Toddler Changeing Pj's Several Times a Night

Updated on March 18, 2008
V.G. asks from Grand Rapids, MI
15 answers

My youngest daughter, who will be 3 in April, has decided that she needs to change her pajama's several times a night. We could let her pick out her pj's before she goes to bed and she still has something different on in the morning. I've even taken her out of shorts and put her back in pants when I check on them before I go to bed. Last night she woke up two times crying because she wanted to change her pj's but couldn't see in the dark. Short of taking the dresser out of her room (and then she would help herself to her sister's clothes) we don't know what to do. She's to big for her crib or I would put her back in it. Does anyone have any suggestions.

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So What Happened?

Thank you. Last night I had a chance to really talk to Trisana about why she is changing her pj's. She said she gets hot when she wears pants. So, we decided that we would let her wear a nightgown (really it was a really big T-Shirt) and a pair of shorts to help keep the diaper on, as she's not night time potty trained yet. I checked on her this morning and she was still in it. I also felt her little legs to make sure they weren't cold and ironically they were very warm. I think the quilt my mother-in-law made for her just keeps her really warm. We'll see how it goes in future nights.

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C.P.

answers from Benton Harbor on

Could there maybe be a reason behind why she's changing her pj's? You said she's almost 3 but is she potty trained? If so maybe she's wet herself a tiny bit? Is she always wanting to change into cooler pj's? Maybe she's sweating and they get damp because of that? My 3 year old cannot STAND being wet even if its a teeny tiny spot. He has to change whatever it is thats wet. Or maybe she is just getting too hot. I know when I was a child(and now as an adult as well) I would get over heated at night, and even now in the dead of winter sleep with just a tee shirt nightgown and a light quilt. I don't know these are just a few suggestions. As for the dresser, maybe you could put the child proofing locks on it and she wouldn't get into it. HTH! :)

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L.U.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Is what she is wearing to warm for her so she always wants to change when she gets to hot? Or, is she wetting the bed? I have never heard of a child doing this at night only during the day. Good Luck!

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C.V.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Hi V.,
I agree with the other 2 moms, let her do it. She probably wants some control in her little life. I would get a nightlight and let her change them as much as she wants. My 4 year old will usually take his pj's off sometime throughout the night. I used to worry that he would get cold but he always said he was hot so I let him do it. Good luck.
Chris

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M.B.

answers from Benton Harbor on

Hi, I agree with Lacy. My daughter is 7 and will change her pj's 2 or 3 times before she goes to bed LOL.
Just lay out her pajamas or only put pj's in her drawers that are weather appropriate for that specific season. Eventually she'll get bored with it and grow out of it. As long as its not hurting anyone, I say let her change LOL.

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M.H.

answers from Detroit on

V., I think this is a situation where you must pick your battles. Why is this a problem if she manages to dress herself? Other than using different pairs of pj's I think that it is ok for her to practice changing clothes. I've had 4 yr olds who cannot put on their own boots much less change their own clothes. This is a learning experience for her and when she perfects it she will move on to something else. Remember when she learned how to climb stairs. Crawled up first then climbed up then crawled down backwards then walked down forwards. Children learn by repetition and she is learning how to dress herself. No idea why she's doing it at night with pj's but its a good thing. Trust me.

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C.G.

answers from Detroit on

I agree - let her do it - however, have you been sucessful in trying to figure out WHY? IE: do the pants ride up her legs and she's uncomfortable? Is the fabric itching her somewhere? Do they have those silly snaps in the wasteband that dig into her tummy (my son HATES those!).

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L.N.

answers from Benton Harbor on

Let her change them! I would say that this is one of those times where 'pick your battles' comes into play. Toddlers are strange sometimes and they become obsessed about things that make no sense to us. Perhaps you could lay out some pjs for her that are appropriate for the season and a flashlight. Tell her that if she feels the need to change, these are the ones she can pick from but she must go right back to bed after. Maybe giving her some control will help the situation!
~L.

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C.N.

answers from Detroit on

I would check with your doctor just because this seems like compulsive behavior and I would be concerned that there is something else that is bothering her.

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C.S.

answers from Kalamazoo on

From C. a gramma in Kalamazoo. I just have to laugh sometimes as I've seen my grand kids do things my kids never did. I have one grandson who is only 2 1/2 yrs. old and has started taking off his sleeper at night and his diaper. They have found him in the morning bare and really cold. Finally they cut the feet out of his sleeper and put it on backwards. At least that keeps his pj's on. It seems to be working for them right now, but I think he was too hot also.
I have another grand daughter who is 4 who sleeps in just tee shirt or summer pj's in the dead of winter. I always swear she is going to get sick, she never seems to. I will be cold and she's sweating. So go figure.
I myself start out in heavy pj's and find myself in the middle of the night awakening being too hot and start shedding my pj's. So it just might be a temperature thing and she's trying to get comfortable. She sounds pretty normal to me. Already aware of her own needs. Sincerely, C. S.

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B.W.

answers from Grand Rapids on

I agree with the other ladies let her do it, she isn't getting up and bugging you. Just give her a night light so she can see.
Maybe try rewarding her for staying in the same pj's all night.

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K.V.

answers from Grand Rapids on

this is common, with girls especially. Only keep 1 or 2 pair of pj's around for her to change into

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C.B.

answers from Detroit on

Take a good long time at washing the discarded ones and then you have a legit excuse for her not having any extras to change into.
Maybe if she wants multiple pjs so bad she could think about helping with laundry. As she sounds too little for that, just reduce how many she has and say "There aren't any more to change into".
Actually it sounds like she's got something else bothering her that makes her wake up during the night. But you've already lost enough sleep allowing this to continue.

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A.K.

answers from Detroit on

My son did that for a few months, but stopped.

He didn't LIKE what I was dressing him in. I was putting him in the one piece with feet. I guess at that time, he didn't like them and was changing into 2 piece outfits, sometimes ones with shorts...

I say..let them pick out what they wear...and talk to hear and give her a spare pair in bed with her if she MUST change them in the night... if she picks shorts..just put an extra blanket on her at night. Or tell her if she keeps those pjs on that she went to bed with, in the morning, you will make her a SPECIAL breakfast or give her a special treat...

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M.H.

answers from Detroit on

HI! Maybe you could bribe her? :) Make a chart and if she stays in bed all night she either gets a sticker on the chart toward a special reward (ie her choice of a special movie or toy?) We did that with my son and hair washing.. he would cry and throw a fit and run through the house with soap on his head. But once we saw something he really wanted.. happened to be a toy.. we told him that he had to not "throw a fit" about getting his hair washed for so many times... on the chart. Once the chart was full he got his surprise and bath time is much easier..
I dunno.. just a suggestion! :) good luck!

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G.K.

answers from Detroit on

You need to take her to a doctor...just to make sure that she is ok and something didn't happen to her.

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