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Original poster

3 year old waking several times a night

11 replies

Bobbobchampagne · 01/05/2022 09:20

Hi all,
Hoping for some help from those who may have experienced similar. DS 3.5 has been waking in the night and coming in to bed with me every single night for probably a year now. At first this wasn’t a problem as he slept fine as did I, but now I’m finding it harder to sleep as he’s coming in earlier and earlier, and I don’t want to create a rod for my own back where he’s still coming in to bed with me years later!
This week I’ve spoken to him about staying in his bed, and every time he wakes at night I take him back, but he’s waking 3 or 4 times a night which seems like a lot for his age! He doesn’t nap in the day and goes to bed around 7 and settles quickly although I do have to lie with him. He has a night light, doesn’t seem to be having nightmares, just seems to want the company.
Any help would be very appreciated!

OP posts:
Nutellaspoon · 01/05/2022 09:24

Following. Do we have the same child? He says he'll try every night but 2:30 hits and he toddles into our room. I try to take him back but we get a lot of screaming and then if he does settle he's awake again in 20 mins back in our room.

Original poster
Bobbobchampagne · 01/05/2022 09:27

I feel your pain! And am slightly glad to hear it isn’t just me!

OP posts:
Nutellaspoon · 01/05/2022 19:46

Bumping as I sit in a darkened room with said toddler grappling to be near me

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Original poster
Bobbobchampagne · 01/05/2022 19:49

Maybe it’s just us 😫I have just finished the lying down until he’s asleep routine. I would estimate I have about 4 hours until the first waking (this one is usually the longest break before he wakes up).

OP posts:
Si1ver · 01/05/2022 19:54

Mine's been doing this recently. I think there's a 3yr sleep regression. When he comes in around 3/4am I scoop him in with me and he goes back to sleep with a cuddle, then I return him to bed.

Other than that we've been working with a clock with a blue moon and yellow sun, a star chart and a bribe reward after a week of staying in his bed until the yellow sun comes up.

I can cope with over visit a night, so long as my day doesn't start at 5.30am.

Nutellaspoon · 01/05/2022 20:11

Mine wakes 2:30-3 like clockwork. He has a gro clock which he resolutely ignores and just says he'll try better tomorrow! And he also wakes at 5:30 for the day. No regression here as this is 'good' - he's never slept through the night and woke every hour until 2.

I'm guessing I need to stop holding his hand to sleep but every time I try I get full on screaming and he doesn't calm down.

Nutellaspoon · 01/05/2022 20:14

Tonight I moved his bed round 90 degrees and told him that this way around stops him waking.

If that doesn't work I might try a tictac and tell him the doctor gave it to me to stop him coming into my bed.

I'm all for psychological manipulation and bribery.

Original poster
Bobbobchampagne · 02/05/2022 15:54

How did you get on @Nutellaspoon ? I had 3 visits in the night. By the 5am one I gave up and let him stay with me. Now when I take him back to his bed he at least goes straight away, but I still have to lie with him. Maybe the issue is he is too used to settling with me in the room now?

OP posts:
Keepitrealnomists · 02/05/2022 16:05

It sounds like the issue is that you stay with them until they go to sleep, so when they wake up in the night they can't get back to sleep without you. You really need to crack letting them fall asleep independently. Have a good bedtime routine, bath, milk, story and then bed. Stay for a couple of mins then leave them to fall asleep. It won't be easy but you need to he consistent and patient.

Mamof2girls · 16/05/2023 10:26

This sounds exactly like my daughter, she's been waking in the night since before Christmas (she was 3 in October) , she was a GREAT sleeper before this. I also took the gate off and let her come to our bed as well we were all so tired and I didnt want her to be waking her sister (amazing sleeper).
Anyway the gate is back, I read her a story, kiss and cuddle and sit on the floor until she falls asleep, she will scream the house down if I don't. This part is easy but she will wake about 4 times in the night and will scream for me, she will climb the gate and come to our room, I'm like a zombie I'm so tired. On top of all this i am 37 weeks pregnant and my partner is out of the house for 4:30am for work so it's all on me even though he will sometimes put her to bed. We have been doing this for 2 weeks and still no improvement, weve had the gro clock for a while but she doesn't care about it, she jusy wants me there. Sorry for the long post.
Was thinking of getting glow stars or a stars machine thing and putting it on when she wakes to help her back to sleep instead of having me there? Any help would be great 😊 xxx

Mamof2girls · 16/05/2023 10:39

Just realised this was a post from last year 🤦🏻‍♀️

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