5 yr old ds constantly wakes up during the night for reassurance

[Chick277]

I've tried tough love but he just cries and cries and makes himself sick so then I have to get up and change him and the bedding. This happens 2/3/4 per night and it's crippling me. Help!

Can you not take him in with you for a few days until he settles down? This is very common and my own 5 year old went through the same thing.

I'd do rapid return.

Every time he wakes, get up to him immediately you hear him. Don't be angry or cross with him, but also don't engage with him. Just immediately return back to bed, kiss, say nan night, sleep time now and leave.

Repeat a million times. Eventually he'll get the message.

As an aside, is he trapped in the room with a stair gate or similar? Just with you mentioning him staying despite screaming. If that's the case, it's not helping. Make it so he can always get up and come to you if he needs to, but once you've ascertained there is nothing significantly wrong, just return him quickly and with minimal fuss.

He shares a room with his brother so he isn't alone. I've tried the return to his bed and leave and he then cries and makes himself sick! He has been in with me but as soon as he goes back to his own bed after a few days he immediately goes back into the same old pattern

If it was me, I'd set up a floor bed in my bedroom.

He used to sleep in his bedroom it's only
Been the last few months like this but it's every night