Requesting Advice on Getting a Toddler to Sleep Through the Night

There is a book that has helped me with every sleep problem my daughter has had! It's called "Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child". Hope it helps!

Hi. When my son was born he slept with us until he was three. He was terrified of being by himself and his own bed but it was time for all of us to get some sleep!! He wanted to see us, so fortunatley our rooms are directly accross from each other. We moved his bed so he could see us and we all went to "sleep" at the same time. He could talk to us and see us and eventually didn't need us anymore and slept through the night once he was comfortable on his own. Do you have any way of getting his bed arranged so he can see you or your room at least? If not, maybe you could temporarily put his mattress in your room, and then eventually back in his? Good luck!

Have you tried reading him a story laying in bed with him to comfort him? Do you work during the day? It may just be that he is afraid that you're not there. Try playing soothing music in his room so he will feel better. It may also relax him enough that he will fall asleep and stay asleep. I always rocked my grandchildren before i put them to bed so they were more relaxed and ready to go to sleep. HAVE YOU TRIED GIVING HIM A STUFFED ANIMAL TO SLEEP WITH TO PROTECT HIM AND KEEP HIM SAFE?

A little about me:

i am a grandmother of eight who range in age from 3 to 18. I also used to do daycare. I have watched a few children in my life.

I heard of a book called "The No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers" my neighbor recommends it.

My suggestion would be a routine. Bath time starts at a certain time and you pay your total attention to him.Then read him a book. Once again one on one time. Let him know that he gets this special time because he's a big boy and he's going to try to sleep through the nite on his own. Finally personal quiet time laying in bed. You can talk about anything he wants just reaffirming that your there for him. My son has a radio going with a CD in it that he picked out for bed time(Clifford's abc's from dollar store) He gets to turn it on along with his nite lite and that is his quiet time to read a book by him self. No mom bugging him. It got to the point where he kicks me out! Lol!
If he cries at nite go in and say it's bed time. Here's your book, mommys here for you and we'll play tomorrow or something along those lines. Then walk out. Nothing more. If it happens again that nite. Shorten what you say and hand him the book. If again say nothing and hand him the book. He will learn that nite time is not time to spend with mom. and learn to put himself to sleep with a good habit reading
hope this helps A.

Hi- this is the first time I have ever posted anything- but here goes!
I have made it through the toddler years (my girls are ages 7 and 4) without too many sleepless nights. My youngest daughter sounds a lot like your son- she woke up often needing comfort thoughout the night. We had her sleep in her own bed, but in our bedroom (it was a small toddler bed, and fit into our small bedroom just fine). That way when she woke up calling my name- I could just call out her name soothingly and keep saying "It's ok" until she settled herself down. No one had to get out of bed- so we both fell back asleep easily. Some nights I had to sit and hold her hand for a few minutes till she fell back asleep- but since I was there so quickly, she was always still somewhat asleep, and fell back to sleep quickly.

I don't know how you feel about having your son in your bedroom. My husband and I still had our alone time- just after she fell asleep- it never was a big deal for us, as she went to bed at 7:30, and when we went to bed at about 10, she was fast asleep. Perhaps it will just take your son a little while for him to get over this period of anxiety he is feeling.. or maybe it will be a long time. Only time will tell if it is a month or a year- but it will happen sometime.

My 4 year-old still needs to have someone there in the room to sleep with- so we moved her into bunk beds with her big sister :-) But, she no longer wakes up in the middle of the night- I think she just grew out of it.

Good luck!

Hi C., I know this is probably not the kind of advice you are looking for, but I thought I would give you my oppinion on it anyway :) My advice would be to just let him sleep with you. When I first had my little girl I was so set on the idea of making her sleep in her crib because thats usually the advice everyone gives. But, I've learned to go by what I feel is right. I let my little girl sleep with me now and I absolutely LOVE it!!! We both get a wonderful nights sleep. I love getting to snuggle with her and hold her. I also love having her right next to me all night because I know she's safe and most of all content. I just want to enjoy every moment with her because this time in her life won't last forever.
I think that is such a wonderful story of how your son was a miracle! I would let him sleep with you especially if this may be your only one. You could even just let him sleep with you until he falls back asleep then move him into his room. I've done plenty of research on this topic and found that there are a lot of perks to letting your child sleep with you. Some say they grow up to me more secure with themselves and more secure of the love you have for them.
Anyway, I hope that helps.
Good luck!

One of our kids has always been the same way. We tried a million things but what ultimately works best is one of us just goes and sits on her bed while she falls back to sleep. I usually keep a good book or magazine by her bed that I don't have time to read during the day and I tell her I'll stay as long as she lies with her eyes closed. She goes back to sleep very quickly.

When I'm really tired and neither hubby nor I are up to going to her (we have a baby and two other kids too), then she knows she can bring her blanket and pillow in to our room and sleep on the floor next to us.

By son use to have that problem to. he was about 3 yrs. old to. I have a couple different night lights for him to chose to use each night( not good I know). He use to say there was monster everywhere in the house. One night I told him that there is no such thing as monsters but since you think there is, I went ahead and locked them outside so now they can't get back in.
He would wake up crying like he was scared, kind of short of breath. It just happens I had to take him in for a check up and that is when the doctor asked me if anyone had told me that his tonsils looked large for his age. (no one ever told me that). So I took him to a specialist and found that his tonsils were trying to block of his airway and that that was the biggest part of him waking up like he was having a bad dream and breathing hard as well as snoring. We removed his tonsils in July 2006 and since then he does great. The only time he wakes up crying is if he has to go potty during the night( which is maybe 1-2 times a month).

Not saying that is the case with your son but maybe it might help you like it did me. I always though he was having bad dreams about monster and everthing else to but that wasn't always the case.

Another thing is I have a picture that I hang in his room or let him hold of me and his daddy. I know that has helped him a little when he scared, sick or just misses us.

Good luck to you.