Toddler Sleeping

Well, I don't know if this will help in this situation or not. But, when my son was that age he would not sleep in his bed without me there and he would always get up and come to my room. so, I came up with this idea. I went to the local craft store and bought some objects that looked liked tickets. They were wooden and had the ridged edges on the ends. I then wrote ticket on them and had him decorate them. He only had three tickets. I made something to hang them on his door. If he wanted to get up, or if he wanted me to come in his room, he had to give me a ticket. When the tickets were gone, that's it, he was not longer allowed up and I was no longer allowed in. If he did get up, I put him back in bed and said it's bed time. I didn't talk to him after I said that, I just placed him back into bed. It took about a week and haven't had to use them since.
I hope this helps!

I take my 4 year old to Denistry for Children. They have offices in Lexington, Georgtown and Richmond. We've been going there since he was 2. Actually we are due back on Monday. He loves them and it's very nice.

They dont need to drink juice in the middle of the night. They need to be either be seperated, (room wise) and you need to be consistant with the sleeping thing. Wear them out before bed time and explain top them that they are supposed to go to sleep and stay asleep that mommy needs her rest too. Reduce the naps they take during the day.

Are the naps in the late afternoon or early???

I know reading a book seems tedious - but it's well worth it and it's a fast read. The No Cry Sleep Solution - helps you learn and helps you teach your child to sleep better! No 'crying it out' involved.

good luck ;)

I don't give juice after supper at all. Sugar seems to give the 3 yr old renewed energy! A sip of water, a story (or two) some soothing music and nighty night. When she tried a spell of getting up, I just put her back to bed after dealing with whatever it was, and kept doing it. No reward for getting up. Works for me.

I have been in your pj's! I know it sounds unconventional, but I used rewards. My daughter was 3 when she started getting up EVERY night and coming to our room. She was thirsty, she had a bad dream, she needed to go to the bathroom, can she cuddle in our room...the list goes on. At three, letting her cry in her room was not a suitable option for me. I want her to know that if something is truly wrong she can come to me. However, if there's not really anything wrong, she needs to get herself back to sleep. I knew she was capable, just not properly motivated. I got a present, nothing expensive, and wrapped it all fancy with a big bow. I showed it to her,
"what's that?"
"a present"
"who's it for"
"for you, if you can stay in your bed all night long. if you wake up and can get yourself back to sleep without waking us up, you get to open it and find out what it is. if you wake up and need me, stay in your bed and yell for me and i'll come see what you need...but no present."

She completely understood and did it the first night! I did presents every day for a week. Most of them were from the dollar store. I made a big fuss when she opened it and ohhed and ahhed and she was really excited (make sure the first day one that is special and that you know she'll like). After the first week, we kept a chart and when she got 7 nights w/out waking us up she got a present. We kept a little chart with stickers (for instant reward in the morning...one for her hand and one for the chart).

Good luck. Let me know what works for you.

B.,
They need to be put to bed sooner.... between 7:30 and 8. Are you giving them juice when they wake up at nite? Don't. Give them a sip of water and put them back in their bed, not yours. I can understand about them not going to sleep; I have 2 boys ages 5 and 3, and they play when I put them to bed. I cut off their tv 30 minutes before I put them to bed and have them play a quiet activity before their bedtime routine. They need something quiet to calm them down enough for them to go to sleep. Take all the toys and books out of their room so they won't be tempted. You need to stop letting them sleep in your bed too. When they come into your room, calmly take them back to their bed and tell them "this is your bed, this is where you sleep; not in mommy's bed. Good night" and leave the room. You may have to do this several times a night and it may take a while for them to break this habit, but it has to be done if you want some sleep. It is very important that you break this habit now, because it will not stop by itself and they will not necessarily "grow out of it". I know of several people who are having marital problems because their kids share their beds with them. Some of these kids are 6 and older!! Most people site the fact that they are sleeping and don't feel like getting up to put them back into their beds. The truth is, you're not getting any sleep with the kids in your bed pestering you for a drink. Good luck hun and sweet dreams!

My daughter is 2 and a singleton, but getting her to sleep through the night simply took putting our foot down...period. I have friends with three year olds, and many have had to take the Super Nanny approach. Persistence means everything.

I hate to say it, but you may need to let them cry it out. I have seen this done on Supernanny. She puts them to bed after a short story, etc. Then each time kids come out of room, she puts them back in. It may take some time, but in the long run it will be better for all of you. :)

Sounds like they have a habit going on! They are old enough to explain that we sleep all night. Tell them before they go to bed that they will get a small drink of water before bed, but are only allowed up to potty, then back to bed. If they get out of bed, you will take a precious item of theirs away. I went cut throat and took the items my daughter loved the most first. The first 2 nights she lost almost every toy in her room! The next day I gave it back and reminder her why they were taken away in the first playce! Broke the habit in 1 week!

if you stop giving them juice when they wake up, they will stop waking up. they will wake up forever if they know that you will cuddle them, feed them or give them a drink. dont hug kiss or cuddle them, just walk them into there room and put them back in the bed. it may take a week or more of you having to put them in the bed several times a night, but if you keep with it, they will stay in bed.

I would cut their nap time short if they take one..Don't wake them but make noise to wake them. Put a gate up at their door. To start, I would give a little drink at bedtime, provided they use the potty first, then you can sit in the room at night and gradually move closer to the door every night until you are out in the hall. Then put the gate up and gradually move out of sight into the hall. If they wake up wanting something to drink always make it a rule that they have to go potty or no drink. You could tell them no drink you had one at bedtime, but that sometimes results in fit pitching :) My daughter finally quit asking for a drink...it is very rare now. Good luck.

Hi B.-

You could try limiting/lessening sugar in their diets, including juice. They can get used to water or milk.

Tire them out - take them to a pool - that can tire them out.
You could learn Reiki, it's a healing art using the hands. I used to use it to get my daughter to sleep, when she was hyper.

Hope you can get some rest.

J.

Hi, I went through something very simular with my 2 1/2 yr old. The one thing I did was I was very consistent. I have a bedtime set up and I stuck to it. As for staying in the room so they will go to sleep, what I did was every night I would slowly inch my way out of the room and reassure him I was right there. This took about two weeks to ween myself out of his room. Then, when he would get up at night I would put him right back to bed. (I waited to this after my other kids were out of school for the summer so I could sleep in a little) I would do this several time a night and it FINALLY paid off. He is no sleeping all night in his bed, although sometimes he gets up at about 5 and I make him sit by my bed until I am ready to get up. He doesn't like this too much so I think he may start staying in his bed longer to avoid that. The key is find a routine and be consistant!! This is by far what they want and what they need. Believe me, there were many times I wanted to give in but I didn't and now I am sooo glad because it is definately paying off and we are all much happeir!

Oh B., I am sorry I do not have any advice, since we're in the same "boat". Our 3 year old is the same way. He was a great crib sleeper. But after he climbed out we started laying down with him to go to bed. He has always gotten up at night for a cup of really really watered down juice or milk. I know I know it's bad for his teeth(by God's grace they are still perfect:)). It is so much easier to let them CIO when they are younger but after 3 it's not just crying it's(mommy , do you not love me anymore....mommy I am scared). Everyone is right, it's just a habit at this point. We already took a drink away in the middle of the night, but ours still wakes up. I am going to try all the great ideas other moms had (the gift one sounds so creative).I know it's not going to be easy(and you got 2 of them:)).With our 16 months old we started it right from the beggining(so much easier:))I hope it works out for you.

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I'm a mother of twin girls too, they are 2 years old, and they've been sleeping threw the night since they were 7 months, I highly recomend you the book Good Night Sleep Tight, one of the authors is Kim West, known like the Sleepy Lady, is very good, actually is excellent.

Try it!!

First of all I would say you have to do what makes you comfortable. This is what I did: When both my children were infants I did the cry it out method. hardest thing I have ever done, but after that (and still at 3 and 1 years old) I can put them in their bed and they go to sleep on their own. For the most part they sleep all night. We have the occasional bad dream or my daughter wakes up because she is teething. Good luck to you.

Hi B.,

Before they go to bed let them have some juice, brush their teeth and then remind them that they can't have any more juice during the night because it could ruin their teeth (or whatever other reason you choose). If they wake up, offer them some water. They'll be upset at first, but they'll get over it quickly.

Good luck!