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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

2 Year old waking at night.

19 replies

Elliea123 · 20/01/2009 21:24

Hello everyone, here's the dilema: My dd is 2 years and 4 months, she has always been a good sleeper. She has a nap in the daytime (always wake her after an hour) and then sleeps for around 10-11 hours at night. Anyway, for the past few months she has started to wake at night and ends up in our bed. At first it was 1-2 times per week, but for the last week it has been every night. We have tried puuting her to bed later, shortening her nap time, giving her more to eat etc, but she keeps waking up and then all she wants to do is get in our bed. Obviously it's not ideal that she gets in our bed, but she always goes back to sleep then. My question is, why is she waking up in the first place? Has anyone got any advice or tips on something I could be missing, or do you just think it's a phase?
Thanks.

OP posts:

bekkaboo · 20/01/2009 21:27

Hi is this an age thing as this is our DS 2.5, im fed up with it too, 4 every morning up and wont go bed on own, ive been told a phase so far 3 weeks but feel like forever.

LilRedWG · 20/01/2009 21:28

Is she still in a cot? We found that moving DD to a bed from her cot stopped most of the nightwaking.

Original poster

Elliea123 · 20/01/2009 21:31

She was in a cot, but we took the sides off(cotbed) this weekend to see if that helped, but it didn't!!!

OP posts:

LilRedWG · 20/01/2009 21:36

Sorry - no other advice. Hopefully someone else will be along shortly.

Nellycake · 20/01/2009 21:48

I sympathise, my DD (2.6) has been waking up in the night for about the last 2 months. Very draining, but I'm assured it's just a phase. We've delayed taking the sides off her cotbed for precisely this reason, otherwise she'd be in and out of bed all night.

I try to ignore it as much as possible, and I would try to break the getting in bed with you habit - just take her back to her own bed and keep doing it. I know it's likely to be hellish to start with (I do work so I appreciate the need for sleep) but I think you'll benefit in the long run.

Original poster

Elliea123 · 20/01/2009 21:54

The other problem is that she's in our bedroom aswell as only have 2 bedrooms and have a ds (9). So she can easily get into our bed during the night.

OP posts:

cakeandwine · 22/01/2009 10:11

I have the same problem and have just been searching everywhere for answers/solutions. My dd is 2.3 and is starting her mornings any time from 4am. She then can't last the day without a nap, can hardly reach lunchtime and has fallen asleep eating. Yet at 4am she is wide awake, happy but very annoying. I have other children older and younger who need their sleep so can't just let her wake the house and street. Its a battle and I am drained. It is better to hear it may be a phase...how long does it last? Sorry no ideas Elliea123 but I'm with you in spirit.

Original poster

Elliea123 · 22/01/2009 21:40

Thanks!!! For others who have experienced this, please tell me how long it lasted?

OP posts:

Ceebee74 · 22/01/2009 21:45

Oh glad to see this is quite common at this age and that it is just a phase!

DS1 (2.6) has started waking 2 or 3 times a night - most of the time he goes straight back to sleep after coming to 'see' us but he wakes up at 4 like clockwork and will not settle!

I am doing the 'back to bed' technique with him - first night, was stood on the landing from 4.30 until 5.45 until he gave in, last night, was only 20 minutes (and I could see he was fed up after 10 minutes but obviously felt he had to continue ) so hopefully tonight will be a breeze!

However, I can see how this won't work if she is in the same room - maybe stickers/rewards for staying in her own bed? (that is my next tactic if the current one fails to work!)

insywinsyspider · 23/01/2009 20:02

ds is 2 and 8 months we had this before christmas but our problem was he was going to bed with a beaker of milk and because he's potty trained then waking when he wee'd and not being able to settle himself without coming into us and then wanting milk (vicous circle), some nights it was 2 or 3 times

we solved the early waking by putting a light on a timer (so so much cheaper than one of those bunny clock things) and it took about a week (although it felt a lot longer!) for him to stick to it - with several mornings of him telling me at 5am that his light was broken

the rest of it was 'sleep association' so we had to break him of the milk to sleep thing which also took about a week of shouting and crying - was horrible but he's now sleeping thro again and even when he wakes earlier doesn't get out of bed till his light comes on - not sure how successful that will be in summer tho!
I think it is an age thing, mums I know with lo's same age are going thro it so lots of hand holding! not sure if my post helps the main battle is trying to work out why, I guess sometimes there just isn't a reason

NancysGarden · 23/01/2009 20:17

Have there been any changes? THere was a thread a couple of days ago with a similar theme but the child was just starting at nursery.

Our DD began waking loads at night last year when we moved it took several months to calm down.

Oh sleep, it's such a big issue! You have my sympathies

FiveGoMadInDorset · 23/01/2009 20:20

DD has just started sleeping through the night having spent a month waking. Bribery is what fised it in the end, went and got sweeties, toys and said that if she styed in bed all night, she would get something in the morning, if she didn't then whe wouldn't, once she got the hang of this we then said that if she got out of bed then we would take something away, took 4 days and now she is fine. We did try a reward chart but she either didn't understand or just didn't care.

Original poster

Elliea123 · 24/01/2009 07:50

Last night DD stayed in her own bed all night for the first time in ages!!! Don't want to speak to soon though, lets hope it lasts now x

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Original poster

Elliea123 · 25/01/2009 09:57

Thought it was too good to be true, dd was back in our bed again last night!!!

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mad4mybaby · 25/01/2009 10:40

poor u! soundslike us ds (2.6) has started waking after a few hours and gets hysterical and is screaming/shouting that he wants to watcg tele and hitting etc and i get so cross as have 9 week old too. last night i ended up sleeping in his bed and i know i shouldnt have

8172 · 26/01/2009 14:19

I went through this with my son, he used to wake up every hour through the night, I was giving him piriton to make him drowsy, and the doctor prescribed sedatives as well !!. It turned out he had sleep apnea. At 5 he had his tonsils out and has been sleeping well ever since. Check his breathing at night for sleep apnea.

Original poster

Elliea123 · 27/01/2009 13:17

mad4mybaby I also ended up sleeping in dd's bed last night, it's fine to say that we "shouldn't" do it, but if you've tried everything else, what are we supposed to do!!! At least it means she didn't get in our bed, will have to think of a new plan for tonight though!!!

OP posts:

Runoutofideas · 27/01/2009 13:34

I was just going to suggest lying down with her in her bed instead of taking her into yours. At least she'll still be used to spending the whole night in her bed. Maybe she doesn't need her daytime nap anymore?

wishingchair · 27/01/2009 14:40

Gah - my dd (2.5) is the same. Last ngiht she was up from 3-5.30am saying she wanted to go downstairs for a "lickle minute". She is so stubborn she just lies there and cries, but really loud tantrummy shouty cries. She's quiet for maybe 15 mins then starts up again. Haven't taken sides off cot yet for fear of her getting up and down all night. Advice??!!

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