Toddler Has Started Waking up at Night

My 2.5 yo started doing this a few weeks ago when he had the flu. He'd wake up feeling bad and crying, and would just need to snuggle for a few minutes to calm back down. Hubby and I traded off, we didn't lay with him long enough for him to fall asleep, just long enough for him to get comfortable and go back to sleep on his own. It continued for awhile after he was well (we had about 3 weeks of one illness after another), and stopped 2 nights ago. So hopefully, your little guy will get back into the swing of things all on his own. My son also has his "friends" (stuffed animals) that he sleeps with, if I give him his favorite than he will calm down much quicker. I'm 6 months along with our next one, and was dreading being up with both of them, so I know what you are going through!

Both my kids went through phases like this intermittently. It passes. Usually just when you think you can't do it any longer, they suddenly start sleeping through the night again.

My 3.5 year old just went through a week or maybe 2 where she woke up every single night at 2:30/3:00 am. It started training my own body clock to do that. She finally stopped doing it, and I swear, I am still up at 2:30 myself, darn it.

I just roll with it when it's happening. Get up, go in and soothe, and make my way back to my own bed eventually.

This is really normal at this age, actually he's a little old for it because most toddlers stop it about the time they turn 2. If he's hungry he'll wake up, if he's had a growth spurt he may not need as many hours of sleep now, he may need a night light, he may also not need to go to bed so early.

So many reason's for waking up. It's sort of finding the reason why. If I wanted to sleep I'd simply go lay down in bed with kiddo and sleep all night or let him come to bed with me. It's a toss up, keep waking up every night until he either gets over this stage or find the cause of what's waking him, or put him with another person so he'll feel them and not be afraid if he does wake up.

Normal and it will likely just stop on its own. My son did it occasionally. I recommend you and your husband either switch off nights or hours (if DS woke before 2 am it was my job, after 2 am, his job.

Is he still napping? If so, I'd cut back on the time allowed and/or make it earlier in the day. This is about the time they are transitioning out of the nap so maybe he's getting too much rest during the day?

Have you tried calling to him from your room? Softly saying I hear you honey. It's nighttime when we should be asleep - so go back to sleep honey.

Whatever you do don't turn on the light (it tells the brain it's morning). If you need to, just go in and brush his little head then walk back out of the room. He needs to learn how to fall asleep by himself.

Good luck mama. I get tired just hearing about those days. My older child was never a good sleeper, thankfully my second kid was completely different. Now that they're teenagers I can't get them out of bed in the morning!

My daughter was doing the same thing for a couple of months. Dad and I figured out that if we put her favorite soft music on she would stop crying right away and fall asleep in no time.