2 1/2 yo DD in own room now waking every 30 mins from 3am

[LCarbury]

Hello, has anyone got similar experience of a toddler (2 1/2 year old DD) going from settling fine and sleeping through fine in her own bed in her own room to not settling easily and getting up all the time from 3 am? We think it might be simple toddleritis as she is quite a strong willed little person but what should we do about it?

Last night DH and I took turns sitting by her door for 45 mins at a time each time she woke and saying "bed" until she went back - do you think this will work? It is knackering!

She can open her door and come out and open our bedroom door to wake us up. We have a stair gate for the stairs which she is fine with - do you think a stair gate on her door could work?

What does she ask for?

anything and everything is what it seems like!

Sometimes toilet - which is OK, she's in nappies at night but dry in the day so we do take her to the loo if she asks for this
"water" - was giving her this but now wondering if we should after maybe the 2nd wake up call!
"tissue" - for her nose, same as for water, was giving this
"close my bed" - i.e. pull blanket up, which we do and I am wondering again
"want cuddle" - didn't get
"Kiss my knee" - didn't get
"play toys" - didn't get
"read story" - didn't get
"bekfast" - but not before about 5am, earliest we give into this is 5.30 am

Is she warm enough? Something is waking her so she comes and finds you. DS used to kick the covers off then wake up. In the end I put an extra layer on him or turned up the heating in the early hours so he didn't fully wake. Or dh/me would sleep next to his bed and resettle him quickly - easier than taking turns. He stopped waking up. Unless something was up.

She might be too warm, actually, thinking about it. Will test that theory tonight.

DH and I used to sleep next to DS's cot for about a year and a half between 1 and this age - hopefully we won't have to go through all that again.

There'll be no DC3 at this rate!

Update - tried reducing the temperature, slight improvement

• tried feeding more before bed, also slight improvement
• now think we need to get her to do more running about in the late afternoon / early evening.

Last night she was up at 2 am and 3 am but went back to sleep quite quickly, no tantrums going back to bed, then up for the day at 5.30 am but she is really tired!

Any more suggestions very welcome!