dreams

[lilybird]

does anyone else's dd/ds wake up constantly during the night through dreaming?
dd (3) is crying out about 6 times each night.
don't really know what to do to stop it.

Have had really bad few nights,with dd waking up every hour, do you think it's worth ringing HV for advice??

Lilybird, is she frightened? 3 is about the age when nightmares can start? What is she like when she you go in?

she's just alseep, crying out sometimes talking jibberish!
she doesn't seem frightened.
i just don't know what to do.
i've tried lifting her at about 10.30 to try and wake her up abit, but hasn't worked.

If she's not frightened and she's not waking, it's probably what sleep experts call parasomnia - a type of partial arousal, often caused by dreams. This type of thing is v v v v common at 2. 3 and 4 and often happens in phases. It will stop of its own accord. All you can do is go in, pat and reassure and then leave. Try not to wake her/get her too wide awake and she should go settle down easily. it's when we rush and make a big fuss that things can go pear-shaped. Hope that helps.

thank you,
do you think i should leave her to cry rather than rush into her?
just feel so tired all the time, up and down about 6 plus times last night.

Hmm. Dunno about that one. My 2.5ds is going through a similar phase (which is why I posted) and I'm too much of a wuss to leave him! But I'm sure others would...
Guess it depends how easily you can get her back. And how long it goes on for.
My ds only did the six-times-a-night thing for 2 nights in a row, and now we're down to none or one.
Have you tried not responding? What happens?

not actually left her to cry (bit of a softy) in case she makes herself worse!
she seems to go through phases where she'll sleep okay for a week then it all goes to pot for the next few weeks!
do you think it could be because she's overtired?

Could be - what time does she go to bed/wake up?
And has anything else changed for her recently? Nursery? New sibling?

new sibling? god no!!
no nothings changed, shes just had her birthday & maybe overtired didn't have any late nights but the excitement etc, may have caused it.
she goes to bed around 7/7.30, but has started waking earlier 6/6.30

Well, according to my sleep bible (you can tell I'm obsessed, can't you? [ wink] ) 11 hours is about right for a 3-year-old, so that's probably why she's waking earlier.
Afraid I can't offer you a brilliant solution for the sleep-crying thing. Sorry!
Maybe someone else will come along with one, though.
I have to go now but do keep me posted about what's happening and I'll check in tomorrow.
Good luck!

morning juliab!
well,dd was soooo tired last night,she asked to go to bed.
so turned tv off at 6 and we pottered around upstairs for a while, then she got into bed and didn't want any stories! she was asleep by 6.30!
she first woke at 9.00 and she was sat up with her eyes closed, i took her to the toilet and settled her back down, she started to cry again bout 10 mins later but i left her & she went back to sleep.
she started again at 10.00 got up a couple of times with her settled her back down then didn't hear anything til 5.30,when she was ready to get up!
early i know,but at least she's had 11 hours good quality sleep.
how did you get on?

Hi there!
Glad it went well last night.
Could you come over her now and sort out my ds3?

not saying anything too soon & on own tonight as dh away working! aargh.
think dd needs quite a while to wind down before bed, she's quite hyper in the day (takes after her dad)
your ds not sleep well last night?

It wasn't too bad really - he only woke the once but he was really upset and yelled for a good 10 mins even though I was cuddling him (usually I can get him back off to sleep straightaway).
Know I shouldn't complain but still...
Good luck tonight - shall be sending you sleepy vibes

thanks juliab, you know we'll crack this & next week it'll be a new propblem!!