Recently, our 2 y/o began waking up 2-3 times a night. She's in a regular bed and will get up on her own and call out to us. Usually, a quick tuck back into bed gets her back to sleep. However, she's starting to request someone to lay next to her. And she's usually out in 2-3 minutes. Its just aggrivating to not get a full night's sleep, and we're expecting #2 in Jan - so I want to "fix" this quick!!
Any tips or suggestions?
Thanks for the tips ladies, most of your advice was helpful. She started sleeping in a full bed about 3 days before her second birthday - which was her own decision. One night she said "mommy, I sleep here" - and she hasn't been back in a crib since.
I suppose I should have been a little more specific in "telling" our story. I in NO way resent my daughter nor the fact that she wants to snuggle, what a horrible insinuation. Snuggling with her is one of my highlights especially since I do work a full time job outside the home. However, I don't want her to become dependant on me and/or my husband laying next to her to fall asleep - especially with another baby on the way.
I do appreciate the reassurance that this is a phase and it will probably be outgrown soon. In the mean time, I'll try a couple of your tips for the middle of the night. Last night we tried a book, then snuggling for a bit. Thanks ladies.
Here are some resources that might be helpful for you...
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070100.asp
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/5/t050900.asp
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/t071100.asp
I hope that this helps.
Best wishes,
J.
This isn't what you want to hear, but there is no secret formula for getting a 2 year old to sleep through the night. Although it's inconvenient for you, it's totally normal for a little kid to want reassurance in the night. That's what Mommys do. Perhaps I'm reacting to your saying you want this "fixed" in your daughter- she's not broken. This is pretty normal. She will mature in time. And I promise the day will come when you would love to snuggle her at night, but she'll be too old. So cuddle her now, and enjoy it as best you can. If you feel resentful, keep it to yourself, and don't ever let her know you don't want to be with her.
Hi T. Try laying next to her when you first put her to bed until she gos to sleep and see if that works. You didn't say how long she has been sleeping in her own bed and she's still very young. So try being patient. Especially since you're having your second child in January. She will probably feel the need to snuggle close to you.
Hi T. - my daughter went thru something similar at that age. She would wake up and bring her blanket and lay down on the floor right outside our room and fall back asleep! I almost stepped on her a million times on the way to the bathroom. I would carry her back to bed. This went on for several weeks then it stopped. So first I would say - its likely to be a phase. Don't worry that this will keep going on and on necessarily. I would be wary of setting up a pattern of getting in with her b/c once she sees how nice that is, well...... So if this keeps going after a week or two then I would reassure her at night but not get in with her. Now I'm sure some replies will say its b/c you are pregnant and she is worried about being replaced. And that might be partly true. But with us nothing like that was going on. Its just a developmental stage when they begin to be cognizant of how big the world is and how little they are and that there might be scary things out there. GOod luck!
