We have been having problems the last 3 weeks with Lexi going to bed. Previously, we would put her to bed and she'd happily read her books or play with her Tigger until she fell asleep. About the time she started PreSchool, she also started not going to bed easily. She'll scream and cry in terror. We've resorted to having almost every light in her room on at night because she's
afraid TERRIFIED of something. But she's not able to articulate what it is that she's afraid of. Often telling us she's afraid of the pictures on the walls, the rocking chair, the hamper etc. I often sit right outside her open bedroom door until she falls asleep...DH doesn't. He gives her 2 options on his night...go to bed, or get spanked. She chooses to go to bed...but will get up frequently in the middle of the night. When this happens, I take her in the guest bedroom, where she sleeps in her old toddler bed and I sleep in the guest bed.
DH hates this. He thinks I'm coddling her and that she's manipulating me. Last night, he got up with her and told her to go back to bed or he'd spank her. She was crying that terrified cry...and calling for me. It broke my heart. I expressed that I was heartbroken by her calls...and he said "well then go to her". So I did...took her in the other room...where she went to bed. DH was livid with me. Saying I undermined him. I guess you could say I did...but only after he said to go to her.
Anyway, anyone have any advice on the sleep issue? I'm thinking that she's feeling pressured to be a "big girl", with school starting etc and is regressing. DH thinks she's doing it on purpose so that she can sleep in the room with me. I just want her to sleep when she needs to, and not to be so afraid.
