Hi ladies...
So my 2 year old has always been a 'good' sleeper... Slept through the night at 8 weeks, and minus a few night here and there, has been sleeping 12 hour nights ever since... she turned 2 in march, and approximately since then, started waking up once or twice at night... she's a pacifier baby (only for sleep and naps, not throughout the day), but she never woke up for it before. Now, she wakes up around 2,3 and asks for MILK!!! and then again, 5:30ish, MILK!!! obviously, i'm not a fan, obviously, she doesnt NEED it, and i dont give it to her, but when i offer a pacifier, she throws it on the floor and SCREAMS milk... what do i do??? normally, i let her cry for a few minutes, go back in and give her the paci again, and she takes it and goes back to sleep... I feel like i have a newborn again.... WHAT is happening/??? what do i do??? HELP ME!!! i need my sleep again!!!!
It may be time to give up her nap so she can sleep through the night. You could also leave a sippie cup with water in her crib so she can find it herself and not wake you.
I would make sure she is getting enough to eat during the day. Then before bed give her a glass of milk and tell her that this is her milk for the night-she will get some more in the morning.
Remeber she is only 2 and still growing a ton. She could be hungry. Try feeding her a high protein snack before bedtime. Stay away from anything high carb, it will only cause a lot of blood sugar fluctuations which commonly causes people to wake in the night.
Another thing to consider is if the air in her room is dry. She could be thirsty. Our middle child is a mouth breather at night and will often wake at night for a drink of water. I put a water bottle with ice and water in it next to her bed before bed each night.
Good luck and as will all things in early childhood, this too shall pass.
Try giving her some water. I know here in Az we all wake up through out the night with a dry throat, especially during the heater season or when the air outside is dry. My 2 1/2 year old began doing the same and I give him a sippy cup with some water. i figure if I wake up and need a drink why wouldn't he. She probably asks for milk because it is what she is used to drinking adn knows the feeling it has. water can do the same for her. I give my son the sippy at bedtime, it stays next to his bed so if he wakes up and needs a drink he knows it is there and he can then go back to sleep
Is she hungry?
Wet diaper/underwear?
Bad dreams?
Cold? Blakies kicked off?
Mine went through that. I made sure he had a dry diaper right before bedtime (and I mean rightbefore), some small snack (crackers n cheese), last bottle of milk, his blankies, we would always do the same bedtime ritual (dim lights, hit the dream weaver above his bed, say goodnight to dad, sister and his stuffed animals etc).
When he would cry, I would go in there, soothe him and stay for a few minutes until he fell back asleep. Mostly it was bad dreams.
Oh and be sure she has a nightlight? That helped my son if he woke up and was scared of the dark.
He was inevitably still sleepy and would fall back asleep shortly.
Re-tuck him in.
My son is the same...great sleeper, but no pacifier. He started waking 6 or so months ago too asking for milk.
Instead of milk, I give him a sippy filled 1/2 way with water when he goes to bed. He actually needs it as a "lovey" and not because he's thirsty. And if he does get thirsty, water is in it.
Good luck!
My daughter just turned 2 in March also, does the binkie and lovie for naps and nightime only as well, and has been doing the same for almost the last month or so. With her, I think it is wanting to be up and see mom and dad, or maybe even play. I know she is tired but seems restless and has a hard time falling back asleep without one of us in her room. She also started coming into our bed when she wakes up, which normally is not something we allow, just because we don't want to get in the habit. I happen to be 37 weeks pregnant, and it is not a battle I can fight in the middle of the night anymore...as long as she falls right to sleep, we would let her in our bed for an hour or so, then put her back in her room. She has also started resisting naps, which I know she still needs. I think it is becoming an autonomous 2 year old, and learning how to push boundaries. I would take some advice too!
Does she have her molars already? Mine is 14 months old and doing the same thing... we are waiting/praying for the eye teeth to come out... good luck
Waking a few times a night is normal. Some kids just go back to sleep, others realize they are thirsty, others call for mom. What you do depends on your parenting style. You could leave a little liquid by her bed but then you run the risk of her spilling it and then you have a wet bed. You could let her cry and deal with it just like another tantrum or you could just give her the milk and ride it out. Each night you could give her a little less at a time and at some point she may realize that its not worth it. That's how I weaned my son.
