Cried for 90 mins

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Last night my little one woke and was creaming at 4.15am. I thought something was wrong but he just wanted to go downstairs. I tried to comfort him in my arms but nothing was settling him. Took him in my bed which he rarely comes into and we watched my phone. Probably shouldn't have done that but I can't stand his crying.

He wasn't sleeping but it was nice to have him under the duvet with me.

After 10 mins I put him back in his cot and his room. Same issue occured again - crying to go downstairs.

I just left him in the cot until he eventually slept at 6am.

I did go in one or twice into the room but honestly I can't settle him when he wants to go downstairs and I told him it's dark outside.

I was watching him on the room camera so he wasn't in any danger.

Did I do the wrong thing? Next door is hard of hearing so won't wake him. I live just with toddler.

I have 4 wonderful well adjusted children/adults who are becoming confident, resilient and independent adults. They were a joy to bring up they had their moments like all children but we all had a lot of laughs along the way. The most important life lesson I taught my children is to never take yourself too seriously. There is a lot of mean spirited people in the world who loves to tear people down at any given opportunity to make themselves feel better.

Only if they went to bed at 4 or 5pm.

And that still doesn’t solve the knackered parent issue. I can’t believe we are suggesting it’s fine and healthy to get up at 4am (and watch tv for 3 hours). But here we are I guess.

By then they would have had enough sleep so probably not, our bodies are naturally wired to wake around 4am but as we get older we can go back to sleep without much waking. Plus in our house we are awake and getting ready for work so they would hear that and know its morning time.

If I can’t get back to sleep, I read. A baby hasn’t that option as they’re just here because you made them be here. The least you can do is make your choice to have them a pleasant one for them.

Do all toddlers need 12 hours of sleep at night on top of whatever naps they've had? For many kids that would be excessive.

So they learn to recognise whether or not they've had enough sleep and act accordingly? Have you met a toddler before?

.

I never once said I dont get up and comfort my child so let's not be dramatic, I know my children just like you know yours and what works for us works. You're very passive aggressive in your replies, maybe tone it down a bit

Mine slept from 7-7. Plus naps. Not excessive. They’re all different.

We’re all going round in circles but nothing can convince me that getting up the family at 4am and watching TV for 3 hours is a good idea. Each to their own though.

Yes your children did so don't apply it to all! My 1 year old gets 12.5hrs total in a day including naps and will only do more than that if unwell.

Also the TV for 3 hours thing was made up by you. I don't think anybody said they do that.

Yes I have a few myself

Ok what do they do for 3 hours? Nothing is open. They’re not going to the playground….

Play?

I said ‘they’re all different’

Of course you are. 3 hours of playing with your toddler at 4am.

Are you ok?

Tricky situation but I think you did fine. What are people expecting you to do? Allow him to go downstairs at that hour?

I probably wouldn't have used a phone (mine are old enough now that it wouldn't have been a thing when they were this age) but would have probably put him in his room with a small light on and just let him play. That's what I did with my one child who'd wake early - we had a Gro Light so he knew he wasn't supposed to get up, but he was allowed to play quietly. This was with varying degrees of success!

You also said a child can't have had enough sleep by 4/5am unless they went to bed at 4/5pm, so you were generalising and then you contradicted yourself by saying they're all different. You either have an opinion on how much sleep all other kids need per night or you don't?

I’m more intrigued by your giant bed. Does it have a ladder ? Please post a pic of bed ! 😂

Or letting them play with minimal, sleepy effort from yourself.

No -
I have an opinion that getting up at 4am is not a good idea. Because even if the kids are getting enough sleep (doubtful) then the adults most certainly aren’t.

Is that what you have done good for you. The majority would not do that.

😂 My 2 year old would not have played for 3 hours with ‘minimal sleepy effort’ from me.

I mean it’s 4am. It’s nighttime. Can’t we just accept it’s better that everyone is in bed asleep.