3 yr old waking during the night

[tealeaf]

Has anyone got any good tips? my little boy just turned 3yrs, gets up a couple of times during the night, he just comes in to our room, wants his daddy to take him back and settle him. He usually settles quickly and doesn't cry but dh eventually ends up sleeping in the room with him (we have a spare bed in there). Is this just a phase? we are exhausted from the constant disrupted nights, how can we encourage him to stay in his room if he wakes during the night?

You could try one of those clock thingies that changes colour or whatever when it's time to get up in the morning and then bribery/reward if he stays in bed until then?

Also I think you or dh should make it as boring as possible when he does get up so as little interaction as possible, just straight back into bed, 'back to sleep, see you in morning' and then dh back to his own bed. (I know this is easier said than done).