3.5 year old waking in the night! Pls help :(

Ashlee0304 · 2021-02-01T02:13:09+00:00

Hi all, My 3.5 year old has always been a great sleeper. But since Xmas he's been waking up between 1 and 3 am crying to come into our bed. The first couple of times we let him and to be honest, we have since as well just so we can all get some rest! It's becoming a nightly occurrence now though and we really don't know what t do! I'm due to have baby no 2 in 9 weeks so I'm super anxious about how we will cope with a newborn and him waking up [confused] He has white noise on in his room, I'm not sure if it's lockdown which is somehow effecting him!? Or if he somehow knows life I'd about to change with the baby?! Husband and I have really tried everything we can think off so pleaseeeee any help would be soooo appreciated xxxx

sufur · 01/02/2021 02:17

Had the exact same problem. We bought the Gro Clock and my DD has slept through ever since. It's amazing.

Original poster

Ashlee0304 · 01/02/2021 02:27

@sufur

Had the exact same problem. We bought the Gro Clock and my DD has slept through ever since. It's amazing.

Ah really? I thought he might be a little too old to introduce this now? Just had a look online ans sold out in most places lol I guess lots of other parents have the same idea !!!! Thanks for replying xxx

OP posts:

hanahspanah · 01/02/2021 02:36

It worked wonders for my daughter at that age, in fact I can't imagine I'll be removing it anytime soon. It's certainly worth a try anyway. Best of luck!

Original poster

Ashlee0304 · 01/02/2021 02:49

@hanahspanah

It worked wonders for my daughter at that age, in fact I can't imagine I'll be removing it anytime soon. It's certainly worth a try anyway. Best of luck!

Ah amazing thank you. I've just ordered one 🙌🏻🙌🏻 praying it works x

OP posts:

KateF1107 · 01/02/2021 18:39

I second the Gro Clock, I used it with my 3 year old together with a reward system. Worked wonders!

Original poster

Ashlee0304 · 01/02/2021 19:05

@KateF1107

I second the Gro Clock, I used it with my 3 year old together with a reward system. Worked wonders!

Ah thank you. Cannot wait for our one to arrive lol!!!! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

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lovescaca · 01/02/2021 19:06

I 3rd the gro clock 👍

peapotter · 01/02/2021 19:09

I’m afraid the gro clock didn’t work for two of mine. As one said “I don’t want stickers in the morning, I just need a cuddle right now”

Small mattress on the floor, store under your bed. And try to make it dh who deals with it. Otherwise get dh to keep putting them back to bed, but I find that gets too exhausting.

lovescaca · 01/02/2021 19:17

@peapotter

Teaching discipline and independence is supposed to be easy.

lovescaca · 01/02/2021 19:17

Isnt*

PivotPivotPivottt · 01/02/2021 19:20

Also having the exact same problem so following for tips sorry I've no advice. I don't think a groclock would work on mine she's a bit behind with communication and also very stubborn.

Original poster

Ashlee0304 · 01/02/2021 19:28

@lovescaca

I 3rd the gro clock 👍

🤞🏻🙌🏻 thanks. X

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Original poster

Ashlee0304 · 01/02/2021 19:29

@peapotter

I’m afraid the gro clock didn’t work for two of mine. As one said “I don’t want stickers in the morning, I just need a cuddle right now”

Small mattress on the floor, store under your bed. And try to make it dh who deals with it. Otherwise get dh to keep putting them back to bed, but I find that gets too exhausting.

Ah it's heartbreaking, I just need something to change before the baby gets here. Think we just have to be strict, at the end of the day it's for his benefit too. Even though it's so upsetting seeing them cry 😫

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Goodebe · 01/02/2021 19:37

Mine has been doing this since September when she started nursery. I’ve taken her gate off so she can come to my bed without disturbing me. If I can be bothered I put her back and she doesn’t seem to mind that. I also have an 18m old in bed cosleeping and when her five year old sister decides she’s getting in too it really is cosy! Having said this, last night she slept through for the first time in months so I’m really hoping she is just growing out of it. I’ve had to take some things out of her room because she said they frightened her, and started leaving a night light on. Good luck op you’re not alone!

Bigoldmachine · 01/02/2021 19:44

Ours did the same as I got nearer and nearer to having baby no2. She was anxious. We just reassured her a lot and I would go to sit by her bed if she woke up til she went back to sleep. It helped and she was fine once baby arrived (has gone back to waking a bit recently - baby is 6 months and still cosleeps with us so I think it’s a bit of feeling left out. DH tends to just go into her and she’s fine with a bit of reassurance) .

Expecting a new sibling is a massive change for the first child. They can feel that some huge change is coming, they see you getting more and more tired, hear your conversations about how it will be soon, not long to go etc... it’s bound to cause a bit of extra worry in their little hearts. They just need a lot of reassurance.

Have you talked to them about what will happen when it’s time for you to have the baby? We went through it hundreds of times with DD because it eased her anxieties to know what to expect. Eg Aunty S will come to look after you, daddy will drive mummy to hospital where the midwives and nurses help me have the baby then I will come home and bring baby too.

All the best OP, it will all be fine.

Bigoldmachine · 01/02/2021 19:47

Also completely appreciate you know your child best but if I had tried to “get strict” about it with DD she would have been 100 times more anxious and would have found it even harder adjusting to new sibling. I know a lot of this is down to her personality though she is a sensitive soul and a mummy’s girl

Lazypuppy · 01/02/2021 19:49

We use gro clock, an alexa thatvplays music for her and if i've tucked her back in i just ignore her for a few mins to see if she resettles.

We've been very strict about not letting her into our bed, and we've never slept in her room

Original poster

Ashlee0304 · 01/02/2021 21:37

@Bigoldmachine

Ours did the same as I got nearer and nearer to having baby no2. She was anxious. We just reassured her a lot and I would go to sit by her bed if she woke up til she went back to sleep. It helped and she was fine once baby arrived (has gone back to waking a bit recently - baby is 6 months and still cosleeps with us so I think it’s a bit of feeling left out. DH tends to just go into her and she’s fine with a bit of reassurance) .

Expecting a new sibling is a massive change for the first child. They can feel that some huge change is coming, they see you getting more and more tired, hear your conversations about how it will be soon, not long to go etc... it’s bound to cause a bit of extra worry in their little hearts. They just need a lot of reassurance.

Have you talked to them about what will happen when it’s time for you to have the baby? We went through it hundreds of times with DD because it eased her anxieties to know what to expect. Eg Aunty S will come to look after you, daddy will drive mummy to hospital where the midwives and nurses help me have the baby then I will come home and bring baby too.

All the best OP, it will all be fine.

Thanks so much ❤️ he seems really excited but does keep saying don't worry I'll go back to my room when baby sisters here!!! Lol, I don't know what to do except try everything I can think of lol thank you xxx

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grey12 · 01/02/2021 22:25

Had my 3rd DC recently and when I was pregnant had to deal with the same issue.

I put would put DC2 in bed and sit outside their bedroom. And if she came out again I would put her back again and again and again..... I could spend a long time sitting on the floor..... but it works!!! I'm so gutted I didn't use that method earlier because I had HUGE problems with the first DC.

Start doing it tonight! Leave a pillow outside the room

peapotter · 01/02/2021 22:44

@lovescaca believe me I know it isn’t easy, but it also is ok to accept something isn’t working after you’ve given it a good try. I was giving the op another option in case the gro clock didn’t work.

Op, as pp said, you know your child. You also know your own ability and energy levels.

In my case I did the returning to bed for almost a year with one dc. This child is very anxious and looking back I should have been more sensitive to his needs and less strict.

That said, for most kids it is just a phase. Good luck with whatever you end up doing.

Original poster

Ashlee0304 · 05/02/2021 09:54

@lovescaca

I 3rd the gro clock 👍

Hey, just wondering how long it took you all for the gro clock to work? Second night of using it and he's not screaming out as much just moaning for 2 hours that he wants to get in our bed! It's always two hours as well!!! Lol xx

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grey12 · 05/02/2021 19:09

I thought the groclock worked well for kids who wake up and get out of bed too early. If your child is waking up in the middle of the night is different. Does it still work?

I found DD1 old monitor with star projection and they seem to love it. If they wake up in the middle of the night I just turn the stars on again and they look at it until they fall asleep

lovescaca · 05/02/2021 22:35

What she is he? Have you sat dwn and explained how the clock works? X

lovescaca · 05/02/2021 22:35

What Age is he*

lovescaca · 05/02/2021 22:37

I think sleeping through the night Ahmad a lot to do with what's goes on in the day. Is he well simulated during he day? What your day routine like? X