2.5 Yr W/ Crazy Sleep Changes

Just a post to let you know you aren't alone. My daughter was a great sleeper from 6 weeks on. She even did well in her hip dysplasia body cast - slept through every night but the first for 12 weeks! THEN we took her out of her crib just after 2... and she gets up ALOT. I've struggled with what to do - gate her in her room? keep putting her back down no matter what? I've decided that I will read her to sleep and go to her when she needs me. It's not hurting her at all. I'm just a bit sleep deprived (some days more than others). I guess my only advice is to follow your gut. I don't thing there is a "right" answer. Just try to figure out what the little guy needs - is he afraid of the dark, or just being along etc... then do what you feel is right. I remind myself that there will be a day she doens't want me there as much so I'm enjoying it now - even if it's at 2am!!!! Good luck.

A previous post suggested night terrors, but you've ruled that out - he is awake and conscious (and they usually aren't with night terrors), and he's calm, just insistent that you be there. You and your hand are his soothing mechanism - he is not self-soothing, and that is going to continue to be a problem. If he were sick and dealing with a fever, then of course you would do what was necessary until he got well. But I am worried, as you are, that you are setting up a pattern that will be impossible to break. I would send your husband in at least part of the time, at least on the weekends when he can afford to miss some sleep. See if rubbing his back or head just for a minute will substitute for holding his hand until he falls asleep. Just a few calm words like "It's night time, go back to bed, time for sweet dreams" or whatever is your pattern, but not actually holding his hand constantly. He needs to put himself back to sleep. My guess is that the 2.5 hours is part of his natural sleep/wake cycle, just like everyone else has, and he's waking himself up further to call for you. I know you can afford to be forgiving with your sleep, but at some point your sleep deprivation becomes not only an irritant, but a driving hazard - there are many reports in the news about sleepy people at the wheel, and we all need to take better care of ourselves! So, if you won't CIO, then send in Dad! He needs to be a little more comforting than feeling it's ridiculous (though I understand his perspective!!) but perhaps his gentle firmness (oxymoron??) will do the trick! Good luck.

They start having night terrors around this age. My 3 year old daughter was a great sleeper also and probably 5 months ago started getting up everynight and bringing her pillow and blanket to our room and going to sleep on the floor next to our bed she's getting better at staying in her room longer so I'm hoping she's starting to get over it.

I want to let you know you're not alone. My son is almost 5 and my daughter is turning 3 this weekend, and sleep in our house seems to be getting worse for some reason this season as well. Maybe it's just because we've had more colds this year then last, who knows.

My son that has always been a wonderful sleeper since we did do the CIO with him when he was 8 mo old or so. Now since he was sick in Dec./Jan with a bad cold has been waking up 2-3 times a night crying for us that he's afraid of something under his bed. (and he has always slept with a dim light on in his room, and won't let us turn it off) We have to take the flashlight out and look under his bed then of course by then we have to do a potty thing, then he goes back to sleep, It's crazy and I have no idea what to do. It's better when my husband goes in to deal with it then me. It goes quicker for him for some reason.

My daughter (almost 3) has never really slept well. We've tried CIO, she cries for 3-4 hours! I think we've figured out that if anything is bothering her (ie. runny nose, cold, ears, eczema) she just doesn't sleep well. And now she's decided that she doesn't want to sleep with a pull-up on, so she actually gets up at one point during the night, doesn't go to the bathroom all the time, but takes her diaper off, puts on underwear and new pjs, and goes back to bed, so then she ends up waking up early because she's wet her bed. Sometimes she'll wake up because she has to go to the bathroom so I think that's part of why she's waking up at this age. Kids are crazy. I keep remembering what a friend of mine told me once "it can't last forever". Although it seems like it will, it doesn't.

One last thought is napping. He might be ready to get rid of his nap and go to bed earlier. My daughter does sleep better when I can get her to bed earlier and skip her nap. But our weekday schedule doesn't allow for it as much as I'd like.

You should definitely take turns with your husband though. That will hopefully let you not be as drowsy during the day. Even if you're a SAHM that doesn't automatically make you the one that has to suffer more. You're both parents, you both made the decision to have a child. I've been a SAHM and a work outside the house mom, both are difficult. Sharing the nighttime duties I would think is something that you guys should consider.

Good Luck! I look forward to seeing what others have to say.

If you won't do cry it out, which is totally your choice, I think you just need to wait it out. I never found that any of those in-between things worked very well. It will pass, but it might take a while. And if you get really sleep deprived, you can always change your mind and do CIO later.

Speaking from experience....Suck it up and do the cry it out method. With my first child we went through what you are describing. I just dealt with it and we are STILL dealing with it at 4 1/2. I did things alot different with my 2nd child, and trust me, it's better to deal with it NOW. I know it's hard on you, but it will be alot easier at that age than at 4 1/2. Your child is testing you and seeing how far they can wrap you around their finger.

My 3 year old still wakes sometimes at night and we co-sleep.

All children are different and I don't see anything wrong with your son waking to want his mommy and be soothed. I will agree with you that you are doing the right thing by soothing him and that "this too shall pass".

Good luck.

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