HELP!!! Dont know what to do!

[Gem021]

My dd 5 months, has just started waking up at 3am wanting to play, if i leave her she just cries, and as soon as i pick her up she stops crying and starts babbling on, shes done it for the past 4 nights now she stays awake for at least an hour shes not hungry she just wants to play.
She normally sleeps from about 8pm until about 8:30am, shes got her 2 bottom teeth and ive tried rubbing teething gel on her gums but that doesnt seem to help!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks. xx

When mine have done this, I've brought them into bed with me, kept the light off and tried to doze, every now and then surfacing to remind them to go back to sleep. Breastfeeding them back to sleep sometimes works too.

oh it's hell isn't it.

Honestly? I think the only thing you can do is to behave as if it's night time (which it is!) - no lights, no talking and minimal picking up. If you can bare to, I would not pick her up at all. Make sure she's not sick / doesn't need a new nappy etc and then just let her shout. She'll get the message much more quickly.

If she has been sleeping through the night prior to this happening then you know she can and that she is probably not hungry. As Mrstriangle said, you have to behave as it is night and not let her get into the mindset that she will be entertained if she cries. She may have got out of sync if she's teething or ill, but there will always be something so she will need reminding of what you expect from her at night.
I would keep the light low or off if you can see, lay your hand on her and say " shhh, night time, go to sleep" in a soothing voice. After a couple of minutes I would leave. After about ten mins repeat if necessary. I suppose this is controlled crying and I'd only do it if you feel she's fine and well but got out of routine or is trying it on. You know your baby so you must do what you feel is right. I used this technique with my 3 DC and it worked beautifully and all three sleep for 12hrs in their own beds without any fuss. (but it may not suit you so do what you feel is right.) Good luck. x

i did excactly the same as flamingobingo

all three of mine have done it, and all 3 have stopped in a fairly short space of time

I've done a similar thing - just gone in and held her hand, lights off no talking. just by keeping everything dull and boring seems to reset DD!

Thanks everyone, shes stopped waking at 3am and is now waking at 6:30am so not as bad but she has a stuffy nose and a cough so i think its just that waking her up.

Thanks again. xxx