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3.5YO - is this a normal stage to go through?

3 replies

Poobs2022 · 18/05/2025 06:20

My DS is 3.5YO and he has cerebral palsy so we have some delays with things like leaps and regressions etc. His sleep has always been a mixed bag and we have periods of early wake ups but we manage to ride them out and we work hard to get him back to better wake up times. For a long time he's been a 10 hour sleeper so we dropped his last nap (wasn't v long, half hour max) in the new year. Things improved greatly and he started to sleep to 6 or a little later some of the time. We went away at Easter and pretty much since we've been back, it's been a car crash. He's not only getting up stupidly early - today was 4.30 - but he's also getting up in the night and wanting to be in bed with us. We've only ever done this when he's been unwell because he used to fidget so much I'd never get any sleep. He's waking at 11pm or 1am and really crying if we put him back in his own bed so we've been relenting and just letting him sleep with one of us either in our bed or the spare room. Is this a normal phase that toddlers go through wanting to sleep with you? We are stuck in a horrible cycle at the moment because the disruption is also making him need a nap and he's falling asleep at every available opportunity. In the car, in the pram, at the dinner table (home and nursery), even on the trolley at Sainsburys! I don't really know what to do about anymore or how to fix it and I'm worried we've started a thing with sleeping in our bed. Not sure what I'm hoping for here but I guess just to know if this is a normal phase or if we've created a monster.

OP posts:
Springadorable · 18/05/2025 06:46

What time does he go to bed? It might be that you're expecting more sleep from him than he needs.

Poobs2022 · 18/05/2025 10:23

He goes to bed within the range of 6.45-7.15. He can't make it later. Last night he was trying to fall asleep at 6.45. I don't expect him to sleep 7-7, he's not that kid. But he obviously needs more sleep as he wants to nap and I don't know what the sudden night waking is about or if it's a standard stage.

OP posts:
DancingtoDisney · 19/05/2025 22:28

I think this is a very normal phase at this age - my eldest did exactly this at 3.5years. She had been sleeping through no problem and then suddenly waking in the middle of the night and wanting to sleep with us in our bed! I spoke to people at work who all said their kids did the same at this age, and I actually have a vague memory of also doing similar when I was that age too! My parents confirmed it! We welcomed baby number 2 in November last year and initially wondered if it was in response to the change but I honestly think now it would've happened either way. She's started to come in less, but we still have the odd night where she still appears in our room (some nights we barely wake and it's only in the morning we find her tucked up between us 😅)

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