Night wakings in an almost 3 year old - anything we can do to break the cycle?

[Nicolab]

It's been one thing after another with E for over a month now. Firstly he started waking up crying with what seemed to be nightmares and was screaming so always had to rush in as he kept opening his door and waking L. That has now improved as he doesn't open the door any more. I also cut the daytime nap as he was waking early and only doing 40 mins then waking up screaming from that as well. We bought him a gro clock and tried to encourage him to wait for that to go back to sleep and/or play with toys but he won't be pro active and do that unless we're in the room.

However things have not hugely improved and I'm at a loss to know what to try next. Cutting the nap only resulted in an overtired, grumpy child in the afternoon so am trying to ease it back in again. He's waking up maybe 3/4 times a night he'll sit up and cry, lie back down again when we go in there but then do it again.

I'm wondering if this is potty training related - now he's dry during day could he be waking up at night with the sensation of weeing? The other half of me thinks we may be in a vicious cycle.

If anyone has any ideas we could try or any experiences to share i'd be grateful as frankly it's wearing me down

[calgal]

Does he have a night nappy? If not does he ask to go to the toilet?

I'd probably stick with no nap, he'll probably adjust to it & eventually maybe the tiredness will catch up & he'll sleep through.

What time is bedtime/get up time? And what time is nap time?
What time is first waking at night?

[Nicolab]

Does he have a night nappy? If not does he ask to go to the toilet?

I'd probably stick with no nap, he'll probably adjust to it & eventually maybe the tiredness will catch up & he'll sleep through.

What time is bedtime/get up time? And what time is nap time?
What time is first waking at night?

Yes he has a night nappy but tonight I'm going to check it each time he wakes as if it is because he's weeing I may as well night train him eh!

Bedtime is 7pm and 7am ideal get up time although I have set aalarm earlier depending when the morning waking is if that makes sense?!

First wake up usually any time from 10pm - 12am

[Velvet Chain]

You have my sympathy as I too had an awful sleeper, still have one as it never changed but he is older now so just gets on with things himself.

He is going to be tired during the day because he is having interrupted sleep - so not sure if he really needs a daytime nap if the night sleeping was sorted. Definitely check his nappy, but again if he is weeing around 3 or 4 times a night then he is probably not totally ready to go through the night without a nappy.

I honestly never found the reason for Ds's waking up all the time - he is still the same now (nearly 9 years old as well) it is just one of those things with him. I did try everything I could think of at the time and nothing worked so I ended up just teaching him what to do when he got up, explaining that he could only come to get me/call if somethign was wrong - it didn't take him long before he would just play with his bear (we got him one of those singing/talking ones that he could keep in bed with him to keep him occupied without having to get out of bed) and go back to sleep....now he switches his light on and reads for all hours!!

[Nicolab]

Think what makes it worse is that up until 6 weeks ago he was a good sleeper I'm just at a loss to know what has changed or what has changed so dramatically to make this change in him last for so long

[Chell]

All three of mine have had phases where they have been anxious/scared. We got DD2 a glow worm so she can squeeze it for a little bit of light if she wakes.

It struck me as strange that you shut his door. I can't imagine any of my children being happy with their door shut. Infact, DD1 has hers wedged open with a doorstop. She ensures it is as wide open as it possibly goes before getting into bed. I think they'd feel a little scared.

DD2 wanders into our room in the night. One night (when I was shattered from being woke every night for weeks), I told her she would get a penny if she stayed in bed all night. I was amazed, she didn't come into our room for the first time in ages. Since then I tell her she'll get a penny for her money box if she stays in her room and she does most nights.

[claireh]

My friends three year old has been waking up at 5am for the last few weeks. After trying lots of things she introduced a sticker chart. She is having lots of success with it.

I think it is very easy for young children to develop new habits. I think if you can break it you will have your good sleeper agaiN.

My three year old has recently dropped her nap. She took around three weeks to get used to not napping, she was tearful and very grumpy. This disappeared and she is fine now.

[Nicolab]

We've always shut his door and L's because we have cats and they used to jump into the cots plus E doesn't like it if they come in uninvited

[Mrs Flowers]

DD started being funny about being in the dark at some point after turning 2 (I used to shut her door before that to keep it dark to help her sleep past it turning light in summer). Could be that.

We have had a reward chart for about the last 6 months for if she stays in bed and doesn't get us up/shout during nighttime hours (she is allowed to call for the toilet as she wants/needs someone to come with her but she doesn't muck about with that and will only go once tops). The reward chart was initially related to tantrums but now is sleep related. DD will keep herself busy if she wakes super early etc but she is v v loud. During the night she has had phases of being scared of absolutely everything, finding her dream 'boring' etc. The chart has helped although in the mornigns she still a bit variable and v loud if she's up early.

[Chell]

Could the cats be locked downstairs or another door closed instead?