At wits end... | ExpatWoman.com
 

At wits end...

298
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 November 2012 - 21:41

I know that's a dire sounding title but getting to that point and am hoping I'm not the only one and that someone may have some suggestions.

I have a 15 month old. 3 months ago we moved to Toronto and since about that time she's completely changed. I'd been to Cecile before that when she was about 8 months because she'd been waking up every 45 minutes from about 4 months and she worked with me on a not CIO kind of plan. Along the lines of No cry sleep solution in some ways but did involve leaving her in her bed and being there to comfort. It worked great after some glitches and she not only slept on her own but slept through the night for the most part. Then we had to leave her with my family for a couple of weeks to come here for some set up in June and while she did fabulously while we were away she got clingy when we got back and hasn't stopped since. While we were away, if told my mom to do what it takes and not to upset her in anyway so there were some days when she didn't want to sleep on her own and mum held her.

Now here are my issues

1. Her sleep had gotten terrible. She won't sleep inless I sleep beside her and when I put her in her bed she'll sleep for a maximum of a couple of hours at night and 45 mins in the day. When she wakes she doesn't need feeding we just take her to our bed because im exhausted and she hangs onto my hair for dear life and sleeps at once. Won't let my hair go at all! Now it's even gone to the same in the daytime
2. I'd moved a few weeks ago to one nap because the time between naps was so long that her days were getting really long and she was tired so gave it a try. She's just not sleeping longer that 45 mins unless I hold her. When I do put her down a bit earlier she sleeps for an hour or hour and a half at most so I've gone back to 2 naps making the one in the afternoon shorter coz she won't sleep at night when I let her sleep.
3. She's always been a bad eater and nothing has changed. Thought 15 months would mean some kind of change. While she'll taste, she just won't eat for nutrition. And while normally this doesn't bother me her doc has said she's low on iron because babies who drink a lot of milk tend to absorb less iron and has suggested I try to reduce milk or switch to cup and see and if it doesn't then he'll give us iron drops. The cutting of milk isn't working because she just won't eat and I can't just cut her off.
4. Behaviorally, she very very clingy and whiny. I should say she's teething and has had a lot of teeth come in in the last 3 months including some of her first molars. She won't let me do anything. I need to sit with her or at arms length at all times if I try to go cook or clean up she's standing at my legs whining and crying till I go back with her. She plays fine on her own but I have to be visible. Or my husband of course but of we're both in the house then she needs to see us both.

This is getting very frustrating because we don't have any help and if we can't get anything down when she's awake and she needs one of us around when she sleeps as well you can see the logistical nightmare we're in

I know I've probably got myself into a lot of this. But I've always been more attachment parent-like with a good schedule. Might've have taken it into outright giving into toddler tantrums though. I don't know anything anymore. Just that I'm tired mentally and sick of the way my life is in a lot of ways and just want to be a good parent. Just don't know how now.

Help?

Ps: sorry this is long and sorry about typos. Typing while she sleeps and want to post before wake up.

298
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 November 2012 - 22:07
Thanks a ton lovely people. Feels so good that someone gets it and has sensible suggestions. Feeling a little bit better to be honest. A lot has to do with acceptance. And I think I've begun to accept that somewhere between now and when she's 18 this will have to fix itself. :D Not so concerned about the eating. I have literally tried a ton of things and have now just started putting whatever we eat out for her and she 'eats' with us. Mum says I was a lousy eater till nearly 4 and now I'm a giant foodie so I guess it works out. She will taste most things. Just wont eat any significant quantity of anything! Sleep wise we've introduced some stuffed toys. Of course she's picked the largest 2 so now it's a real houseful in our comfy for 2 queen bed!! Also having a toddler/kids bed delivered. Will try that and make a big deal and see if she likes it better. If not its there for later when she's ready. Realised she really does dislike her crib so hopefully this will help. Learning to do things like cook in a slow cooker and hold her while I stir things in a pot and play peek a boo while I go to answer the door downstairs etc. and she's still hanging on to my hair so anti breakage shampoo it is for the minute :) Thanks again ladies! Really helps to have a sounding board. DC will look into the HV options here. Think there are some. Just not sure what so must investigate.
2937
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 20 November 2012 - 20:41
I'm not sure this will help at all but it sounds like she found the separation quite traumatic, and her new behaviours might be a reaction. Is there a health visitor in Canada you can discuss it with, or somebody else your paediatrician could recommend? I'm way out of my depth here but I'm pretty sure there's a professional you could find to help you out - if it is that she's suffering the after-effects of being separated from you, I'd guess you'd need to be careful you treat her new behaviours the right way so you don't make a bad situation worse. I know that's probably not helpful but I just wanted to say what it looks like from a complete outsider's view, because sometimes it's hard to see the wood from the trees when you're stuck in the middle of a situation and can't focus. I know how awful it is when you feel so relied-upon (my DS didn't sleep for ages when he was small and I was his on-call butler) so I hope you get something sorted soon for your own sanity. Just think, the move is over now and that's the worst part, so now you can look to the future and do your best to get everybody settled and back on track. Good luck!
708
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 20 November 2012 - 16:12
Susan, I don't know if this will help or answer any of your questions, but here's my two cents. Try making her nap while lying down with her and patting, instead of holding her in your arms. It will take a few days for her to get it, but she will and once that happens, she may sleep more than just a cycle, depending on how tired she is. Don't worry about feeding as long as she is gaining weight. Give her lots of healthy fingerfoods to pick from and eat herself, and she will eat if she is hungry. Try blending fruits with her milk for a milkshake so that she is introduced to more flavours. Also, try and eat together. She might grab food from yours and your husband's plates, and want to eat like you do. If co-sleeping is working for you, don't change it now till she is more at ease with her new environment. Our daughter used to sleep in her crib, in her room till she was 11 months old. She then joined nursery and caught all the bugs, and she slept with us a few nights. We all slept better, and we didn't need to make a lot of changes to that arrangement when we were travelling (and we travelled A LOT), so that is the way it's been for now. We're planning a no. 2 sometime soon, so will have to move her back to her room evetually but by then hopefully she'll be talking and expressing herself. Not being able to make us understand what they are feeling can be very frustating for these little ones. And once she starts walking and running like an Olympian, she will sleep better anyway. Can't help you on the hair bit, my daughter holds on to my lips (yeah, I know...yuck) but it gives her immediate relief for whatever reason. Hope you guys are back on track soon :)
298
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 November 2012 - 18:48
Thanks a ton for the responses ladies! Will try the suggestions. Kiwi: She's on formula. Tried switching to cows milk and she got dreadful constipation (real trouble getting it out) so switched back. Doing a gradual mix to see what she'll tolerate. She's trying to talk yes, good point - remember reading about the frustration somewhere, she babbles a lot and says a few works. I get a nap in when I can. Not that bad on the sleep. She does sleep better than she ever has when she sleeps with us. So barring the hair pulling I do get my rest. Thank god! Feeling claustrophobic and emotionally drained I suppose. Thinking of sending her to a Montessori playschoool a few days a week in a month or so to get her some social interaction and me some alone time.
2782
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 11 November 2012 - 12:50
is she on breastmilk, cows milk or formula,? if cows milk then yes, too much of that could interfere with iron absorption, maybe switch back to formula in the meantime. Here is a guide to improving iron in the diet http://www.parentingscience.com/iron-rich-foods.html giving something high in vit C at the same meal as an iron rich food increases absorption, and try and give the milk at a separate time as it will block it. You could try snack platters, basically nutritious foods that would be meals but divided into fingerfood type mini meals that she can graze on all day, when she feels like it and with no pressure. It sounds like she has found the move quite unsettling, especially the separation. Basically you need to focus on building back the trust and once she feels secure again, she should become more independent. How are her verbal skills, I think at this age many kids are on the cusp of talking and it be be frustrating for them, helping her improve her language and verbalising her feelings for her might be helpful. I'd be a bit wary of sleep training when she is so unsettled, maybe focus more on helping her understand that you are not going to leave her again, you could try this technique though, its like an inverse of controlled crying. Basically you give her a kiss and put her in bed, telling her that if she lies quietly you will come straight back and give her another kiss, you walk towards the door then quickly come back for the kiss, then step outside the room for a few seconds, return for another kiss, then stay out there 30 sec, then 1 minute, gradually increasing the gaps between kisses(if she cries you return immediately and comfort). I have the same issue with my son and my hair, especially if he is tired or unwell, I wish I could tell you how to stop that! You could try reading the good behaviour book by dr sears (on the tips on his website) for ideas on how to set firm boundaries within an AP format, this tough time won't last forever, can you get some help so you can have a nap during the day?
219
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 November 2012 - 07:24
15 months is a very clingy age. You just have to work through it and be patient. Your daughter will eat if you reduce the milk. Children won't let themselves starve to death. You might try watering down the milk a bit to make it less palatable.
 
 

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