2 Year Old, Former Good Sleeper, Frequent Night Waking Now. Help!!

Updated on June 17, 2008
E.M. asks from Framingham, MA
6 answers

Hi everyone,
my daughter, who recently turned two has been waking up a few times during the night. She used to be a very good sleeper (down easily around 7:00, slept right through all night, since about 8 months old!). Now, as soon as we put her in, she cries and wants her diaper changed (I have recently stopped the sippy cup of milk at bedtime, no fluids after dinner time). As soon as we change her, she goes right down.

She wakes up twice every night to have her diaper changed; sometimes around midnight (could be 1 or 2 am!!) and then again around 4 or 5am. As soon as I change her diaper, she goes right back to sleep. (but it is much harder for me to get right back, I am exhausted!!)

My daughter is not potty trained although she is in pull ups and is very interested in the potty (she sits at least once a day and likes to put her poop in the potty and flush it away). She shows no awareness of being wet during the day.

So - should I seriously be potty training her now? How do I make the night waking stop?
Any thoughts or perspectives you may have on this will be very much appreciated. I find I am often tired and cranky lately!! I didn't mind getting up with her when she was a newborn, but we gave that up so long ago, I just didn't expect it back like this!

Thanks so much,
E.

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K.P.

answers from Boston on

Hi there, I would try potty training her and see what happens...If she is that aware of what is going on down there it couldnt hurt. But if she is waking up because she feels wet maybe try getting those type of diaper/pull ups that pull the moisture away so they dont feel wet at all. I cannot think of the name but maybe another mom reading will! Are her diapers really saturated when she wakes or not really? If they arent too wet, maybe just tell her, your still dry, go back to sleep and I will change you in the morning? I do not know where she is verbally and what not. Good luck, I know how you feel, although my little guy isnt as old, only 8 months, he is a waker too and it gets really tough sometimes!

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K.F.

answers from Boston on

I went through the same with my now 7 yr-old and now 4 yr-old daughter. Part of the issue is your daughter is getting what she wants so she she has no reason to change her behavior pattern. I remember putting my daughter back into bed wet diaper or not. No conversations and very minimal interactions. Not even a negative "This is not ok" because even though this is a negative statement it is still stimulating and a reaction to her behavior. So when my daughter would wake, I would take her hand and guide her back to bed. And then I would let her cry. Then if the crying continued, I would reassure her after 10 min and then 20, and so on...She would tantrum and I would pick her up and put her back in bed...This takes a few very exhausting nights but eventually it settles in.

Even if you potty train them, they are not necessarily potty trained throughout the night for another year or so.

Good luck!

---K.

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L.S.

answers from New London on

Use a regular diaper at night, not pull-ups, which let the kids know when they are wet. Regular diapers will hold more and more comfortable when wet. This might help. Also, she may be teething. Kids get some teeth at two. Make sure she gets enough to eat during the day, she may be waking because of hunger. Just a few ideas to think about. Good luck.

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A.G.

answers from Boston on

Definately start potty training her now. the older she is, the more stubborn she could become and the more difficulty you'll have. You're off to a great start if she does #2 in the toilet already. My 3+ year old still occasionally poops in her pants and I can't tell you how frustrating this is.

I'm sorry I have no advice for getting her to sleep through the night. But perhaps she is hot. Maybe the heat is making her uncomfortable in her diaper. Though it could also be an attention issue - maybe if you actively involve her more in the changing process, she'll think it's not so much fun anymore. However, if she really is uncomfortable in the diaper because it's wet, just go with it - anything that speeds up the potty training now can help you.

Good Luck.

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K.C.

answers from Springfield on

the first time you changed her diaper at night, were you suprised she asked? it could be just her "excuse" to get some more mommy time, in the middle of the night. i dont have a lot of advice, since my two year old also doesnt sleep through the night but never has, so we are used to it here, occassionaly he pulls an almost all nighter.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from Boston on

Energy levels change as I found with both my sons. The best thing we did was make sure there was enough physical activity during the day. We basically wore them out!

Best of luck,
S.

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