Help - Insomniac 3 yr old!

[zoepybus]

Pleeze help, I have a DD who has NEVER slept well from the minute she entered the world. Bedtime routine is fine, don't have any battles though I do have to sit with her until she falls asleep, but this doesn't often take long. However every night without fail she'll wake up, either calling for me or just come into our bed. She'll only have me during the night, DH doesn't stand a chance of settling her and we just can't seem to get to the reason behind the waking up, it doesn't seem like bad dreams or needing the toilet or anything. I've considered the controlled crying technique so I don't have to sit with her until she falls asleep, but she shares a bedroom and bedtime with her younger dd, so having a screaming battle for hours isn't really an option. Would be grateful if anyone out there has any tips for a full nights sleep, as younger DD has started waking now too! Just want to have a full nights sleep!

Poor you My ds (3.6yrs) has always been like that too, from day 1. As if he can't stand missing out on whatever happens when he sleeps! The good news is that he now sleeps through most nights (about 5 nights of the week) because we give him star stickers for every night he sleeps through. He can collect 10 to claim a prize! He likes the concept and is also very proud to be called a big boy for sleeping all night. He is also allowed tv the next day if he sleeps all night - the thought of not being allowed to watch it was a also a big motivator for him to break the cycle! I believe that this is officially called bribery! but whatever!
It's a slow process, made all the more difficult by sleep deprivation in the parents, but we did get there in the end. He also has a little night light, which he uses less and less now that he is sleeping through. I think he uses the light to reassure himself when he wakes in the night and goes back to sleep. Sometimes he also has hot milk or sweet camomille tea at bedtime to help him drop off peacefully. I hope that helps a little. Some kids just don't like staying asleep even though they need it. It has taken us until now for him to be old enough to understand that mummy and daddy also need and like sleep, and that it is kind to let us sleep in the night!

Its aweful isnt it. But it will happen one day. DS is also 3.7yrs and like you we had to sit with him til he dropped off and get into his bed when he woke at night, also shares with DD (nearly 2), also tried different things to no avail.
However for no apparent reason last week he just started sleeping! For the past 8 days he has gone to bed, I have kissed him and left with no trouble at all (although still have to re settle dd a couple of times), he has also slept through the night, a couple of times he has woken up, had a drink of milk then gone back to sleep WITHOUT WAKING ANYONE ELSE. Its a miracle. DD is also sleeping through more often as DS is not waking her up. I have not done anything to cause this to happen so can't give any helpful advice but it will happen one day. I've had more sleep in the past 8 days than in the past 3.7 yrs. Good luck

Thanks for your responses, I know there isn't any quick fixes out there, we'll just have to hang in there in the hope she'll grow out of it! Here's to bags under the eyes and sleep deprivation . Us mums should be employed in the secret service - if we can withstand sleep torture for 3 years we can cope with anything!