3 1/2 year old sleep issues

[jdr1234]

My DD has never been a great sleeper and always woken in the night almost every night. I was wondering if anyone can recommend anything they have done to help night waking in this age. Sometimes she is back to sleep within minutes other times (like tonight) we are almost at 2 hours!
im also at a loss what to do in the night as she screams for me to lie with her and worried this is just making her unable to self soothe and therefore calling for me the minute she wakes in the night.
any advice welcome

At this age you can do a placebo for nightmares "I've been speaking to the doctor and she has said you're sleeping the wrong way round" move pillows round the other end of the bed and nightmares may stop.

You could also try audiobooks. We have them playing all night. Enid blyton ones are long running.

But I'd also look at physical things too. Sleep apnea, adenoids etc.

Is she still napping? If yes you want to stop that because it can become a crutch for poor night sleep and lead to her tapping out her total sleep needs.

Has she seen the GP to have tonsils and adenoids checked? If enlarged they can cause sleep apnea which can cause night wakes.

Does she go to sleep on her own at bedtime? You can’t expect her to manage it at 3am if she’s not doing it at bedtime.

You can definitely try placebo nightmare cures as suggested by PP. Also a groclock so she knows it isn’t morning. A yoto or tonie maybe so she can put on a story herself.