3 year old sudden sleep issues

[AhhWoof]

DD(just)3 used to be a great sleeper 7-7. Strong bedtime routine, dark quiet own room, sleep trained happily at 6 months etc.

About 6 months ago we removed her dummy (previously only used at night) and ever since she's been waking up multiple times. When she wakes it differs from spurious 'I need a drink' or the like to screaming 'I want to get up!!'.

I don't get her up, try not to engage too much, comfort and try to settle. But its really getting me down.

We've got a Gro Clock which she understands and are trying a star chart for not waking mummy. But I don't know what else to try!

She's fine, safe, not too hot/cold and I'm working FT and exhausted. Any ideas?

Just turned 3 is on the early side to remove her established comfort mechanism.

They develop the emotional intelligence to not need that comfort in the preschool age, so 3-5 years old. But 3 is at the very little end of that.

I would have waited longer to remove dummy.

That was under the Dentist's orders!

Maybe we screwed up, but what now?

You need to replace the comfort mechanism. It seems that you are just assuming that toddler no longer needs comfort and as I said, usually they are not ready for that just yet. So the comfort is essential, in the same was hydration and calories are.

Could you stay with her and pat/shush her? Your physical presence and closeness may help her feel comforted. At the same time you could work on establishing a comfort object - special teddy, blankie, that kind of thing. This takes time to establish though. Try to use in a consistent way, say stroking her cheek with the comforter whenever you are cuddling.

Another option us to give dummy back. It's not unusual for different branches of medicine to have to balance opposing advice. Child psychologists would argue that your harming baby's developing mind by removing dummy before emotional intelligence is developed. It isn't the case that dentistry trumps psychology, tgey just advise from different perspectives.

The dental advise is aimed at toddlers who have a dummy in their mouth all the time. Whole different ball game to those who use it for 10 mins to get to sleep and that it.

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