Please tell me I'm not the only one 3.5yrs in and still sleep deprived!

[cbmum]

To put things into context it IS getting better but still rubbish compared to most. DD2 has strung 5 nights together where she has slept in her own bed (counting today where she shouted at 5.45 as she had wet the bed. Grrrr.) She was 3 in september. We are in that great cross over period where she no longer wants pull ups at night but has 2 or so accidents each week.

DD2 is 17months and compared to her sister has slept better since day 1. Still u loads though. Recently she's managed some nights sleeping through til 6 (I class this as morning!) but other times she wakes at 1 gets into our bed but then straight back to sleep til 6. That's all ok I can cope with that.

Was I just unlucky last night then that DD2 decided to be awake from 3.30-5.30 then at 5.45 DD1 shouted as she had a wet bed! No chance of her going back to sleep so that's me up for the day.

DH is as much use as a chocolate fire guard at night. No point going there. When he finally gets up ( he didn't come to bed til 3 I will go back to bed).

Just looking for some others who are suitably tired to get some perspective really! Thank goodness for cbeebies!

6 and half years and still counting......to be fair i have 3 kids now, and have all been useless at sleeping. Eldest is now fab and middle is not such an early riser. Just need to get the baby (almost 2) to regularly sleep through, or get past 5.30/6am.

I hoping 2012 is the year of sleep

On the pull-ups at night thing - our DD1 is at that stage of not wanting to wear them, but doing wees in her sleep.

I convinced her to wear them again by explaining to her that she was being a big girl by getting up to use the toilet at night (which she still does if she wakes) but that if she was doing wees in her sleep then her body wasn't ready to make her wake up whenever she needed to wee.

Obviously it won't solve your main problem, but it can't be nice for her to wake up all wet, or for you to have to strip a bed in the middle of the night. And since she is just not physically able to stop weeing in her sleep, it us really just pointless misery and work.

I thought DD1 was unconvinceable, but when I pointed out how horrible it was to wake up in a wet bed, and emphasised that she couldn't help it yet with lots of praise for how well she does when she does wake, I was pleasantly surprised at her response.

It might be worth revisiting, as it would help a bit :)

On the pull-ups at night thing - our DD1 is at that stage of not wanting to wear them, but doing wees in her sleep.

I convinced her to wear them again by explaining to her that she was being a big girl by getting up to use the toilet at night (which she still does if she wakes) but that if she was doing wees in her sleep then her body wasn't ready to make her wake up whenever she needed to wee.

Obviously it won't solve your main problem, but it can't be nice for her to wake up all wet, or for you to have to strip a bed in the middle of the night. And since she is just not physically able to stop weeing in her sleep, it us really just pointless misery and work.

I thought DD1 was unconvinceable, but when I pointed out how horrible it was to wake up in a wet bed, and emphasised that she couldn't help it yet with lots of praise for how well she does when she does wake, I was pleasantly surprised at her response.

It might be worth revisiting, as it would help a bit :)

No1 was not dry at night until almost 5, no2 almost 4 and not dry at night. We insist on pullups to make life easier for everyone. No2 is dry 3/4 times a week, but never in a row so no chance or removing pullups yet!

Thanks you lot. I feel a tad better and at least I have 2 happy and gorgeous girls so I need to keep perspective. The annoying thing with DD1 is that she would stay sleep through I think if the occasional puddles didn't wake her. It's usually 5.45 ish too so she's so very nearly there!

Yes, 2 lovely girls is great :)

can anyone offer advise??
I have a girl of 4 who has always slept well, and a boy of 2 1/2 who has only ever slept through about 9 times in his life! He wakes 2-5 times a night, always in a panic and automatically gets out of bed (left the cot 6 months ago as was climbing out) and comes screaming upstairs to me crying in a state. I believe it is crying for attention, like he has withdrawal symptoms from me if he doesn't have his 'Mummy fix' - as soon as i pick him up he's fine and i think it's just attention he wants, but not sure. I put him back into bed and have tried a mixture of getting cross and threatening no playdates the next day etc, or threatening to close the door completely which he hates, or just stroking him and giving water. I am on my knees with exhaustion!! having broken sleep EVERY single night. any tips?? If i shut his bedroom door he climbs on his toys to reach the handle to open it. I have tried the occasional night of Phenergen to give me a break, but cannot do that reguarly. help!

6.5 yrs here too. I could count on my fingers the number of unbroken nights sleep I've had in that time. Could you wake DD at 3 or 4am ish (whenever you are up anyway with DD2) and bring her to the toilet and then back to bed. It worked for me but that doesn't mean it'll work for anyone else. Might be worth a try.

At least you know you're not alone

Goodness knows I don't have the answers. As I said first thing today if one sleeps through the other doesn't. 3.5yrs and counting on rubbish sleep but the days of existing on 4hrs sleep (in 3 bits!) are gone and it's gradually getting better. Apart from a regular intake of caffeine (usually out in town as mine sleep in their buggy in the day mainly plus it's a good excuse to get out) and ibuprofen for the tired headaches I've used the Millpond Sleep Clinic book loads. I find it's not too preachy and is sensible in the approaches offered. Take the bits you like and leave the rest. TBH sleep albeit with a little one in bed with me is preferable to sitting by their beds in the middle of the night trying to persuade them back to sleep.

Maybe there is no connection but I've found a real improvement in both girls sleep once they could go to sleep with minimal interaction from me. DD2 has music and DD1 has stories so I can, some nights at least, leave their rooms whilst they are half asleep. Obviously I've not cracked the sleeping in their own beds thing but I figure that will come with time. 3.5 yrs in and DD1 is starting to have more nights than not in her own bed. The recent purchase of a gruffolos child calendar and big gold stickers seems to help too with her motivation!