Toddler WAKING every NIGHT

[Michelle86x]

Hello ladies,

My LG is 2 years and 8 months old. I am currently 32 weeks pregnant!

The last 6 weeks my LG has been waking up every couple of hours. To begin with she started going to bed and not wanting us to leave her.. Then she would go to bed sleep, and wake up wanting us - if we left her it was like a horror movie.. the last 2 weeks she will only go back to sleep if we stay with her.

I feel like we have tried EVERYTHING! Gro clock, controlled crying, reassurance etc etc..

My main problem is that once I have been woken up I am really struggling to then go back to sleep! Last night she woke at 12.15am and I didnt go back to sleep. Because it has got that bad, the last 2 nights my husband has slept in the spare room - then when she wakes up any time from 11pm-2am he will go and get her then take her into the spare room but I still hear him do this (even with ear plugs in my ears!) then I am awake for the rest of the night (and working)..

He has suggested that tonight when we go to bed that he goes and gets her from her bed and takes her into the spare bed with him so then atleast I am not being woken up.. However, I feel like that is just going to create more problems down the line and how will we get out of that?

Can someone pleaseeeee give me some answers!! Everyone keeps saying its just a phase she will grow out of it, but it is now effecting everything! I am constantly exhausted, emotional, no energy and My husband is also tired.. I have had to be signed off work sick for 2 weeks which has made me feel even worse!

But I feel like I have just faced a brick wall every single night... we have even tried briding her and reward charts but NOTHING is helping! Its like she is scared (but hasnt said this) and she will only settle if she is with us!

Is she toilet trained?

What bedding / night wear does she use? Could she be cold?

Does she have a lamp you could leave on all night?

She was wearing a sleeping bag on top of a 4 tog quilt but took that off to see if it made a difference but it didnt... we have tried a lamp (and a gro clock) but neither work...

Oh gosh - I could have written this post. My DD is same age and going through the same thing, I've no idea what to do! It's exhausting, you think they are over the sleep issues at this age. Apparently not.
Is there any noises in the house (heating coming on?) that may be rousing her? Changes to bedtime routine or diet? I wonder if any little change can throw them off. You mention trying 'training' techniques like controlled crying, how many nights did you try for? I've heard it can take a few nights, maybe a week, for it to be effective.

Can't offer help, but reassurance you're not alone. I keep telling myself that this, along with everything so far, is a phase... good luck!

His suggestion is spot on
She won't be doing this forever but it will be a great way to conquer any fears so she can reset her sleep habits once she feels comfortable about sleeping alone again .

Have you tried white noise?

Yes tried white noise (Ewan the sheep which we used all the time as a baby) but she is now scared of that!

I think tackling the not going to sleep alone first will be a help. Yes she will still wake in the night but eventually she will learn to sleep alone.

Could dh do gradual retreat at bedtime?

Would you suggest to put her back into her own bed (she now refuses to even settle in her bed so we put her to bed in the spare room then my husband sleeps in there with her and she sleeps through!) so would you advise to put her in her own room and stay with her until she sleeps then go back to going into her at night time? x