Daughter Waking Every Night

I also think it might be growing pains. My mom tells me I used to sit up in bed and scream and cry because of them. Since it started suddenly I would think she might have growing pains.

My daughter had the same problem around 3. She's very tall and her daddy had growing pains as a child, so we gave her Motrin so she could sleep, but started giving her Calcium supplements. Also, she has had issues with leg cramps from time to time, so we make sure she eats a banana nearly every day. She is now 5 and we haven't had a problem in a long time.

Hi N., provided it has nothing to do with the other issues below (potty training, illness, etc) then I have some advice for you. My daughter had issues with waking up everynight for almost 2 years (age 2 to 4). After conferring with a pediatrician that specialized in sleep problems I was finally able to resolve the issue and my daughter has been sleeping through the night for over a year. If you put them in your bed once they want to do it all the time. After all, you two are pretty much her life right now...she would much rather sleep in your room than anywhere else. I had to tell my daughter that she had to be quiet and go to sleep or mommy would have to shut her door. When I did, I checked back in 5 minutes and told her again that she needed to be quiet and go back to sleep or I would shut the door for the rest of the night. I had to close it all night but only once and then she realized she wasn't getting her way anymore and that she would have to be quiet if she wanted the door open. I also told her that there was nothing to be afraid of because mommy could hear her over the baby monitor. You have to be firm and consistent and unfortunately, you might have to suffer with hearing her upset for a couple of nights. Goodluck, I hope this helps.

She might have to go to the bathroom? Or, she is stuffed up and can't breathe comfortably.

My son almost 4 does the same thing because he has to go potty too. We take him every night before we go to bed and I don't think he even really wakes up. Too if you think she might be cold u should get her some if those thick pj's and see if she will sleep with house shoes ( slippers) on. So when she does kick the covers off she will still be warm. My 16 mo. Old has issues sleeping and I am racing this really good book called healthy sleep habits happy child by Mark Weissbluth. Very good book. If not for anything else but to understand children and sleep!

Hi N.,
I can certainly sympathize with your issues. As a mom of 12 I have experienced most everything there is in raising my children. One thing that comes to my mind with children around this age that disturbs their sleep is "pinworms"...very common in children under age of 5. These little varmits cannot be readily seen but can cause havoc with a child during the nite time. If you have not already done so, you might ask your Dr. about them .....he can explain how to determine if this is the cause or not.....and give you the remedies. One way you can see is to check her stool often- you can;t see them at nite but they can really be active causing your daughter to have her sleep interupted several times during the nite.
Good luck

Has she been sleeping with you? It sounds like she might be dreaming. If there is any way to separate the children and let her get through it on her own. What have you been doing to stop it?

Do Not bring her into your room. This will start a problem that will bring more problems. As such as when mom and dad want to have some alone time. Play a radio with some soft music for background sounds so she will hear that and go back to sleep. Try it. It may work for you. Good luck.

This sounds familiar as my little girl started doing the same thing after she was potty trained. Is she potty trained? My little girl would wake up crying, sometimes shreaking with no explanation. She wouldn't tell us what was wrong either, it's like she wasn't truely awake or something. Anyway, after much frustration and grouchy days because of the lack of sleep I figured it out. It just came to me one day, but the next time she woke up it worked, and has ever since (but it's rare now)! Her problem was she needed to go potty. We would make sure she went right before bed, and then if she did wake up we would sit her directly on the toilet, she would go, and she was alseep within seconds. That's it. Strange I know, but it may be worth a try!
Good luck :)

My nephew had the same problem at three. We realized it was growing pains. He shot up two inches in a couple of weeks. You may want to have her eat a banana before bed and see if it helps her.
T.

Hi,

We had a pretty similar problem with my son. *Routine* was the key. It had to be pretty tight in order to keep him in his bed at night. We had to eat at a certain time every night,bath,teeth brush and story time. I had never really read him a book before bed time. So we started with a routine. That we all had to get use to. And reading to him really helped him calm his little mind. His problem wasnt falling asleep it was staying asleep. So I know its really hard when you have another little one. But it makes a big diffrence. So hopefully this helped it worked for us. I know it sounds like so little. But it made a huge diffrence. With in a 2 weeks he wasnt waking up at all.

Hi N.,
Sorry I have to disagree with the responses which advise you not to bring your daughter in bed with you. Why not? Maybe she's having bad dreams or is going through some developmental phase in which she needs comforting. Something may have happened during the day which has stressed her out and she cannot verbalize the feelings yet. My kids are now 22 and 12 and my husband and I always took them in our bed if they needed us at night. They are now extremely secure, self confident people. Parenting does not end at bed time.
I hope everythng works out for you and your daughter. Listen to your heart. Trust me, this too shall pass.
Good luck,
D.