Toddler scared of bedroom and won't sleep past 4.30am

[Abigailsma]

i have a 2year old who keeps waking up at 4.30am and we can't get her back to sleep. About twice a week she wakes before this as well but we manage to get her back off.

We also have a 9 week old and I'm bf so my dh has been getting up at 4.30am with our toddler every day. He goes to work at 7am and is exhausted and can't handle being up at 4.30 and he tells her off and talks badly to her because he's tired.

We've tried all the Supernanny techniques, not going to her straight away etc but she's in a toddler bed and ends up running into our room and making a "nest" on my dh's side of the bed waiting for him to wake up.

Obviously this not right so I did some research and found a Children's clock which shows them when it's night time and when it's morning so time to get up. However, because my dh is so bad tempered early in the morning he cant bring himself to implement the clock with her and just barks and shouts at our dd. it's difficult for me to hear him talking to her like that so the last two mornings i've got up with her but bf as well I'm exhausted.

This morning I had a good talk with her about why she gets up and she said she was scared of the man in her room. Obviously we were freaked out hearing this and explained that daddy is the only man who is in the house (and because I'm up most if the night bf I know he's asleep).

Does anyone know what we can do to get rid of her imaginary scary man?

Is it dark in her room - would she sleep with a light on, or a night light? Or maybe you could set a light on a timer and explain that when it comes on at 4.30am or whatever time, it is ok for her to stay in bed because she is safe and the bogey man has gone.

Or what about a big toy that will 'protect' her, or erm, a reward for staying in bed until 5am, then 5.30 etc?

Sleep deprivation is a horrible thing, let us know what works for you

The clock worked with my dgs who was three in Feb.He used to wake between 4.30 and 5 every morning.The clock has a sheep and can be set for sheep to wake up at whatever time you like.My dd and her dh gradually moved sheep's wake up time 15minutes at a time over a couple of weeks and dgs was allowed in their room as soon as sheep woke up.It is now at 6.30 which suits everyone and he runs in carrying the clock and gets in bed for a cuddle before getting up.
His elder brother has a rabbit clock which performs a similar function but,having started school,dgs1 is much less likely to wake early.

Thanks for your replies I will try all u have suggested so keep your fingers crossed and I'll report back - if I can stay awake!

I think you should also go in her room with her and tell 'the man' not to come again - also you could get some lavender oil and mix with water in a spray bottle and spray this under her bed, in the wardrobe and say 'man be gone' in an authoritative tone. This is a supernanny technique as well. Helps them to believe that the unwanted visitors won't come back. Hope this helps x

Thank u luckyclee77 it's worth a try.

She told me she could see the man in a certain place in her bedroom so we cleared it and put a photo of me and my dh there and although she got up at 4am, we put her back and she got up with the sun on the clock. A little bit of progress at least!