Please talk to me about toddler growing pains and waking in the night...

[champagnesupernova]

We have been struggling with 2.2 y/o DS's early waking for about a month now. (Usually sleeps fine up until that point, but does also have an annoying habit of wetting thru his nappy in the night so we sometimes have to change him)

But recently he's been waking at properly STUPID oclock -4.30 onwards[coffee emoticon]
It's a real PITA as DH gets up at 5.30 so REALLY needs that last hour iykwim

Very rarely does he get back to sleep - we've tried milk, putting lullabies on, just leaving him to cry and nothing works.

TONIGHT he woke up wet just 2.5 hours after bed time - rare for him - and was asking us to kiss it better and said his legs hurt.

Now I'm thinking it could be growing pains.

Is it common for it to affect a certain part of the sleep cycle and that is why he's waking so early?

Not sure I can do these 4am starts any more
I'm not a milkman!

Thanks in advance for any replies/advice
All gratefully received.

Bump for the morning crowd?

bump for the afternoon crwod?

Now when the day is longer try putting him to bed from 8pm; you can read him stories if you like. DO not give him much to drink. A little bit of water before he goes to bed is fine otherwise he might want to the toilet during the night and that would disturb his sleep and eventually wake him up.
Is he still using nappies? Many kids of this age still have wet nappies during the night. You could put a potty by your bed and if he starts wriggling in bed ask him if he wants to use it. But probably better not to give him much drink before he goes to bed especially juice or tea; I ask my DS to go on a potty before he goes to bed otherwise he will be wriggling in bed the whole night. Good luck.

My ds has had growing pains ever since he was a toddler (now 7) and what you describe doesn't sound like it. DS is clearly in pain, crying, wailing etc.

Does he have a daytime nap? could it be he's ready to give it up?