getting out of bed and coming to us EVERY NIGHT - how do I stop it???

[monkey]

Ds, nearly 3 used to sleep perfectly. Was poorly about month ago and I had to go to him a few times in the night. After that he'd wake crying so I'd have to go to him, even tho now better. Managed to stop that, but now he gets out of his bed and bangs doors and comes to us every bloody night. I'm exhausted.

I simply take him back to his bed, he used to complain, now worst I get is a diasppointd ?oh? I tell him it's night time and everyone's asleep. I sleep in my bed, he has to sleep in his bed.

I also tell him this when I put him into bed & that he mustn't get up. He says ok, but then does it, every night.

How do I stop it? I think he's too young for a clock? I've thought of stair gate at door, but reckon he'd just stand there yelling which would wake up the whole house and be more disturbing than him coming up and being taken back. It's killing me.

[loujay]

Travel gat on the door??
I have done this with my DD who is also 3 otherwise we would all be up at about 4am!!

[loopylou0612]

I second the gate at the door idea! We do this with dd and it works for us

[monkey]

but like i said in last line, won't he just stand there yelling his head off - is this not more disturbing to the whole family than just scooping him back up? Do they see the gate and think, ah, rumbled, i'll quietly take myself back to bed and not bother any one, or do they scream their heads off, mummy, open the gate etc etc etc

[lulumama]

rapid return - take him back to bed with NO talking or contact at all each and every time he comes in ! usually works within 2 - 3 nights ! every bit of attention he is given at is an incentive to get up again - so don't speak!!!! you can get clocks which light up to tell the child it is time to get up if too young to tell the time! he just needs some help getting back in his routine which has been disturbed by being ill....if he was in a good routine - he can get back into it! good luck !

[KTeepee]

Have you tried a star chart? Did this for similar problem with dd at that age and it worked!

[monkey]

have rpinted off star chart. Still in 2 minds about stair gate. Anooyingly going on holiday on Friday so I wouldn't bother, as sleep pattern will again be disrupted (for some reason always sleeps realls badly/wakes several times a night at mil house, so potentially in for a rocky ride as of then anyway, but if I don't do something think dh will swing for him. He has no tolerance at all. sigh

[BudaBabe]

Sympathyies. My DS (5) is the same. I have made it worse by not putting him back to bed when it started.

Last night he got up, went to toilet and then came into us. I didn't even realise till I woke up a while later and there he was!