2 1/2 year old suddenly waking

[pammie01]

My little girl has never been the most settled sleeper but has always gone off to sleep beautifuly at bed time and wakings are normally breif and easy to deal with. However a few nights ago she suddenly decided she was frightened in her own room and keeps getting up to come into our room. I have put a dim light on in her room and also on the landing but it doesnt seem to have helped alot. I have responded so far by comforting her with a cuddle and reassurance but telling her she cannot sleep in mummys bed. I have also sat in the room while she settles but she still gets up so I am placing her back in the bed repeatedly at which point she becomes hysterical and turns into a wild beast! She kicks 'I need you mummy' and other guilt inducing phrases! and clings onto my clothing,it is physically impossible to lay her in the bed. Has anyone else had to deal with similar? I dont know where to draw the line between giving re-assurance/ comfort and being firm about boundarys / not letting her take advantage (which I suspect she is beginning to)and things getting out of control. Any comments/suggestions or success stories gratefully recieved.

God yes, sorry you're going through this emotional turmoil too! Our DD is almost 2.5 and is going through the same kind of night terrors, and screams like a mad banshee. Very hard to know where to draw the line between comforting and keeping her in her bed. Often I try to totally distract her with something else, like taking her to the loo or looking for a toy (which I know I can find easily but that she doesn't already have in her bed) and get her to focus on that for a bit, then pop her back into bed, give a reassuring kiss and a few pats and walk confidently (!) out of the room saying "see you in the morning, love you".

DD1 did the same and got over it after a couple of months - although at nearly 4 we still have night lights on so my greenness has gone out of the window on that front!

There are a few things you can try:

(1) A monster spray bottle - a normal water bottle with 'monster deterrent' written on it - fill with water, ideally with a few drops of lavender or similar in so it smells. Hand to child so they can see off the monster
(2) More exercise in the day so your child is physically exhausted and has less wakenings during the night in which to get scared.
(3) Leave the door open and a light on. Then sneak in later and turn them off. DD still has a touch light at night which she loves being able to control easily so it's not too dark (we live in a no street lights place, it's very dark).
(4) Wait a few weeks paying no heed to the performance, just shush it's time for bed'ing and it goes away. :)