Getting yourself back to sleep after night waking

[salema]

Neither of my DC (18 mo and 3) are sleeping well at the moment and I’m in and out of their bedrooms in the middle of the night, plus sometimes one of them will cough or just do a single cry that wakes me but I don’t need to go in.

My issue is with getting myself back to sleep after being woken by DC. I find I’m listening out for more noises, can’t relax back to sleep and I’m often lying awake while both of them are happily asleep...any tips?

White noise and a weighted blanket. Maybe a video monitor so you can check on them without getting up

Use ear plugs. They filter out the noise you don’t need to hear but you’ll still wake up if you’re really needed.

I find that reading for a bit (nothing too exciting / scary!) send me back to sleep.

I have this issue too. Last night DS woke at 1.40am and I didn’t go back to sleep... at all.
I use ear plugs, play white noise and use deep breathing techniques. Sometimes works, often doesn’t. I feel your pain.

Reading with a black screen/white type so you get very little glare. It's now like a Pavlovian response and I fall asleep after about a paragraph.

Reading doesn’t help me unfortunately. I’ll read a couple of pages, try to sleep, half an hour later read again... this could go on until morning. Sorry to hijack OP... I’m following for tips!

Try sleep stories on the Calm app. They work for me.

I do capital cities alphabeticallly.
Or baby names. Rarely make it to Z.

Thanks for the responses. I think earplugs would make it worse for me! I like the idea that I might not wake up in the first place, but I’d be worried I wouldn’t wake if DC needed me.

I love reading but didn’t want to put light on to carry on with my book...might dig out my kindle which I never got on with but might be good in this situation. Hadn’t thought of that, so thanks @Mandarinfish and @eurochick - I’ll choose a non-exciting book!

Good luck for tonight, @Elbeagle. That is a seriously bad night! Are you warm enough at night? I ended up sleeping in my dressing gown and thick socks last night as I got it into my head that I was too cold to sleep!

Oh, more suggestions! Thank you @Maralb and @RickOShay. Definitely new ideas to try there. Fingers crossed.

I have to have white noise on and my kindle ready - I read for a bit and can usually get back to sleep at an hour max later..IF They don't start making noise again.