[ocracoke]

If you find a magical formula then let me know. My daughter is 3.5 years old and has been home since she was 21 months -- so she has been home just under 2 years. She needs very little sleep, or so it appears. If I put her to bed awake -- as is suggested by the experts -- she will be up for 3-4 hours in her room playing. I resorted to the "cry it out" one night. She cried (screamed) for 4 hours before I gave in. I rock her to sleep at bed time (she will go to bed on her own for nap) then put her down in her bed. She gets up normally 4-5 times between bed (usually around 8:30) and me going to bed (usually aroung 11). She crawls in bed with me between midnight and 1 am and then sleeps soundly for the rest of the night. I have tried not letting her in my bed but she will cry the rest of the night. I have tried removing her naps but it is mandatory at her daycare center. I have tried rewards -- no real interest. She sleeps best when she can reach out in her sleep and feel me breathing (which may be a result of watching her bio mom die). I have learned that maybe I can survive on less sleep for a while. And I take comfort in the fact that eventually (although she may be 16 when it happens) she will want to sleep by herself and not with me.

Samantha