Nearly 3 year old getting up every two hours at night

[GlummyMummy]

Since Christmas my nearly 3 year old hasn't slept through the night. She's had a cold and a sickness bug but now she's better, her sleep has gone from bad to worse. Last night she came out of her bed every two hours, and then is up for the day at 6am. Can only think it's separation anxiety as can't see any reason for it. She's so exhausted it's starting to affect her through the day-grumpy, no energy, not wanting to do anything. Her Dad and I are shattered too. Any ideas? Anyone been through the same thing?

Could one of you get into bed with her when she wakes up? When mine were that age it was much better to comfort them in their own bed - then you could sneak out after a bit and it gives them better sleep associations of their own bed as a safe place.

She's in a cot bed so might be a squash! Have wondered about sleeping on the floor in her room but didn't really want to start that. Thanks for suggestion 😃

My DS is 3 next month. If he were getting out of bed in the night I would just take him back each time. He would get the message eventually.

Thanks Insane Dame. That's what we've been doing so will keep going with it. It's just awful, worse than having a newborn again! At least a newborn naps during the day so you can get some peace!!!!

I'm lucky that my DS still graces me with two naps a week.... It will just be a 'phase' like all the other ones. If you are consistent with how you deal with it then the phase might not last long

Thanks for advice. She has been having naps a few days a week too, just because she is way down on her night time sleep, a few months ago she was getting 12 hours solid. It's a shame as her whole personality has changed with tiredness, but I don't know if it's an anxiety thing overnight or wonder about possible sleep apnea.

My DD was 3 in January. We had a terrible few weeks before her birthday where she was waking up a lot in the night. It was just a phase and hopefully you'll find the same is true of your little girl. It's exhausting!

Thanks Moonlight. She has been slightly better the last few nights, introduced a sticker reward chart but not sure how long it'll last. Bizarrely I think the clock change has worked in our favour!

Gate on her bedroom door. . Straight back to her own bed every single time. . No chat /nothing. . Tucked in. Kiss. Leave. Every time.

That's what we've been trying, though not the gate on the door part. We're off on holiday at the weekend and she'll be first time in a single bed as opposed to toddler bed, so no doubt we'll have a disrupted few nights again!