I have a 2 1/2 year old who has been waking up consistently during the night. He will wake up 3 to 4 times and want me to cover him up. He isn't crying or screaming. He gets out of bed and wants covered up. We have a nice long bedtime routine of reading books, singing songs, praying and snuggling. He has never had sleeping problems before this. He was a great sleeper as a baby and when we first put him in his big boy bed. Now he seems to want comfort every time he stirs during the night. My husband and I are exhausted by morning from being awakened so many times during the night. I don't know if he even remembers in the morning that he has been up so much during the night. Is this pretty typical behavior for a 2 1/2 year old? Do you have any ideas for dealing with this?
Is he getting cold at night? My little guy was waking up, until i started dressing him in warmer jammies... that way if he kicks off his covers, he's still warm... just an idea. :)
After moving to a toddler bed both of my children have gone through a phase where they wake up and come into our room in the night too, though it is usually only once or twice. I think they just come in wanting to make sure that mom and dad are still there-- it is a comfort thing. I don't know how to help you with that one! My daughter just eventually grew out of it (my son is still wakes occasionally at 22 months) However, if the issue is really that he wants to be covered up because he kicks his blankets off while sleeping, have you tried a sleeping bag? I know there are child sized ones out there. Since we are moving into summer months you could also just sew up a sheet or a light blanket to create a sort of sleeping bag for him. I know that I sleep much better when I have the weight of the blanket on me and will wake up if my husband rolls over and pulls it off. Haven't tried the bag myself, but it might work. Good luck!
go in and teach him how to cover himself up and also other techniques that help you relax and go to sleep
Sounds like he's kicking off the covers and is cold. Put warmer pjs on. One's with feet or have him wear socks. Or put TWO pairs of pjs on him. Also, make sure he has a night light and a blankie and/or stuffed animal. We had a "magic spray" (lavender linen spray) that we sprayed to scare the monsters away. We also talk about all of the good things that happened during the day. Sometimes kids experience things during the day that they struggle with at night (tv, frustrations, etc.). If you talk about all of the good things forget about the things that stress them. And finally, tell him it is not ok to get out of bed. It is nighttime and everyone is sleeping. It makes mommy and daddy sad when he wakes them up. It makes mommy and daddy happy when he stays in the big boy bed all night like a big boy. All kids test the limits. It is important that you are tough and nip this in the bud.
My daughter did the same thing!!! We did 2 things. First I bought a larger blanket that I could tuck under the mattress all around her which helped a lot. Then my husband taught her this silly song, "When you wake up in the middle of the night and you're cold, just reach down and pull them up" Silly, I know but guess what, it really worked!!! It has been 6 years now and my husband and my 9 year old still sing that song sometimes :)
try playing with napping times and amounts. May need to redue to 90 minutes or an hour. I still insist on quiet time for one hour, but mine gave them up most days at 3. She is really hard to get to ed still. but, at night, be like a robot. No talking, no eye contact, no emotion. Just pick him up and put him in his bed and walk out. There might be a few nights he cries, ignore it at this age. eventually, they find there is no result and either just go back to sleep immediately or stop waking so much...then you hit potty training. My only advice here is to take them to the potty each time he gets up...still like a robot. Do be gentle. I just tell my daughter to relax and let me do the work as I lift her up on the toilet and she lays her head on my chest. Otherwise, she starts 'waking up" and getting upset I made her go. but, if i don't take her, she is up in ten minutes needing help to go.
My daughter went through this same thing, and unfortunately it lasted almost a year! She just couldn't figure out how to cover herself up when her blankets came off at night...I even tried, several times, to teach her, and even though she was able to do it when she was fully awake, she wasn't able to do it when she was half asleep...or maybe it was a comfort thing, I am not sure. But she did finally stop. I got a really big down comforter that went over her bed, and that seemed to help, because it is heavy, and doesn't slide off her while she sleeps. Good luck...it will get better!
My little guy started doing that around his age and just sort of outgrew it on his own - he will be 3 next week and sleeps great - it was just sort of a "cover me up" phase ;)
