3 Yr Old Sleeping Problem

Hi Lindsay!

Wow. We are going through the exact same thing!! I have a 2 1/2 year old boy and a 3 month old girl. I recently sent a Mamasource request because my son was throwing a fit at bedtime and needed one of us to lay with him until he fell asleep. Well, since I wrote, he has also started waking up multiple times during the night, and his crying usually wakes up the baby (who was normally a good sleeper). So now I'm up with our daughter, and my husband has to get up and go lay with our son. The last few weeks have been horrible and sleepless.

One mom suggested to me that it may have something to do with molars coming in, and lo and behold, my son is cutting 2 molars at the same time (starting right around the time bedtime became so difficult). Of course, the moms who think it may have something to do with the baby may also be on to something, because it's possible our boys realize now that the new baby isn't going anywhere.

Most of the moms suggested that we do the whole "walk them back to their bed without speaking or eye contact" method. I would suggest starting it on a weekend! It's so painful to hear him crying for us before he finally cries himself to sleep, but we're making huge progress. On the first night, we spent about a half hour walking a crying toddler back to his bed. Then it took another 10 minutes for him to stop crying and go to sleep. When he woke up in the middle of the night, it took about 15 minutes of it to get him back to sleep. The next night, he only came out of his room twice and was asleep in about 20 minutes. When he awoke in the middle of the night, he immediately went back to sleep after I walked him back to his room. Last night was our third night, and while he still cried in his room for about a half hour at bedtime, he never once left his bedroom. He slept through the night for the first time in weeks! It's hard, but it really seems to work.

I know just how you feel. Best of luck and may you never run out of coffee.

My thought is that it is probably happening now because of the new baby. He wants your undivided attention! Give it some time and then draw the line in the sand about going to him in the middle of the night. Good luck and God Bless! Let us know what happens and what works for you!

It could be that he's having bad dreams or images. This is an age when they are not sure of the unknown...and their imaginage is all so new to them.

My son is three and does not like monsters or anyone to pretend like a monster. This includes lions to, because they sound much like a monster. He also doesn't like the sound of a train...and ends up in bed with us when he hears one at night.

Somethings that have worked for us is to leave a night-light or light on at night in his room. If it's monsters, you can spray it before bed with monster spray (spray bottle with water in it). Another idea is to check hiding places for these astranged creatures...under the bed, closet, etc before going to bed.

I hope this helps.

If he is happy and secure with you then give him some time. You must have known there where going to be some changes when you brought a new baby home, well you are going to have some changes too apparently. It will pass, just love him, cuddle him, and bear with it.
Good luck,
C.

When my son was starting to wake up alot at night screaming for one of us we finally figured out that he was afraid of the dark. We started turning on the bathroom light for his night light and we haven't had any problems since. The only problem we do have is he refuses to use a real night light in his room. He wants the bathroom light on only, which is a pain for us because of the electric bill. but its worth being able to sleep all night.

helo i guess i would ask how long this has been going on and if you say well about 8 or 10 week i would say it all about the changes in your house i know some time a new baby will send you back a few steps i would try talking to him when he wake up and asking him what wrong maybe leave a small light on for him or buy him one of them glow worms you push on them and they light up for a few min then they go out maybe that will help good luck

With a new baby around, your son may be wanting you in the middle of the night because it is special alone time with you that he knows will not be interrupted by his sister. Try setting a "date" with him for ten minutes a day away from the baby and everyone else. This might just solve the problem.