I want more juice!

[cherry]

I've just found mumsnet and have to say i think its gr8 and your London meet-up sounded great fun! Anyway I'll get to the point. My 4 y/o dd is slowly killing me! Every night I have the same carry on getting her to sleep; she'll appear downstairs about half a dozen times before she goes to sleep, either wanting a cuddle in bed, juice, or more often than not both of the above!

But thats not the end of it.
She'll be sound asleep, I'll be watching tv or whatever winding down before I go to bed, and the chances are as soon as my head hits the pillow there she'll be, wanting more juice and tucked back into bed, and we'll go through the same thing another three or four times before morning.

You can imagine what this is doing to me, it's like having a newborn that can walk and talk. Anyone have any ideas how I can get her out of this dreadful habit???

Cherry, I don't know about some of the other problems you are having but we have encountered the middle of the night juice requests with DS aged 3 and 4 months. After he has gone to bed and had his teeth brushed etc the only thing we let him have is water, he is not terribly happy about this but it stops him asking as he now knows that is all he will get. This way if he asks for a drink we now know he really needs it, he is unwell or something.

You have my sympathies, this must be driving you mad.

Thanx Demented I'll give it a try

I'd like to back up Demented's message. My 4 year old ds would wake up regularly in the middle of the night, come in to our bed and demand juice. I gave it to him so that I could get back to sleep. After about a month of this, I realised I was rewarding him, so I started refusing. We did have fights for a few nights. As he was out of night time nappies by then, I told him he was more likely to wet the bed if he drank too much juice. He doesn't wake up anymore and we all get a good night's sleep. I do give him a beaker of water just in case he is thirsty.

Thought I'd give you an update... After Demented's suggestion on Monday I thought no time like the present, I'll give it a shot tonight. Instead of offering water, I told dd to go back to bed she was NOT getting any more juice (this was 11.30pm). Then at 3.30am she woke up again, went to the toilet then came thru to my room. She asked for more juice so I went downstairs, filled her cup with water, and told her there was no juice left.
I don't think she believed me at first and was rather upset, so I had to give her a cuddle in her bed to calm her down. She went back to sleep about half an hour later, and I didn't see her again until 8am... and the water had barely been touched!
I won't get excited, it was only day one, but its a good start! Thanx, Demented!

Glad to have been of help. Hope the success continues, would imagine it might take a few more nights! Here's to unbroken sleep!

It's funny how you can't think of the simplest solutions yourself sometimes!
Last night wasn't too bad either, dd appeared at 3.30 not knowing what she had woken for, so I quickly popped her on the toilet and put her back to bed. As I went out the room she asked for juice, I told her she couldn't have any to which she replied "Oh, bother!", turned over and went back to sleep!
I'm expecting a bad night pretty soon, but so far so good!

I'm amazed! Dd has gone to bed without her precious juice cup! She says she's too big to have drinks in bed now! Definately in shock! Even more so that she hasn't got back up once!

Dear Cherry, haven't got time to read the replys, so forgive me if I am repeating anyone, your mail cuaght my eye as we have just had the same thing. Ds was drinking so much apple juice it was getting ridiculous and of course he was waking in the night a few times for it too. I knew all we had to do was give him water instead and try and get through a few painful nights but the time was never right and we kept giving in. I was very concerned for his teeth too as he was having it in a bottle. I swapped the apple juice for white grape juice during the day, same way with a bit of water in it, he knew it was different but didn't mind and from that day I only gave him water if he woke up. As was predicted he stopped waking up for the water and most nights sleeps through. It took two horrid nights but it was worth it. As for the white grape juice he doesn't seem to want half as much as he did with the apple and as an added bonus, he started eating too. Now maybe you could try changing to grape as I am told it is not as adictive as most other drinks. Choose a weekend perhaps when you don't have too much to do and aren't so desperate for sleep and stick to your guns! Godd luck

Having a nightmare tonight. dd slept fine til about an hour ago, has been up and down since then. she won't settle, has got a runny nose and she WANTS juice. so yes tonight i have given in, but i need sleep! going to hopefully get some rest and try again tomorrow.

Cherry, I feel for you, this must be the couple of difficult nights starting. However if she has a cold she very possibly did need a drink last night, did she get up again during the night?

It was nearer 2am by the time she settled properly. I could barely see I was so tired! She went thru til 7am, came thru to me and we went into her bed for a cuddle. Woke at 9am with 15 mins to get ready and get dd to playgroup! Then had to get back for 9.30 for wasp man coming (we think we have a nest). I'm not having a good day.

Dd has just got up, forgot where she was (due to medicine making her drowsy I think) and pee'd all over the floor at the top of the stairs! At least she's realised she's drinking to much - she said "I don't think I should have any more juice, mummy". Bless

Aw cherry, sounds like you are having a hard time of it! My only input would be to continue as you have been, and try to stay strong. Be tough and say no to juice at night (cos even giving in once will let her think it is worth persisting "just in case" you might give in eventually!) Tell if she is thirsty she can have water. The two choices are: water or no drink at all! Juice is simply not an option. And of course she has to go straight back to bed. It probably started as an attention-seeking/delaying tactic and has become a bit of a habit.

The other thing I suggest is taking her to a dentist, if you haven't already had her first check-up and on the quiet ask him/her to mention to your dd that juice isn't very good for her teeth at night, and after she brushes her teeth she should only have water. Not to scare her you understand, but sometimes a voice of authority other than mum can do the trick!

Good luck, sounds like you are on the right track already!

Forgot to mention, cherry - welcome to mumsnet!

Thanx mollipops, good thinking about the dentist. We've had to do things like that before, when she insisted on taking toys to playgroup and they allowed her to. Got them to tell her it wasn't a good idea and she never asked again!
It was difficult when she wasn't well but I'm trying to be stronger with her tonight. She's drugged up now so I'm hoping she'll go right through!

I'm so pleased I just have to tell everyone... dd slept all night last night! I can't remember the last time that happened!

I'm so pleased I just have to tell everyone... dd slept all night last night! I can't remember the last time that happened!

Great News Cherry, it is so hard, I swear there were nights I would have given DS Baileys or something just to get some sleep.
This too shall pass, just be firm and ride it out it will be so worth it in the end. Best of luck!

Just to tell you my excellent news... dd has slept right through every night since friday, she's even going to sleep earlier! Thanx for your advice all x

Just to tell you my excellent news... dd has slept right through every night since friday, she's even going to sleep earlier! Thanx for your advice all x

oops!

Wonderful wonderful! Well done - hope it keeps up!

Brilliant news!