has anyoe done a starchart to encourage a 2.5 yr old to not shout out in the night?

[nzbabies]

DS is 2 and a half and sometimes sleeps through but usually not. We have a newborn so dh usually goes to him but often it doesn't work and ds screams and tantrums for ages. Dh is fed up. Has anyone done a starchart reward thing for this? Thought about 5 stars (5 nights) and he gets an 'in the night garden' doll or something. Have never done a starchart before. Thinking about using it for potty training as well as he is not very motivated about that either.
He also tantrums about going to sleep at night and naps but think am having progress with "if you lie quietly mummy will come back in 5 mins and stroke your hand". Then I go back again 5 mins later. Seems to make him feel secure without me having to stay with him and without him having to scream for me to come back.
Anyway, sorry for long speech - what do you think about the starchart idea?

Hi nzbabies, I really don't think a star chart is the answer for this. I think you could usefully do some 'planned ignoring'. Just ensure he's OK and then leave him to tantrum without an audience. I know it's easier said than done, but if you stick to it, it will work. Certainly don't think about giving him a star in the night for not crying (that's a reward for waking, if you think about it) and giving him one in the morning will be meaningless because he won't remember the incident anyway. Take heart, this will get over, even if it doesn't feel like it right now! Just for reassurance, if you can afford it, you can get a fairly cheap video camera and portable monitor nowadays so you can make sure DS is not coming to harm while he's having a paddy. Good luck!

I am trying doing a sticker reward chart for ds (2.4) who is waking up in the night and screaming. It worked for staying in his own bed, but I'm not having any luck so far with the screaming in the middle of the night.
I also do the 'I will come back in in a little while', which also works, but doing it several times a night is taking its toll.
So, no real help from me, but I will lurk to pinch any advice and offer support!

Is it tantrums or night terrors? They can seem really awake during a night terror but are not. It's like sleep walking only with screaming. Fairly common around this age.