Night waking nearly 7 year old....

[user1485255657]

Hi all, I'm writing this in the hope you can help / advise / empathise..... My daughter is waking each night in the early hours. Has done since the beginning of this year - we both work full-time and struggling to cope with the lack of sleep. I'm worried I'm doing the wrong thing sending her to school each day but trying to keep the routine. She is having some kind of nightmare / terror but can't seem to change the pattern. my husband thinks we should leave her to cry. I don't agree - going a little mad..

I wouldn't leave her to cry. She s plenty old enough to tell you what's wrong. If she says she is scared, then she is scared. Leaving her to cry will only make that worse.

How about leaving a lamp on in her room. Or add a dimmer switch and leave the overhead light on, dimmed down.

Does she need s furniture move in her room? There may be odd looking shadows being thrown around at night. What about giving her "mummy's teddy", who will keep her safe at night?

Thanks - will give it a go this evening. She doesn't seem to be having nightmares that she remembers anymore - more waking up - scared then calling for me. It happens anytime between 1 and 5am and can be a few times a night. always wants a cuddle to go back to sleep - might try waking her up around midnight tonight and see what happens...

If you don't like to leave lights on you can get light up soft toys which you press to switch on

Could it be night terrors? Is there a particular time she is having the episode? If so you could maybe get up before her and rouse her out of deep sleep before she had them?