Toddler waking during the night

[Broucek]

Our 21month DS has started to wake up in the middle of the night, wide awake in his cot, wanting entertainment. He resists all our attempts to get him back to sleep - he hates coming to our bed but will go quiet when we shhhh him, only to compain loudly when we stop or walk out. Eventually he will exhaust himself to such an extent that he will sleep again. This can take up to 3 hours! All of this will make everybody grumpy the following day and thge cycle goes on. Occasionally he will sleep all the night through, if only to prove that he can do it if he wants to. Help!

Oh dear, this sounds very upsetting for you. My Ds was a terrible sleeper too and the one thing that did help him was a night light, also i think this little man may have you right where he wants you. I know it is very hard but persistence is a good way to be. Try and be tough. go to him and then leave straight afterwards and leave him for a while before re-entering to settle him again. You could try control crying, time it everytime you leave him, try 2 minutes then settle him, then 3 minutes and settle him and so on. It will work eventually but you have to be prepared for it to take up to 7 nights or maybe longer to work, but he will get it in the end! its difficult i know, i have spent nights myself crying in the next room listening to my little one, but it will be happy endings! good luck!

My DD started doing this when she turned three I started putting her to bed an hour later, fixed it straight away shes almost four now and had no more problems.