ds (6m) sleep much improved but now dd s.5 waking up to 4 times a night, help!

[minxofmancunia]

Going slightly mad, until age of 3 dd was a brilliant sleeper since 4m.

At 3 we moved house and ds was born. Fair enough that her sleep would be disrupted but she's a nightmare for getting up/shouting us multiple times a night.

We were letting her sleep on the futon in ds bedroom as she would doze off in there whilst we were settling him to sleep. However we've put her back in her own room now as we feel it's best to be consistent and ds still wakes u at night approx half the time, sometimes (as to be expected!) screaming his head off!

Last night she crept in at 2.30am asking to come in with us so we put her back in her bed and I aly and stroked her for 2 mins, then she shouted me again and she wanted some milk which I gave to her. then she chnaged tack and shouted "daddy!" x 2 saying she'd lost her comfort rabbut thing (she hadn't).

It's clear she's feeling anxious/unsettles about something it's just how to remedy it.

She's not consistently like this, she has periods of a few weeks long where she'll sleep through without interruption.

I think she'd like ds to go in with her in his cot which we're contemplating, it's just her room is a pink fairy princess palace and his little room is a lovingly decorated nursery and he seems to really love being in there!

Any advice?

[dreamylady]

our DD was the same - i think at this age they notice change much more and also old enough to have an imagination - so the night fears start.

The move and the new baby are humungous and unsettling changes in her short little life. When we moved, to a bigger house, near her friends, she said she missed her old house for months - loves it now though.

If she's managing to sleep through for periods of time, on those times she doesn't I would say maybe let her come in for a short cuddle then either send her back or take her back to bed. This is not the advice some HVs would give and to start with we were really strict about not letting DD sleep or even get in our bed for fear of 'making a rod for our own backs' - but I've read some stuff about attachment parenting and its made me convinced that giving them what they need when little (within reason) sets them up to be more secure, confident adults. And having children in the first place is kind of making a rod for own back isn't it! .

The other thing, this might seem a long way away, but once she starts school she'll probably sleep right through - lots of them do.

good luck

[NellyTheElephant]

If she wants to sleep with her brother then I would let her - move the cot in as you suggest. My two DDs share a room (and have done since they were little) and are horrified at the thought of sleeping on their own - they always talk about poor baby DS being on his own whereas they share a room and mummy and daddy share a room. Does he wake her when he screams? D1 never turned a hair when DD2 woke at night, I couldn't believe how she slept through it. Then maybe they can have their own rooms a bit further down the line. if you don't want to do this then be consistent. I wouldn't give milk. Take her back to her room, sit with her briefly, leave a night light on, but make it clear that she has to stay there and not wake you. Do a sticker chart with rewards for say five stickers (i.e. 5 nights in a row when she hasn't woken you).

We are moving house soon and i plan to give the girls their own rooms (they will be 6 and 4 by the time we move in), but I can't even mention it at the moment as they are horrified at the thought!

[MegBusset]

No advice but lots of sympathy. DS1 (just turned three), who slept through reliably from 9m, has woken multiple times a night more often than not for the last six months or so. It's usually just for tucking in or water or a cuddle, but it's bloody knackering especially if DS2 is going through a waking phase! Luckily he never gets out of bed.

I am hoping he grows out of it soon...