To leave toddler chattering in her cot?

[SoCallMeMaybe]

If your toddler wakens through the night and you can hear them chattering and singing to themselves, do you go through to see them or do you leave them alone?

DD is 22 months and has taken to wakening around this time of night (who knows why). I went through to resettle her at first but it just seemed to make her excited (which is nice but...I’m tired). So i have just been keeping an ear out but dozing back off again.

Obviously if she was moaning or crying or calling for me I’d be straight through.

Is this ok?? She can be chattering away for ages!

Definitely leave alone. I even ignore whinging. Will only go in for actual crying (disclaimer when was a newborn I didn't ignore even a whimper 😂)

Yes. I do. If she wants me she asks now abit older than yours. Its lovely hearing them sing.

@GrandTheftWalrus Every night before DH and I go to sleep we go in to check on our toddler and give him a kiss / fix his blanket or whatever. I thought that was normal.

My daughter did this from the age of 8-20 months. She would wake, chatter, laugh.

She sounded like she was having a very energetic conversation. At times it was noisy but never at any time did she sound upset.
A couple of years later someone mentioned that it can be linked to teething and indeed it stopped as soon as her back teeth appeared.

Funnily enough, a very spiritual friend of mine said she was probably speaking to angel's!

It really did sound like one side of a conversation.

Not only leave her to it but enjoy it. DC1 used to do this in the middle of the night & would chat to herself, her cuddlies etc when she woke in the mornings and, after dropping her nap at 2, would happily spend 45 mins in her cot each lunch time doing the same.
DC2 always started crying to moment his eyes opened and, even now, aged 7 he staggers into our room bleary eyed clearly within seconds of waking.
In case it's of any relevance, DC1 is much better at imaginative play and that sort of thing and had an imaginary friend for at least 18mths. DC2 looks to others for entertainment. That could be more of a DC2 thing as he has always had DC1 to entertain him.

Waken is a perfectly correct alternative to wake, Cuppa12345

yes they will be fine op.obviously if they are waking waking and then just being awake if that makes sense then you might need to keep an eye and that gently coax him back to settling.but not the chatter.this si them expanding minds and just soothing and getting to know themelves and the world.i think kids used to do this more in the daytime too before we stuck something contantly in front of them or thought they need entertaining the whole time.

We had that alot, sometimes we would check after 5 minutes, just to make sure that it wasnt a dirty nappy, but other than that we would leave alone.

Your toddler will be fine. She's obviously happy in her own little chattering bubble. Clearly she's not distressed or unhappy in any way or i'm sure she would be letting you know about it.
Let her chatter on while you catch your sleep.

And wakening?

My DS is nearly 3 but I do this all the time - buys me a bit of extra time when he does it in the morning, he'll happily sit there and sing to himself!

@grandtheftwalrus

Is your husband worry that checking on her may disturb? Can’t imagine why you wouldn’t otherwise.

I still check on mine every night, they are 8 & 11 yo!

Cuppa12345 yes, if you google it, like I did, you’ll see.

Only read your opening post but please please don’t disturb her! If she’s happy and singing that’s utterly wonderful. She’ll learn to self settle. If you go in, you’re telling her ‘if you stir, I’ll come in, every time, even when you don’t need me’.

She doesn’t need you. Singing is happy. Don’t teach her that this reaction is wrong. You’ll forever regret it!!

And I check on my sleeping big kids before bed too. That’s not the same thing?!

@shitholiday2018 who was this to?

And I check on my sleeping big kids before bed too. That’s not the same thing?!

It’s fine.

She’s not asking for you. She’s not distressed. She’s having a nice time.

By not going to her you’re teaching her that wake ups are normal. Bed is a nice place to be. And that she can settle herself.

Massive win all round.

I used to go in at every noise .

Now she's 2 unless she explicitly asks me to or cries I stay put and she rambles herself back to sleep. I even ignore the odd "mummy cuddle yooooooou" as this is just what she says when she's half asleep, so me going in would just naff the whole thing up. I feel mean though!

Mind you, used to be she'd invariably cry on waking, so same thing really! Children show you when they're ready for more independence by and large. I let her lead me; she's often ready for the next stage long before I am

Aw your DD sounds so cute OP that I'd be tempted to go and give her a big cuddle. Don't do that though! You are very lucky that she is content to be alone so DO NOT RUIN IT

Haha she is adorable. She is also like the Tasmanian devil so it’s just as well really.

@grandtheftwalrus I also do the rounds of checking on my 6 year old/tucking in/giving a last kiss good night when I go to bed then I check on my 2yr old (who is still in the cot in our room), I use my phone to shine a little light on him, make sure he is warm enough and say good night to him.

I don't wake them but I love looking at their peaceful sleeping faces last thing at night.

To those asking why he wanted me to stop checking on her it was because she was waking up when I went in and he thought it wasnt fair to disturb her every night but I still go in. Usually have to sort her cover as shes kicked it off.

And yes I love watching her sleep

I always check my boy before I go to bed, and often if I happen to be phasing his room. Love looking at his sweet face and like to make sure he's covered and warm. If he was awake (and happy) I would NEVER go in, he'd think it was party time!

@grandtheftwalrus, going off your update I think he has a fair point. If my kiddoes were waking up when I checked on them I wouldn't want to disturb their sleep either.