26 month old goes to bed ok but wakes up to 6 times/night - Help! Baby No.2 on the way

[lizTW19]

Hi, first time I've posted anything! Sorry if it's really long winded! My 26 month DD used to sleep through the night until 8 weeks ago.
Now she wakes up from 3 to 6 times a night every night at the same times! She just wants water or a cuddle or bonjela and goes back to sleep.
8 weeks ago I had to leave her for a week as my dad had a heart attack, it also coincided with her moving to a new nursery(old one shut down), so her dad let her sleep in our bed for a few nights just to get some sleep.
I have got her out of this habit, but cannot get her to sleep through. We moved her from the cot to a little bed about 4 weeks ago, as baby no.2 is due early Jan! I have tried controlled crying, going in every 10mins, I don't know what else to do.
I am desperate to ensure she sleeps through the night before the arrival of no.2 as we are all exhausted now.
Appreciate any suggestions/help...

[DaddyJ]

From my recent experience I can recommend soothing her back to sleep
from outside her room. There will be some protest crying but
as long as you are confident that she can sleep through and does not
desperately need water/bonjela, standing your ground is a good idea.

Similar thing happened with our dd (28 months) this week.

She woke up Monday morning at 2am and 5am, shouting for us
as she was a little sniffly. I stroked her back for a few seconds,
said something soothing like 'Daddy is here, time for sleeeep, shhhh'
and left the room.

Next night same story..and the next..so this morning when she woke up
at 5:30am, I did not go into her room but shh-ed her from outside.
She didn't like that so it turned into a bit of controlled crying
but at this age the difference is that after a few minutes of protest crying I can actually
tell her in words what I'd like her to do ('back to sleep, Mummy asleep, Daddy asleep' etc)

Now in her case I have taught her that if she is a good girl at bed time
and goes to sleep without whinging and crying I will leave the door half-open.
(once she's asleep I close her door)
I remembered that this morning and said to her that I would open the door
but no more crying and back to sleep please. That worked

Sorry, long-winded this as I am somewhat tired!
Of course, I am now hoping that she will sleep through again tonight..

[lizTW19]

Thanks for the advice, I will try it tonight... the only issue I might have is that she may get out of her bed and not be able to get back in without help!

[DaddyJ]

Any progress, Liz?
We got back to normal which is a relief!

Good luck - and bump, maybe someone else can help.

[lizTW19]

Thanks but, No such luck! Yawn! DD is still waking at 1am and 3.30am approx and crying for us, sometimes getting out of bed, so we can't ignore her, have to return her to bed, but we are really good at not engaging her and using our mantra of 'Time to sleep', sometimes she goes back to sleep quickly other times we have to do it a few times before she will settle.

I am desperate, it's the same times every single night! and we only have 2 months before baby no.2 arrives!

I don't understand, why it's not working, as all the books say to put them back to bed without any conversations, or milk, food etc... and we are doing this.

Will she ever just grow out of it???

Any experts out there??? Please help...

[sleepy1]

Hi my daughter is just over three years old. For the past 6 months she has decided to wake us up sometimes two sometimes ten times a night. She is getting out of bed for a pass time.If she cant get to us she wakes up her 7 year old sister rendering her too tired at school.We have used the controlled crying thing and minimal interaction when she gets out of bed. She is exhausted by 12.30am and struggles to stay awake during the day.Have cut out napping in the day, but this makes things worse. She falls asleep in the car if we are out or just makes our lives hell by 4.00pm. Help please!!!!

[beeny]

I am also in hell am working parttime 18 weeks pregnant and 26 month old has started waking up at any time at night.I might rob a bank so can go to prison and rest!