Night and early waking

[Norwich]

My 3.5 year old is getting up on average 3 times a night and refuses to go back to bed. We are all shattered. Has anyone else had this

do you put straight back to bed with no eye contact?
would a stairgate on the bedroom door help?

At 3.5 I suspect he'd easily climb over a stairgate, my ds1 certainly could at that age. Also I always found the straight back to bed no eye contact to cold and a bit cruel - sorry compo

Have you asked him why in the cold light of day? Think you need to get to the bottom of why he's waking up - hungry, thirsty, needs a poo, nappy uncomfortable (if he's still wearing one), cold, bad dream? Is anything unsettling him - just started nursery, anything new in his life.

How is he refusing to go back to bed (tantrum? wants to be with you? upset?). Have you tried taking him gently but firmly back to bed but staying with him til he settles (I'm sure you will have)? Hmm, reward chart for staying in his bed or room? A night light so he can look at a book or something if he does wake. Til you know why its hards to make any other suggestions really.

Thanks guys for your messages - sorry for the delay in replying. I can honestly say I've tried everything, I've tried all everything, cold, hungry bad dream........ Last night we had an horrendous tantrum at 2:04am because he wanted me and not daddy. Then he said he needed the toilet....my husband took him and he grizzled all the way back to bed.....and then he decided he wanted to get up at 6:30am! We have however introduced a reward chart, so I've been drumming it into him tonight that if he stays in bed he will get a sticker in the morning.........let's see how tonight goes. Also forgot to mention that he has been for a full development check and they are querying Dyspraxia (clumsy child syndrome), so I am now wondering whether this has any effect on his sleep pattern. My goodness I never thought parenting would bring so many challenges/stresses!!