I don't know how long this is going to last, but my 2 1/2 yr old always wakes up between midnight and 3am. I don't mind co-sleeping at all, but there are times I really would like to sleep w/out being kicked and snuggled to pieces. I have to wake up at 6:45am to get ready for work and sometimes, I'm too tired and sleep in till about 7:30am. I think he doesn't like his wet diaper, but there are times his diaper is dry so that couldn't be it. Last week was the first week he slept in the twin bed (big boy bed) and the first two nights of that, he slept straight through. Should I just turn off the monitor and let him cry himself to sleep? What we usually do is he wakes up, we bring him to our bed, my husband then sleeps in the spare bedroom so that I and my son can sprawl all over the bed. We are too tired to hang out with him and get him back to sleep...especially at 3am.
This seemed to begin two months ago -- before that, he slept straight thru the night.
hi sauci one,
I just read a great book -- Elizabeth pantley's "No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers" She has a great deal of ideas ....
GL. Jilly
Hes probably just thirsty. It could be dry in your house and just needs something. My little girl has a sippy cup of water beside the bed and by morning when I go in there its all gone.
He wakes up to come to bed with you. There should never be any hanging out in the middle of the night, just a quick "it's night time, go back to sleep, love you" and a kiss.
He might be depending on you getting him up and bringing him to your bed. Its unfair to husband to kick him out of bed for the kiddo and can lead to trying to break the bigger habit when he gets older. My son was doing the same thing. I got up asked what he needed and gave it to him. Maybe a drink back rub ect. If he is not wet, let him know it is too early and its still time to sleep. Let him CIO. I would let him know that Mommy is going back to bed and you will see him in the morning. Go in no more than two or three times. First time, back into bed with kisses and communication. Second, back into bed reminding him a little more firm that its bed time. Third time, no communication, no eye contact straight to bed. He will learn. It might take some time but consistancy is key.
My 3 1/2 year old daughter use to be the easiest kid to put to bed. She would go to bed without a fight and sleep through the night. Well that all ended when she turned 3. When we put her to bed now she plays in her bed for at least an hour or two sometimes, we tell her she has to stay in bed, we do allow her to talk or play in her bed hoping she will fall asleep. She will finally fall asleep but then she wakes up in the middle of the night or very early morning and come in our room and wants to sleep with us. I am too tired at that point and allow her in. I don't get a good night sleep since inbetween all of this I have to wake once a night to feed my 18 mos old who still does't sleep through the night. I don't know what to do since I am in the same boat. I feel so much for you. Let me know if you figure out something that works. I did ask this question two weeks ago on this site and found out most 3 year olds go through this, they start having real fears and nightmares, I was encouraged to hang in there and this stange too shall pass. In the meantime I ask God for stregnth and patience to get through my days with little sleep :-)
