We went through a stint where Ashley suddenly would no longer sleep in her room. It seemed at first like it was due to fear or anxiety about something, but recent events have made that apparent it was not the case.
For a while now, she has been falling asleep out on the couch with us sitting there, because she just would not go to sleep in her room. Then I would carry her in, put her in her crib and that was it for the night. About a month before her 3rd birthday, she then started not even allowing that, and many fights ensued. We tried changing the crib to a toddler bed, but no joy. Got an IKEA bed, and tried the “big girl bed” approach, nadda.
As a result she has been sleeping in our room, on her mattress, on the floor, for the past few months. Until recently… We found out about a week ago that my Mother and Father have been letting her still have a pacifier when she sleeps over. BAD grandparents! However… This brought up a thought. Pacifier, low pain item (other than being told we are failures for having a 3yo who sleeps with a pacie), high yield results (she sleeps in her room now, and falls asleep in there too!).
My advice? Who cares about a pacie. Just shove it in there. Apparently the real concern is at 5yo. If they are not off it by then, it is possible its a sign of an emotional stress issue that is greater than just “being afraid of monsters”. All the stuff about their teeth… Pffft. They lose em anyway and they will need braces no matter what, so screw it.
