3 & a half year old waking in the night having previously been a super sleeper

[Jacqueline73]

Hi,

Can anyone offer any advice on how to break what seems to have become a habit for my 3 & a half year old daughter who has started waking in the night asking, amongst other things, to be 'tucked' in (even when her duvet hasn't become un tucked), to have the curtains opened some more (when they have been opened all night), to have the door opened (when the door has been open since she went to bed). Until recently she has been an excellent sleeper, we have never had temper tantrums whilst putting her to bed, we have a strict bedtime routine, bath, tv, bed time with stories, but has started to wake in the night, calling out for me, getting out of bed and whimpering outside my door on the landing, saying 'i do not like sleeping' (she watches charlie & lola, hence the language!) & generally having disturbed nights. When she doesn't wake us up she is always proud in the morning, stating 'mummy, i didn't wake you last night'.... am thinking a reward chart could be the answer but would welcome anyone else's thoughts on this. I also have a 15mth little boy who sleeps very well but whom she woke up last night.
many many thanks
jacqueline

I have had the same issue recently with my 3 year old DS.
He too had been a good sleeper, but started waking in the night and coming to my room. I'd put him straight back into bed without him complaining, but it still became a bad habit which disturbed my sleep.

In the last few weeks I seemed to have managed to break it by using a sticker reward system.
I started giving him stickers if he managed to get through the night without disturbing me. It did actually work and he now only gets up if he needs the loo or has some other specific problem.

(More than once I have heard him standing outside my bedroom door, not wanting to come in because he wants the sticker in the morning!!)

Second the reward chart, very effective with my 3.9 yo.

Exactly the same problem here with my previously brilliant sleeping 3 1/2 year old. Sticker chart has helped. And before we say good night it seems to be helpful if we run through a strategy of what she should do if she wakes up in the night - she has a conversation with her favourite toy about whether or not she really needs to wake up mum and dad. And also, one of her favourite toys sits on the pillow to watch over her at night and keep her safe. All that seems to help, and she is only coming in now and again. Also, she seems a lot worse at the end of the week when she is over tired.