ready to stop. I have tried to just rock him with a pacifier, like we do at naptime, but he just sobs and sobs. It truly breaks my heart. His dad has put him to bed before with minimal resistance, but I was not home at the time. I am afraid if his dad tries to take him to bed while I am there, he will have a fit (as mentioned above). Any ideas? He won't even take the pacifier at night and I seriously doubt he would take the sippy cup. He's too smart to accept any substitutions!
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Q
Dallas, TX
My 19 month is not sleeping through the night and is getting worse. I think he has only slept through the night for about 2 months in his entire life. It takes at least an hour of him screaming and crying to put him to sleep at night. We put him in his crib drowsy or even asleep and he will jump up and start screaming and crying at the top of his lungs the minute we set him down. We've tried letting him cry for 10 to 15 minutes and then going in and checking on him/comforting him with no results, he just continues to cry and scream. This will go on for around an hour or more until he falls asleep. Then he will not stay asleep and is up and screaming again. If I let him sleep with us then he is ok and will sleep for two maybe three hours and then is up crying again. He does this all night long. He is usually up on his own by 6:45 in the morning and is happy and bright eyed. I'm beginning to think this kid just doesn't need sleep. Am I doing something wrong, anyone else have this problem? My older son was not like this and I don't think I did anything different this time around. I am so frustrated that I can't help my baby get better sleep.
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Q
Tampa, FL
My 19 month old has stooped napping. We have tried putting her to bed later and waking her earlier and that didn't work, It just made her miserable in the day. she used to nap until 2 weeks ago and then just stopped. I still put her in her crib at the same time and let her babble for an hour or so, but she won't sleep. anyone have any expirence with this?
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Q
New York, CT
So, I'm trying to determine if my 2 1/2 y.o. dd actually needs an adjusted sleep schedule OR if she's just reacting to alot of changes right now. I have been on modified bedrest for 2 weeks (1 more week to go;) so her bedtime routine has changed and she has been going with alot of different friends during the days... and overall I haven't been as interactive with her.
Over the past few weeks, she has consistently been waking around 5:30am (a 1/2 hour- hour earlier than before) and a few nites ago... she started to NOT go to sleep right away... rather come out of her room multiple times. She told DH she was scared of the dark, so we now leave a brighter nite lite on in her room. Last nite, I did our normal bedtime routine, but then sat in the rocker across the room until she was asleep. She woke 5 hours later and came into our room. I put her back into bed, sat in the rocker next to her bed and sang lullabies until asleep again. She woke at 5:30AM!
I really would like her to keep her nap/ quiet time in her room... but it does seem that when she doesn't nap she sleeps better/longer at nite. Many have suggested I keep up the naptime so that she is accustomed to it when baby #2 comes along...
I'm wondering if I should try even 1/2 hour later bedtime. In the last week... we did put her down a little later b/c family was here... then she slept until about 7pm!
What I've looked up about toddler sleep needs says they need about 12-14 hours of sleep. She gets an average of 11 1/2- 12 depending on how long she naps.
Maybe she just needs less sleep than the average?!
any suggestions helpful!!!
darci
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Q
Denver, CO
My daughter started biting her nails about a month ago. She now bites the skin around her nails as well. I think she was doing it just a bit. Then she got and ear infection and a fever and was doing it a lot more. Now she always seems to be doing it. At first I kept her nails as short as I could. But she still always found something to bite. Now I'm not even clipping her nails, fearing that she'll bite more of her skin, or get her nails even shorter than they are. I'm hoping that it's a fase which will just pass, but I'm not sure. She seems so young to be biting her nails. Any suggestions or ideas are welcome.
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Q
Las Vegas, NV
Last night was the first night for my son in a big boy bed. He is 2 years and 7 months. I am looking for any and all feedback and advice on getting him to stay in bed and put himself to sleep and soothe himself back without me going in 3 times a night and sitting there til he falls asleep. He has always been a fantastic 11-12 hour a night sleeper who went to sleep on his own and always fell back asleep well at night if he tossled.
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Q
Dallas, TX
My daughter is 2 1/2 and we just can't seem to get her potty trained. At school she wears panties and does fine, but they also go every hour on the hour. We have tried this at home and she has an accident every time. Any ideas as to how we can get her potty trained?
Thanks!!
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Q
Las Vegas, NV
My daughter has been pretty easygoing until lately. She refuses to wear the clothes I pick out, despite giving her options (2 outfits to chose from, she can pick the pants if I pick the shirt, etc). She always wants to wear dresses or skirts, but I'd rather she didn't do it all the time due to the colder weather. I'm trying to find a way to give her a sense of control in how she dresses, but it not turn into a battle. I didn't have these problems w/my son. I guess boys don't care how they dress as much. My daughter used to like wearing jeans, but now she opposes them most of the time. I don't want her to be a little power monger when it comes to getting dressed. Any ideas?
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Q
Dallas, TX
Ok my husband ever since we had a girl he wanted to have her ears peirced I said no. I dont' want to do that to my baby we will wait unitl she can make that choice when she is older like 5 or 6. Well we had another girl same debate but then I started thinking well maybe when she was little but never did because she had bad ear infections. Now my 2 1/2 year old has been encouraged by my mother in law and husband to tell me that she wants her ears pierced. Is it too late? Has anyone gotten their daughters ears pierced at this age? I want to be really careful with this and make the right choice pleae any opions will help! Thanks!
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Q
Philadelphia, PA
I have a 2 1/2 year old son and up until about a week or two ago, his sleeping patterns were wonderful. I don't think I've ever had a problem with him going to sleep at night and he now takes 2-3 hour naps every day without a problem. About two weeks ago, out of the blue, he has been giving us a hard time going to bed. We have a nightly routine and hardly ever deviate from it, we start at 7pm, he gets a bath and then me, my husband and him lay in bed and read several of his favorite books. Then at 8pm we would tell him it was bedtime, put him in the crib, he would wave bye bye and then go to sleep. (BTW, I know how lucky I was! :)) Now for the past couple weeks, he cries uncontrollably almost immediately after we leave the room and we've basically been giving into bringing him into our bed where he immediately falls asleep. I have tried letting him cry it out a bit (never really had to do the cry it out thing), but he gets himself so worked up it really doesn't work. We also even left the door open a bit b/c I was worried he was maybe afraid of the dark, but that didn't work either. I wanted to see if anyone had experienced this and is it a phase of what did you do. I really don't want to start a bad habit of having him sleeping in our bed, especially since he had been such a great sleeper for so long. The other thing is that nap time is fine, he has no trouble taking his nap in the crib for 3 or so hours each day. He even sometimes says "nap" and goes upstairs to try to climb into the crib, the problem is only at nighttime. Any thoughts or advice?
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Q
Lexington, KY
My son is 2 1/2 months old and loves to be swaddled since he was born. My question is, is there a point where you swaddle too much? He wants to be swaddled when hes tired of sleeping and sometimes just randomly will cry until I swaddle him. I'm wandering if his arms get enough exercise?!?! If hes not sleeping or sleepy his arms are free to get exercise. Also, he sleeps good, but at times he seems to get his arms loose and wakes himself up. How can I easily ease him out of being swaddled all the time? At night time he sleeps in a bassinet and sleeps good but during the day the only way he will take a longer nap is if he is in his swing, if I try to lay him down in his bassinet, his crib or his playpen he wakes up shortly after and is still tired....
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Q
San Francisco, CA
My 2 month old only sleeps 1 hour sometimes 1.5 hours at night at a time. During the day he will only fall asleep in the swing...but he sleeps so well...usually 2 hours, 2-3 times a day. At what age should he begin to sleep longer at night? Should I worry about only falling asleep in the swing? Also how do you know if your breast milk supply is slowing down? My little guy only sucks calmly for about 5 minutes and then he pops on and off continuously..I have to force him to stay on...and when I look, there is no milk in the shield. (he has to use a nipple shield to feed).
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Q
Dallas, TX
Hello moms!
i hav 2 non-related questions. First; my husband was outside in TN visiting family)recently and came home with chigger bites. A Dr.reccomended....nail polish(clear)...was wondering what other people might have done that worked. I use Melaleuca but the regiman it reccomends doesn't seem to be helping as they are ALL over his ams/legs...he'sin terrible pain. Second; just wondering when is the "right" age for me to put my son in his toddler bed. He'll be 16 months on the 3rd of Sept. He is sill waking in the middle of the night...suppose he is teething (has 5 teeth coming in right now) or else he is just wakes easy, i'm not sure. He knows how to get off of the couch so know he would be able to climb out of bed but i just wasn't sure when other moms moved from crib to bed and the pro's and cons of the switch! thank you!!!!
S.
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Q
Fresno, CA
I would just like a bit of other moms experience for changing from 2 naps to 1 nap a day. I have a 13 month old son and he is really not taking an afternoon nap and his morning nap is moving later then usuall. This just seems really early for him to do this. My Dr. says he needs 12 hours of sleep a day and he is getting about 12 to 13. I was just wondering when other children moved naps around.
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Q
Baton Rouge, LA
My 2 year old has always been a good napper. All of the sudden she has a complete fit when I mention it . I mean a fit, she will scream and cry so hard she makes herself throw-up. What do I do? Do I force it or do I just figure shes growing out of it? It hasnt seemed to affect her sleeping at night. But I love nap time, thats when I get my things down around the house !!
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Q
Denver, CO
My 2 year old has just figured out that her poop can be pretty fun to play with. She is constantly putting her hands down her pants when there is poop in her diaper. I just recently started putting a onsie on her at night because she was waking up and playing with her poop and tasting it too.
How can I teach her to stop putting her hands down her pants and to not play with her poop? Sometimes I wonder if she is conscienciously doing it or if it's just a habit now.
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Q
Melbourne, FL
My two year old daughter, just started sleeping in her own bed in her own room, but will not sleep through the night. She will get up once about 2 am and usually goes back to sleep in her bed and then gets up again around 4:30 -5. The problem is when she gets up the second time she up for the morning and she wants to play in me and my husbands bed until we get up. I don't know if I should make her stay in her room until we get up, try to make her go back to sleep, or what?
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Q
Chicago, IL
My son is 25 months and needs to fall asleep while touching my skin. Either my face or belly. I realize it's a security issue, but I need to transition him to something else. Has anyone had this challenge? Any help/suggestions would be appreciated.
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Q
St. Louis, MO
I have a wonderful 2 year old son, who has been having major issues with sleep. When I try to put him down for a nap, he will stand in his crib and scream and cry for as long as I let him. It has been up to two hours of crying. Then for the rest of the day, he is so crabby, will lay down and put his hands over his face or on his head. When we went out to dinner the other evening, he laid down on the concrete sidewalk and covered his face. Now it is starting to be the same with bedtime. We usually put him to bed at 9:00 (my husband works evenings so we try to have the kids wake up later), now its getting closer to 10:00 because he will scream and cry until I go in there. When I go in there to see what he wants, he always wants me to pick him up, sit in the rocking chair in the living room, and watch Thomas the Tank Engine. Then when I think that all is taken care of, he'll suddenly wake up screaming between 4:00 and 5:00AM. He'll either want to come into our bed, or he'll be up and wanting to play. I don't know what to do. He needs to get more sleep, and so do I. I have tried giving him a book or two in his crib with him at naptime, so that if he doesn't want to sleep he can at least look through his books. That has not worked at all. If anyone has any advice, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much.
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Q
Dallas, TX
I have finally gotten my almost 2 yr old out of my bed and into his. However he will only sleep in itif I sit beside the bed, while he plays with my hair until he falls asleep. Then I can get up and leave the room. Some night's this takes only a few minutes other nights it takes an hour to an hour and a half. I do not know how to make him get to fall asleep on his own. I worry that with him in a toddler bed he will get out of bed and get into things if I just close the door and per say let him cry it out. Any advice will be greatly appericiated.
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Q
Dallas, TX
I really don't know what to do..I have tried everything I can think of...and my 2 year old still doesn't sleep through the night..Tried letting her cry..tried routine...tried shorter naps...tried longer naps...tried sitting next to her bed while she falls asleep...tried nighttime snack..tried no night time snack...tried reading...tried music...tried insence...took to doctor...took to dentist..Help!!
Routine is same every night...for last year...bath, books, bedtime...everything else has just been tried as well...She gets up at night--I take and put her back in bed..this happens sometimes for an hour...sometimes longer...
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Q
Chicago, IL
HELP. My 2 year old Daughter was put into a big girl bed (she was climbing out or I wouldn't have) and we also took her pacifier at the same time. This was 4 weeks ago, she was fine in the beginning. Now when we put her down for naps she will stay up crying sometimes or just calling me for 1 1/2 hours before she falls asleep. Also during the night she wakes up just calling mommy or daddy. We give her some milk deluted with Water to drink and then she goes back to bed. I think this is a comfort issues, but not sure how to handle this. We are sleep deprived and loosing patience. She doesn't do this at daycare when she goes to naps, she is perfectly fine and falls asleep immediately. What are we doing wrong!!
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Q
San Antonio, TX
Ok Alex just turned two last week and he is not "talking " like many kids his age. For example, he calls daddy to my husband and he also calls me daddy. people think it is funny but at two years "mommy" is the first word you say, right??
he say about 10 words correctly and most of the rest he makes the sound of them, or he calls any liquid "water" he does not say milk or juice, it is always water.
I know at the age of two many kids say short phrases and Alex is not even close.
I can assure he hears and understands perfectly, I just wonder if some of you had this problem with your toddler. My other son is four now and at the age of two he was a talker to the point that we got crazy because he was talking all the time!!!
May be I'm overrreacting because they are so different but I dont want to ignore something that maybe a real problem. I made an appt with speech therapy for an evaluation to see what they think.
But the real experts are moms right???
Thanks in advance.
C.
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Q
Portland, OR
My 2 yr old currently sleeps in a pack-n-play by choice! She started out there at 4 months old as we were living sonmewhere temporarily without a lot of space for a crib. Once we moved into our new house and offered her a crib, she wanted nothing to do with it. She has had a twin bed in her room for over a year now and still has no interest in anything but jumping on it. This week she has woken up crying that she wants to sleep in the bed, but once I put her in there, she immediately wants back to her pack-n-play. Just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to make the transition smoother or the transition at all. I have put up the bedrail so she won't fall out as well. She is fine in the pack-n-play, but soon will be too long for it. I appreciate any suggestions!
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Q
Minneapolis, MN
My son is 2 1/2 years old and has been sleeping in his own bed and bedroom since birth. We have a night light and bedtime music that plays to sooth him while laying in bed. Some nights are very easy to get him to sleep in his room some nights he refuses ( at least 4 out of 7 nights) He does have a Thomas the Train tent in his room that sometimes he will sleep in. I am looking for ideas on how to get him to sleep in there, and do it willingly. We have done the "Cry it out" thing we have tried letting him fall asleep in our room and have tried moving him, that does not work. My husband and I no longer have our room to ourselves, he cries for so long, I cant let him cry to long with other kids in the house that are trying to sleep also. If he is not in bed by 8:30 -9 pm he will be up till midnight have a tantrum. Any suggestions would be appreciated!! Thank you in advance!!
Also my son has Sensory Processing Disorder. Which conflict with alot of daily living.
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Q
Sacramento, CA
My husband is getting tired of our 2-year-old son coming into our bed every night. Honestly, I don't mind it. Anyways, my son falls asleep in his own twin bed (while I lay next to him), and then at some point in the night he comes into our bed. He just walks right in and climbs in! We wake up every morning with him in between us. How do I get him to stay in his bed? My friend puts a baby gate up at her daughter's door at night so she can't get out of her room. I don't want to do that! I have tried taking him back into his bed, but most of the time I'm still asleep! Also, when I try to take him back to his bed, I end up falling asleep with him, and then I never go back to my own bed! I'm sure this is a common problem, but what can I do? I have never let him cry himself to sleep, and I'm certainly not going to start when he's 2! Thank you in advance...
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Q
Dallas, TX
Hello everyone? My husband and I have been trying to have another baby for almost a month. I know this is not going to happen overnight. Anyway, we have a 20 month old son. For the past couple of weeks, he has been waking up in the middle of the night crying. I finally told my husband to let him cry and not to bring him in our bed. Well, last night around 1:30 am I heard my 9 yr old daughter putting him in bed with her. She is such a great big sister. I went in her room and got him so she could go back to sleep. My question is, do you think my son can sense the feeling of us trying to have another baby? I know this may sound silly, but I don't know what else this can be. He has slept in his own room since he was a month old and would not sleep with us. Now, I can't get him to sleep in his bed.
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Q
Elmira, NY
I know that I am a few months behind in getting my son off the bottle completely. I could care less about it at any time other than nap and bedtime. I think I could manage getting him to sleep without it (but am open to advice there as well), but my problem is that he will not drink milk at any other way/any other time, so if I take away the bottle he will no longer be getting any milk. We have tried not giving him anything else to drink except milk, but he just continues to refuse it. Any innovative advice?
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Q
Detroit, MI
Since spending the week with my family over Thanksgiving, my 21 month old daughter has been pushing the bedtime limit. It started with getting up 20 to 30 times during the bedtime routine, and she would walk downstairs and say "Hi mommy, Hi daddy" well, we got a child safety door knob so she couldn't open the door. Now she will scream and cry for up to 2 hours at both nap time and bedtime. Please don't think we just let her scream. We go up repeatedly over longer and longer intervals. After 2 or 3 times we used to be able to say "Mommy and Daddy are not going to come back up, you need to go to sleep" and she would, but now nothing is working. She wants us to sit right next to her bed until she falls asleep. This is not an option for us!!! My husband is gone quite a few evenings, and I am exhausted by the end of the day being pregnant. I just want to wash the dishes and go to bed myself. There have been evenings I have gone to sleep and my husband has still been trying to get my daughter to sleep. Just in the past few days it has carried over to nap as well. I just feel like us going up there after she cries is teaching her if she cries long enough we'll come, but I feel mean letting her cry for hours w/o going in there to assure her that we're there. I don't know what to do anymore!!! Please help!!!! I seriously think this might push me over the edge! I just can't fight with her to go to sleep so much...we've never had this much of a problem. And yes, we have a consistent bedtime routine for nap and bedtime. Bedtime itself is usually consistent, but has been slightly inconsistent due to holiday events (and her own self induction of screaming!)
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Q
Columbus, GA
Any time we try to feed our 22 month old son he takes a couple bites and then begins to throw the rest on the floor or he will say "no" and hand to plate to myself or my husband. Most of the time the only thing we can get him to eat are peaches or a banana. We've tried everything. Any ideas???
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Q
Odessa, TX
I have a 23 month old son who, since he was 1 yr, will not eat anything, but pb&j, yogurt, nutrigrain bars and oatmeal. I cannot get him to try new things without spitting them out. I've heard before if they don't eat what you give them, let them get really hungry and then they will eat what you give them. I tried that for one day and he ate oatmeal for breakfast and didn't eat anything until right before bed when i finally gave in and gave him a pb&j. I can't just starve him!I've heard that it could take a couple weeks, but he can't go that long without eating. What else do i try? My husband and I are not picky eaters and we eat a big variety of foods, but our son wont' eat any of it! It's very frustrating to go out to eat with him because we have to pack him his own meal and take it with us.
I've tried making games out of it, making meal time very fun. He's helped me cook and prepare our food, and many other things. Any advice would be great
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Q
Chicago, IL
I have a 29 month old daughter who used to go to sleep at 9pm and wake up at 8 or 8:30am with a 2 hour nap. She still takes her nap for 2 hours but she will not fall asleep until after 10pm and waking up at about 6:45am. I know she is not getting enough sleep at night because so lovely inthe morning and throughout the day when she is up so early. She is in a big girl bed but we were doing great for a month or so. Even when we switched the only problem we had was her getting up constaantly before she fell asleep. Once asleep she slept all night. She seems to be afraid when I lay her down and needs her door to be open lately. It always used to be closed. HELP it is extremely trying on the babysitter when she is crabby all day long. Is this a phase? My son never did this (but he never slept as a baby). Any advice would be great. I do have 2 nightlights in her room and in the hall to help with the darkness, not sure if that is a problem.
PS Forgot to mention she takes her nap from around 3-4:30pm or 4:45pm. I know that is late.
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Q
New York, NJ
I am 6 mos pg w/ my 2nd and my first is 15 mos old. I sleep w/ her in a full size bed and she still takes a bottle or 2 at night. I have been told by a lot of people to get her off the bottle before the 2nd comes, but I have tried on a few occassions to replace milk w/ water and she is not fooled. She has a fit every time.
I have never let her cry it out. I couldn't stand it and my husband has a very physical job so he needs his nights to be "quiet". I guess I am just looking for someone who has been thru a similar situation and made it out alive. Just looking for support rather than a solution to getting my 1st off the night feedings. I will do whatever I have to do to make it work. Thanks.
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Q
Dallas, TX
I have just recently found out I am pregnant with my 2nd child. This child was unplanned and I was taking birthcontrol. I am upset right now and actually a little depressed. I wanted to wait 3-4 yrs and enjoy more one on one time with Ally and now she will only be two when the baby is born. I continue to be upset more for Ally because she loses time from Mom, Dad, and grandparents and has to share that with a new sibling.
I guess my question is....I am afraid I will not be able to give as much love to Ally having to give to the new baby!
Can you tell me...is this fear natural? Does it go away? I have always been a strong one and thought this to be silly hearing it from others, but now, I understand!
Ally is so close to her grandparents and do everything with them, what happens when there is two?
Thank you ladies for your support!
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Q
San Francisco, CA
i just found out not to long ago that i am expecting my 2nd child and i am just thinking about my 16 month old. she has been fighting more lately like biting and kicking my belly and just wanting to be held 24/7......... i know i need to show her all the attention that i can which i am doing but i am just wondering if this is normal for her to do or is there something else i should be looking at? i am at a lost for words and am needing help
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Q
Kansas City, MO
My 3.5 year old daughter has been potty trained for a year and a half and never had a problem going to the bathroom on her own until now. Ever since Halloween last year, she's been afraid there are "witches and monsters" in the bathroom. Apparently some kid at daycare told her that. We were able to convince her otherwise back then and now it came back within the last month. She switched daycares back in December but we suspect there is a bully at the new daycare that has scared her again. She's had accidents at school during naptime because she is afraid to use the bathroom and holds it all day (but apparently loses control while she's sleeping). My husband and I have told her (like we did in the Fall) that those things are pretend and not real but it's not working this time. She simply says "I'm just pretending they're in there, but I still want you to come with me." She's also refusing to sleep in her bed alone for the same reason. She will sleep in there if one of us sleeps with her but prefers to go to bed with us. HELP!!!
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Q
Atlanta, GA
I was just wondering what everyone may think about putting a tv in my sons room for cartoons. He is 3 1/2 and the tv will be out of reach completly and basically for bed time to watch tv im assuming that is what my husband is wanting it for. I am on the fence about it. I think we have a tv in the living room and our room he doesnt need one. Just so everyone has my side of it. I was just wondering what other moms thought of this
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Q
Youngstown, OH
Hello, I have a 3 1/2 year old son that still needs to wear a pull up to bed. He will be 4 in March. My husband and I think its time for him to loose the pull ups. I've tried to put him to bed without a pull up on during his occational naps. Sometimes he does fine and other times he has accidents. He does drink alot during the day. But if he's thirsty I'll give it to him. How do you train them to realize they have to go to the bathroom when their sleeping like they realize it during the day. He sleeps for 11- 12 hours a night. Please Help.
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Q
Seattle, WA
My 3 1/2 year old daughter has been potty trained for more than a year. For the last month she has started to have "accidents" that don't really seem like accidents at all. About once a day or once every other day, she will go in her underwear. Today, she went on the floor in her sister's room. I don't feel they are accidents because she doesn't do it when we are out and about places. Just at home or some place where she is very comfortable, like Grandma's house. We have a natural (Love and Logic type) consequence lined up for tonight. But, I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this and if anyone has any thought as to why she would be doing this. We haven't had any changes in our family or added stress that I am aware of.
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Q
Washington DC, MD
My 3 1/2 year old son has been fully "day time " potty trained for months. Over the past 4-5 days he has been having "accidents" wetting himself. When he was training he would let me know right away if he wet himself...now it does not seem to bother him at all. He attends day care 2 days a week, and already this week he has had 3 "accidents" in 1 day. I am quickly losing patientce...since I don't quite understand why this is happening.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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Q
Savannah, GA
My 3.5 yo daughter was a fabulous sleeper up until the beginning of September. She started fighting bedtime which is usually 8 (doesn't end up going to sleep till about 10) and then getting up every couple hours or more and turning on ALL the lights in the house and making her way to our bedroom , turning on our light and getting me up. She refuses to go back to bed, she wants to watch tv or play. I keep bringing her back to her room without a word and tucking her in. She will either scream her head off and wake up her brother in the room next door or she will wait about 20 min (enough time for me to fall back asleep) and come through the house tuning on the lights to wake me up. We have tried explaining that she needs sleep and that mommy needs sleep (we are currently fighting pink eye, ear infections and a really bad cold!) We have tried giving her "tickets to mommy", a light on a timer to tell her when to get up etc. We thought that she was doing this because we have had lots of visitors over the past 2 months and that she was excited....it was both sets of grandparents, but the last ones left 2 weeks ago now. I really don't know what to do. She has given up her naps during the day, which she took religiously before (I am fine about her giving up naps IF she is going to sleep at night!)
This is really effecting my husband and my relationship as she is taking up the only time that we get to spend together and causing us to be harsh with her and each other (he works about 60 hrs a week so I/we don't get to spend alot of time together to bgin with). Not to mention that I am extremely sleep deprived and am not being a great mom to my kids because I am so grumpy. PLEASE HELP!
Thank you!
M.
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Q
Chicago, IL
My daughter started potty training herself from 1 and a half. She was in underwear by 2 and dry at night by 2 and a half. (She would wake up herself at night and go to the bathroom). She is 3 and a half now and recently has stopped waking up at night and is peeing her bed almost every night. I started waking her myself around 11, but it was a lot of work for me ( I was pregnant at the time and I had to carry her) and if my husband or I forgot to wake her by 11 she would still wet her bed. I recently said forget it and just put her back in pull-ups. She also wets herself now during the day at least 3 times a weeks. Any suggestions?
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Q
Milwaukee, WI
My husband and I have 3 boys 7, 5, and 1 1/2 and we just had an ultrasound and found out we're having a girl in April! I grew up a tomboy and had one brother. I'd still take a ball game, beer and a hot dog over anything that normal women do. My husband and I are almost afraid of having a girl. The boys are all very excited that it's a girl and talk about how they want to help feed her and want her to sleep in their rooms and much more. I feel like I won't know how to raise a girl since I never wore dresses or played with dolls or the like. I have 3 nieces that are 12, 11, and 3 and they all seem so "girly"... can anyone help calm my nerves and offer some advice on how to transition from 3 boys to 3 boys and a girl?
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Q
Dallas, TX
Has anyone successfully done the 3 day potty training method? And if you have, do you think 22 months is too young to do it? Thanks!
C.
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Q
Chicago, IL
What is the deal with people competing with each other for how many children they have. Latley it seems that mothers are wanting to have 3 children as if it is a status symbol. People I know talk about it like if you hace 3 kids, it's the trend now a days. I don't get it. Has anyone else run into this? I think it is crazy. To have a certain # of children because 3 looks better to the outside world. Am I the only person who thinks this is crazy, or even has heard about this "trend"?
Another questinn. For all the parnets who only have 1 child, and do not want more, do you feel a backlash from others? Do people treat and or look at you diferently?
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Q
Redding, CA
Hi there,
I have 2 beautiful little girls ages 2 years and 9 months and baby number 3 on the way.
My oldest was 15 months when my second was born and my second will be 17 months when the 3rd is born. I'm sure that I am not alone with having 3 kids so close together, but my question is what should I expect? Or if any moms have any tips etc. that would be great.
Thank You So Much
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Q
Los Angeles, CA
Hi Moms! I am looking for input on those of you who have 4 kids. We currently have 3, and are contemplating a 4th. I have heard from friends and family that once you have 3 you might as well have 6 because the transition from 2 to 3 was the hardest and adding another isn't that tough. Well...thoughts? We are curious also about what changed in the family dynamics? Our oldest, our only daughter, is begging for another baby...she is at the stage where she understands and wants to help take care of the baby, but we have explained to her that another baby in the house means less time for her because there will be another child to care for. My husband and I love our kids to pieces and love children and are certainly not against the idea...we always said before we started that we hoped to have 4 kids. But that was before we had 3 in 5 years and realized how tough it is!! Our youngest will be 2 this week and we want our children to be close together in age, which brings up the question now because we are really thinking about it.
Any thoughts or input from those of you who made this transition from 3 to 4 would really be appreciated! And God Bless all of you moms out there - you're all doing the hardest job on earth!!
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Q
Chicago, IL
My 3 week old didn't poop for 24 hrs, but did pee. I called the Doc. They really didn't say much... i tried the gas meds, the rubbing belly, moving legs, purping on belly... even the thermometer in the butt. I don't know of anything dif in my diet other than popcorn. I am going to try to eat more fiberous foods myself.... but she seems so uncomfortable and gassy... she screamed a ton yesterday and obviously had trouble. She finally had yellow water out of her butt one time today. They said i could try 1/2 a suppository if she's that uncomfortable. I didn't think breast fed babies were supposed to have this problem! anybody have this issue?
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Q
Phoenix, AZ
Okay so this is absolutely annoying my husband and I, my 3 year old son always whines he wants water at bedtime. He is constantly trying to use stall tactics like I have to go potty, I want water, I want another hug from Daddy etc. Well right now he is screaming and crying in his room, for about the last 10 minutes now. We do not want to give him water at bedtime because he is going through potty training, he still wears a diaper at bedtime and if we give him water at bedtime he has an exploding diaper in the morning. Do I just let him cry it out or give in and offer him water. I know when it comes time for him to wear underwear to bed if he has water at bedtime he will pee in his bed so we are trying to avoid the habit altogether. Any suggestions, his screaming is really getting on my last nerve and I wish he would just be quiet and go to sleep.
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Q
San Francisco, CA
I have heard of this one happening - i just wonder if anyone can point me to a good activity or book that will help out in this department
Thanks so much
In life and spirit
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Q
Denver, CO
Hi Moms!
My daughter is almost three. She has been potty trained since the beginning of the summer. We didn't have a great deal of difficulty with the process, pretty normal overall. All of the sudden she won't go poop on the toilet. She hides in a corner when she has to go and gets in a 'pooping' position on hands and knees on the floor. I don't know if she's trying to hold it in, at that moment, or actually trying to go. Regardless, she does go a bit in her underwear (although not all of it). When I put her on the potty then, she sits there a long time without going. She will eventually go in the potty, but not without much hollering about how she's 'all done!'. We've tried positive reinforcement (you'll get at treat and much praise when you go on the potty),we're now on to negative reinforcement (she loses her favorite sleep toy and her tv show if she goes at all in her undies). None of this really seems to be working. There has been no real dramatic change in our lives... she has started daycare in an unfamiliar environment two days a week, but that is it.
Any thoughts or suggestions?! I'm tired of cleaning up poop out of underwear!
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Q
Seattle, WA
I have a 3 year old boy (almost 3 1/2) who has been potty training for some time. I know that these things take time to work out, and I am trying to be very patient. Sometimes he does very well and has almost an entire dry day, others, he goes through 5 pairs of pants. The problem is that sometimes he cries when he pees in his pants, and sometimes he doesn't even tell me he's done it. I like when he cries about it because it tells me he knows he should have done it somewhere else. There just doesn't seem to be a pattern to it. I don't know if he's trying to hide it, or if he doesn't realize (how could he not) or what. The one pattern he does seem to have developed is that if we take him to the potty and have him try, if he gets up in a split second and says he doesn't have to go, he will normally pee his pants within about 5 to 10 minutes and cry about it. Is there any way I can help progress things? I used to offer stickers as a reward for being successful...and still do sometimes...but it doesn't seem to help much. I think the thing that annoys be the most is that I take him and he doesn't go...then within 5 min, he pees his pants! (I know, we've all been there, grit your teeth and bear it) I'm just looking for perhaps a better way to go about things. He knows that he is supposed to pee in the potty...I just don't understand why sometimes he cares that he doesn't make it and sometimes he acts like he hasn't peed at all.
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Q
St. Louis, IL
My husband and I were both sent out of town on different business trips last week. My 3 year old had just been potty-trained and had a very good routine. She would wake up about 6:30 on the weekends, go down for a nap around 11:30 and would sleep about 1-1/2 to 2 hours, then to bed around 8:00. She would happily walk into her room that she shares with her baby brother at sleep times and climb into her bed and wait to be "tucked in". Well, ever since I got back into town, she has reverted. She doesn't use the potty very well at all anymore and she will resist going to her room to go to sleep. Even on Saturday, my husband wasn't back from his trip yet, but I told her that it was time to take a nap and she walked with me to her room, but she played in her bed for 3 hours straight, never once did she fall asleep. I would walk in the room every 20 minutes or so to make sure that she was still in her bed. She was still laying there, playing with her books everytime I went it. She never took a nap on Saturday, although she was still in a great mood all day. On Sunday, she was a little crabby and I stayed in her room until she fell asleep, she slept for 25 minutes and then was back up. She goes to daycare through the week and they even noticed that she is taking a significantly smaller nap, if they can even get her to sleep. She is starting to do a little better with the potty, but she is still having at least one accident per day. So, I am curious if she is having security issues. I am thinking that she is still too young, but could she be ready to not take naps anymore? I am lost and I don't like feeling lost.
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Q
Dallas, TX
My 3 year old daughter has understood the whole potty training thing since she was about 18 months old. She has been able to uninate only in the toilet when trying to train her since then, but she refuses to have a bowel movement while on the potty. Like all the books & resources say to, I have stopped trying to train her for weeks at a time and when we start again the same thing happens.
This week is a perfect example: all day everyday she has stayed completely dry through out the day because she goes to the restroom and uses the potty when she needs to. Then in the late afternoon she will 'poop' a little in her panties. I let her sit in it for a minute while we talk about where it is supposed to go and she agrees that next time she'll go in the potty. Then she will sit on the potty for a long time (30 mins or longer) without anything. She says she is done and that next time she will go 'poop' in the potty. Then, a little later the same thing and we continue this cycle until she gets it all out.
I've tried real panties, I've tried pull-ups, I've tried stopping her in the act the putting her on the toilet, I've tried rewards, etc. I really feel like I have done everything all the experts say to and she still won't do it. But all of the experts say that they won't like sitting in the poopy panties, she doesn't care. She tells me she just doesn't want to do it and being only 3 just won't give any other reason.
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Q
Buffalo, NY
I am the mother of a 3 year old little girl, in March I will be having a little boy. My problem is my daughter refuses to sleep in her own bed at night and I am not sure how to get her in her bed and with the new baby coming will all my hard work be scrapped because of jealousy or abandonment issues? Please help!!!! my husband and I need a good nights sleep.
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Q
Syracuse, NY
I am at a loss with my toddler. We had a wonderful potty training expirence when she was 2. She got the hang of it quickly, and still to this day havent had any pee accidents, or any bedwetting. Pooping was a bit more difficult. She did not understand for a long time she could push when she was on the potty. She would freak out until gravity worked it out and then there was not a single tear when she did poop. I know it wasnt a fear or pooing or that nutty idea that kids love their own poo. She never was upset when we flushed it, she settled down the minute she heard the splash. So we were good with pooing for about 6mos. no problems.
About 2 months ago she had a bout of diaharrea, and that was not what scared her, but the fact that her diaharrea meds made her poo hard the next time she went and she had a scrape and some surface bleeding (doctor OK'd sphincter and said it is normal) So now she is scared to poo because she doesnt want it too hurt. There was a few times she irritated the sphincter and topical ointment allowed her to forget about it the moment she stepped out of the bathroom. She eats plenty of fruit and veggies, drinks plenty of water. Her poo is not hurting her anymore, but she is refusing to go. She cries and holds it until she starts too poo in her pants, then she is so upset she asks to use the potty but wont finish. I know she has to go, just intake alone lets me know the output has to be bigger. So when she holds her poo, it does clump and it will irritate her sphincter and it will start all over again. I was OK'd to use a laxitive (pedi-lax melting strips) But I am not sure what to do! She has "big girl toys" she got as rewardings for using the potty and pooing on the potty. I spent days and weeks being the patient understanding mom who let it go by the wayside. This past week I gave up and put her back in diapers (she truly seemed humiliated, she was mortified her poo'd in paties were in the trash too) She went poo on Monday and the diaper came off and she was sooooo exicted she was back in panties. I thought OK, this worked.. back on track! Well today same thing, held and held until she started going on her panties. so she is back in a diaper.. do I pick up her toys she got when she "offically" became potty 'trained', is that cruel? I'm at a loss, any suggestions will help.
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Q
St. Louis, MO
Hi! I'm hoping that one of you Moms out there might have some help for me. I noticed a couple weeks ago that my 3 yo dd was rubbing her right nipple at bed/nap times. I would ask her why she was doing that and she would say it itches. Well, I didn't think much of it til the last several days when she has been rubbing it through out the day. She even unzips her jammies at night to reach it. She began complaining yesterday that it hurt. We have been telling her not to rub it, but she keeps doing it. It seems that maybe it just become a habit now and maybe she's irritating it. Her left nipple looks normal (at least what I think normal is for a 3 yo! I really never paid much attention to them.)It is normal color, light pink and flat, even slightly in a little. Her right one is a little red/dark pink and the nipple itself is protruding a little bit. I have asked both of my sisters who have daughters if their girls ever had any issues with this and they said no. So I thought I'd see if any of you know what might be going on. There does not appear to be any bug bites and as I said before it is just the nipple. No redness around it at all. She appears to be rubbing and not really scratching. So, is it normal for one to be flat/in a little and the other out? Is this something I should ask her dr. next week when they open back up, or does it sound like it might just be a behavior/habit that she has formed. I haven't made a big deal out of it, b/c I didn't want to draw even more attention to it, but it has gotten worse instead of better and now that it is hurting, I am more concerned. Thanks for any input/suggestions. S.
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Q
Dallas, TX
My 3 yo daughter will pee pee in the potty every time, but she refuses to even try to go poo in the potty. She has done it several times and we would throw a "party" that she enjoyed when we did. I tried just keeping panties on her, but she will just poo in the panties and come tell me that she did. Now I have put her back in a diaper and she takes it off to pee pee and #2's in it and comes to tell me. I have hit a brick wall and I do not know what to do now. HELP.
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Q
Lakeland, FL
My daughter who turned 3 in Jan. will still not poop on the potty. I'm not trying to rush her but it is causing complications - especially since she tends to get constipated easily. She only wants to poop with a diaper on. She is now
wearing panties all day (including naps), but naptime is when she used to
poop (in a diaper). I thought having her in panties then might get her to
poop in the potty but she is just holding it. If she poops, she'll do it
when we put her down at night in bed. She even is sometimes not wanting to
sit on the potty to pee because she needs to poop and doesn't want that to
happen.
She had two times when she did poop on the potty about a month ago but when
I went in the other room to throw away her pull up or whatever she had on,
she tried to wipe and ended up with a big mess which put her off I think even though I told her that I could wipe the next time.
(I bought a mini gumball machine for bribes, have used a sticker chart,
offered candy from her Easter candy, bought movies and books on pottying...I haven't pushed the issues because she is pretty independent-minded. For one thing, she doesn't like to spend much time on the potty at all - I even bought a 2 minute timer and put audiobooks for her to listen to only during potty time in the bathroom. I've pretty much followed her lead on all potty training and it is just within the last couple months she has been in panties all day even.) I am trying to make sure she gets juice once a day and as many high fiber foods as possible, but she eats so little - including fruits - which would help move things along.
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Q
Kokomo, IN
I have 3 children. Both of my younger children(2 and 10 months) go to sleep when they are put in bed. But, my 3 year old resists going to bed. When we finally get her to go to sleep she usually wakes around 3 in the morning demanding something to drink. Until about eight month ago my husband and I would just let her into out bed. but 8 months ago we brought her bed into our room and make her sleep in it. We have always started bed time at the same time every night. I just don't know what to do to get her to sleep in her own room (with her baby sister) and to sleep all night. We have tried nightlights and all. Any ideas? She does take a short 30-45 minute nap during the afternoon, because this is the babysitters policy. I guess so she can get some quiet time during the day.
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Q
Chicago, IL
My son will be 5 in April and still wets a pull-up every night. He will occasionally even have a bowel movement in his sleep. He is mature for his age in other ways, and hasn't had a daytime accident in over a year. We have made small efforts to try it without the pull-up every 4 months or so with no success. This doesn't seem to be a mind game or comfort issue with him. It seems that he just doesn't wake up (or doesn't want to). Half the times we went without a pull-up he wet himself and slept right through it. The other half he came to get me to clean him up. I waver between thinking he just needs more time and wondering if his time has passed and I am solidifing this habit. I'm considering trying those wet sensing buzzers. Does anyone have any experience with this or any suggestions?
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Q
Raleigh, NC
Hi there,
My very sweet, wonderful 4 1/2 year old son is still soaking through is pull-ups/Goodnites every night and I think it is affecting his sleep. He wakes up at 6:15 every morning, but I think he would sleep later if he weren't waking up soaked. He's been potty trained since 2 1/2, but we never have tackled the night time situation. I know his bladder is just fine, as he only uses the toilet once in the morning and once around 3 pm. How do we get him to get up to go to the bathroom during the night?
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Q
Tampa, FL
Hi Ladies!
Please help me!! Our 4 1/2 year old daughter will not sleep thru the night anymore. It has been about a month. She also started to have "accidents". I don't know if the two are related but probably...her accidents happen in the bathroom, she gets in there but not soon enough to get on the toilet. Not sure if this is a physical thing because the wake ups seem to be for going potty too. Then after she is awake she doesn't want to go back to sleep especially in her own bed.
We did do a family bed from when she was an infant til around her 2nd birthday. From 2-3 she would wake up and come in our bed thru most nights. At 4 she started to sleep all night in her own bed. She goes to her Grandmoms house and spends the night/weekends without incident. Though I have found out Grandma lets her stay up much later and fall asleep in the living room to be carried to bed...
We have had a very stressful 2 1/2 years, lost my Mom to cancer 1 1/2 yrs ago and she was there for all of that. My younger sister is living with us now, she has Downs Syndrome. My oldest daughter had a baby in June and I have started to watch her 2 days a week so she could go back to work. I am guessing all of this has to contribute to these changes but I don't know what to do to get her back on track.
We did not sign up for Vpk because I didn't want her to feel like I was replacing her with my Granddaughter and now with the accidents I am afraid to sign her up because I don't want her to be teased if she has one at school.
We stop drinks 1 1/2 hour before bedtime. She goes potty then and at bedtime.
Any advice would be greatly apreciated.
Sincerely,
J.
a very tired Mom and Grandmom!
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Q
Redding, CA
So I finally got my 13 month old out of my bed and sleeping in his crib. He cried it out and now goes to sleep with minimal fuss for naps and bedtime. He even goes right back to sleep if woken up in the middle of the night by his big sister who shares the room. My problem is he wakes up EVERY day at 4am and will not go back to sleep. He will immediately fall asleep if I nurse him in my bed (I'm also weaning him, bedtime is the last one left to go), so I know he's not done sleeping. But he will not be soothed back to sleep. As I type this, he's been crying for 1 hour off and on. I've done all the usual things, checked his diaper, givin him his sippy cup, binky etc. patted his back... Why won't he go back to sleep on his own at this one particular time of day? I'm so tired. I can't get up at 4am everyday, but I refuse to give in and bring him to my bed and nurse him which seems like the only thing he will accept. HELP :-)
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Q
Odessa, TX
I have a 4 month old son who was consistently sleeping 10 hours at night. For over a week now, he has been getting up at 1 and then wakes up to eat at 4. I know he is probably growing, but growth spurts only last for a few days up to one week. This has been going on too long. Is it just habbit now? How can I get him to sleep normal again? I read the Babywise books, so i appreciate the advice of anyone reading those books too! Thanks!
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Q
New York, NY
I am very concerned about my 4 year old son who has been toilet trained since age 2. Tonight I found him playing with his poop in the toilet. He did this when he was in the toilet training process. Is this normal, have any other moms have gone through this experience with their children? Thank you.
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