Hi,
My DS has been used to going to bed in his room at night but then waking in the early hours and coming into our bed for the rest of the night.
We started sleep training 3 weeks ago as I am 33 weeks pregnant and need / want him to sleep in his own bed all night. I can't sleep well with him in the bed he thrashes around a lot!
So far he still goes down to bed fine and self settles to sleep but is waking 3 or 4 times between midnight and 6am (he has a gro clock and sun comes up at 6am, at which point he knows he can come in our room for cuddles).
When he wakes he either cries out for me from his bed, or comes into our room to get me. He's stopped asking to get in our bed which is good, but needs me to take him back and tuck him in. He always wants me to stay with him (have tried this but he stays awake to check I'm not going). I have been waiting til he's calm then telling him if he lays quietly for 5 mins I'll come back and give him a kiss and a cuddle. The last few days when I go back after 5 mins he's asleep.
However he's now started waking between 5-5.30am and not going back to sleep, meaning he and I are both shattered.
Is it worth trying rapid return with barely any / no verbal communication? Will he get the idea I mean business and it's not a negotiation?
He will cry if I do it, as well as pulling out the 'I'm scared, need a wee etcetc' to get me to talk, which he tried the first week and has now stopped.
If he cries in his bed do I just leave him unless he gets out again?
Help!