Ideas to stop 3 yr old waking at night because "he can't hear us"

[Sutherlandgirl]

So I realise that this isn't unusual but I'm looking for some ideas to get DS sleeping again!

I went back to work after mat leave with DD a few months ago. DH and DPs look after him and DD while I'm at work. Not long after I went back DS started dropping his nap, and now rarely has one, maybe once a week.

A couple of weeks ago he started waking and shouting for us 2-3 times per night, basically for reassurance. When we ask why he's shouting, he says it's because he can't hear us (ie thinks we're not there). We try to keep the fuss to a minimum and he usually goes back to sleep quickly, and although he sometimes comes out of his room he's not too bad about going back to bed. We started leaving his door ajar and the hall lamp on for reassurance but it hasn't really helped.

Any ideas how I can help him sleep through again? Obviously we're trying to give lots of attention and reassurance in the day time, have offered him telly in the morning if he doesn't shout out but that hasn't worked. He loves sweets so was thinking of doing the reward Kat thing where you add sweets when they sleep thru / take them out if they don't?

[Sutherlandgirl]

Reward jar! Not sure a Kat would help 😄

[mrsmalcolmreynolds]

Hi. Sounds to me like you're doing what you can. Maybe emphasise that you/DP are always there? Or you could have a photo of all of you in his room? Tbh if he goes back to sleep easily I would probably wait it out and hope that it's a relatively short phase. Our DD (3.7) has them off and on but not usually for more than a couple of weeks at a time...

[Nevercan]

Perhaps try having the radio on quietly as he will still hear talking..

[Trying2bMindful]

I used to have a radio on low & a photo. Very reassuring.

[MonkeyingAroundTown]

Put a baby monitor in your room and turn the volume up loud on his handset so he can hear you breathing/snoring in the night. Just don't forget to turn it off if you and your dh get a bit frisky with one another

[DaydreamDolly]

I second reward chart. My DD (3.5) started doing this after her dad left. After a while (initially I think we both liked the reassurance of one another at an emotional time) I implemented a sticker chart and it worked like a charm. She's back to sleeping 7-7.
I made it so that if she stayed in her own bed til the sun came up on the gro clock she'd get a sticker, and after 10 stickers in a row, she'd get a trip to the Disney store. It worked but I almost had to re-mortgage the house after our shopping trip so perhaps don't take that part of my advice!