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sleep advice needed- 2.5yr ds

5 replies

busybumblebee · 27/02/2008 12:47

Help!!! DS has had trouble with sleeping since christmas. He has always been a great sleeper, even when we changed to a todd bed.
We went through a bad screaming patch where he refused to sleep in bed and came running out and followed us to stair gate and hanged on like a leech. DH then resorted to sleeping in his bed with him, sleeping on the floor in room and outside the door. We have tried everything.... finally now settles ok, but wakes 3 times a night generally at the same time. We cant stop this. We have tried taking away treats; tv, choc, biscuits etc. but to no avail.

The only good thing about it is that he will go back to bed when he comes out without fuss. Not sure if this is attention seeking or just difficulty in getting back to sleep after he wakes in the light sleep.

How can i teach him to go back to sleep on his own and stop him getting out of bed?

Background info: we have a 16 week DD who now sleeps in her bedroom; and sleep problems did start when she became more socialable. Think it all arrived from jealously with DD being in our room.

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Seona1973 · 27/02/2008 20:04

my dd did this for months at around the same age - it was a phase and did pass but was a complete pain in the ass while it was going on!! I was pregnant at the time so that was probably the trigger for her.

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pinkteddy · 27/02/2008 20:10

What do you do when he wakes up? I would keep the lights dimmed and put him straight back to bed no talking just shush - bed time now or equivalent! Definitely don't make a fuss or give him a drink or make it in any way appealing to be getting up in the night. It does sound like attention seeking tbh if he has previously been a good sleeper.

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busybumblebee · 28/02/2008 07:54

months?? OMG! I shall surely die of exhaustion by then! He comes out to the landing and whispers mummy or daddy, and then runs back to his bed. We then tuck him back in with a kiss saying nothing. The downstairs dinning room lamp is on, because we previously thought the problems of the screaming and the leech impressions were just being scared of the dark. Last night it was 11:30, 12:50 and 5:30. That last time is usually earlier around 3 or 4:00.

I actually put a sheet on his bed (he only has a quilt coz he can get so hot) last night and firmly tucked him in, thinking there was no way he could get out therefore go back to sleep. But being the contortionist he is got out; made no difference.

Is this something that will just pass? just hold on and sit tight?

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sazb · 28/02/2008 09:12

you oor thing i so simpaphize with you(sorry about spelling) my lboy has always been a awfull seeper he still dont sleep properly and hes 3 years 4months old.i was told when he goes to school it should sort its self out ahhhhhhhhh,thats another year and 6 months or more to go.i really hope you can get this sorted as its not nice having broken sleep i know

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busybumblebee · 28/02/2008 20:36

aghhhh sazb, that doesn't sound good for me! A year or more of this? Although interesting enough got DD down for bed before DS and he hasn't left the room tonight . It is a shame i couldn't do this sooner, but she needed the feed in the evening before bed to help her get off to sleep.

DH's turn for the broken sleep tonight, we'll have to see what the night brings....