3 YEAR OLD NOW SLEEPING ANYMORE!

[VAN1]

Hiya, Can anyone1 help? My 3 year old has become so attached to me at night - he only wants me to put him to sleep (lie with him than I have to leave room quietly), which has worked well for a long time, but now, as soon as I leave the room after 30 mins or so of trying to put him to sleep he notices and then wakes up and I have to lie with him for ages. He is up now wide awake wanting me to lay beside him for hom to get to sleep - but I am getting fed up now as its been almost a week of this, ( I am also trying to plan for 2nd baby - so this doesnt help!)

He also always gets up once at night and normally I bring him straight in my bed, so I have to break the assocation and habit we have got in to, know the answer, but dont know best way! Do you think the gradual withdrwal method will work in this case, but isnt it hard in the 1st week or so because they might refuse to sleep and can get ill, bad tempered etc etc, or prob worth it?

I'd follow the gradual retreat and rapid return method.

Gradually each second/third night move furthur away from him when you settle him in the evening until you can be outside the door, have no eye,physical or verbal contact with him.

When he wakes in the night swiftly with no talking return him to bed and leave.

In doing these 2 things together you are teaching him a new way to settle himself to sleep.

You will have a few days of less than perfect behaviour but it can all be changed in a week or so with often amazing results after just a few days.

Consistancy is the key, when you start you need to see it thru and not weaken/give in.

Thanks for this advise - will try 2nite!

I can't really offer any advice, but wanted to sympathise as I have a similar problem - except my DD (2.5) wakes up lots of times every night. I try so hard to take her back to her own bed every time but then when its the fifth or sixth time that she (and I) have woken up and its 3am, its really hard. She often ends up sleeping in my bed or I fall asleep in her bed when I'm trying to settle her. I hate the fact that it has come to this and I'm at my wits' end - I really don't know what to do.