Sleepless nights

Sleepless nights

My daughter who is 2 1/2 has been sleeping in her own bed for 6 months now - but all of a sudden she refuses to go to bed and wakes up in the early hours of the morning and won't settle unless she is sleeping with us! We've tried getting up and putting her back in her own bed but at 3.30am we're just too tired and give in. Any suggestions?

Edited over 2 years ago

Re: Sleepless nights In reply to: shelby3470

Perhaps shes scared. have you tried a nightlight? or else you might have to sit on her bed with her til she settels 

You had me at 'hello!'

Re: Sleepless nights In reply to: jaqb

my daughters 8 and still sleeps in bed with us. Ive tried to get her to stay in her own bed but she doesnt like it so i gave up. my husband gets annoyed by it but she's still only little- its not like itll be foreva.

Re: Sleepless nights In reply to: funkymum

Agree, probably easiest solution to let her sleep with you until she feels confident to go back in her own bed. Is she having nightmares? Sounds like something may have scared her. Maybe a few changes in her bedroom eg new bedset etc, will be a good incentive to get her to sleep in her own room. Build it up and help her get her room ready wiht you. Make her room as calming as possible wth soft lighting and soothing bedtme music. Gd luck!

Re: Sleepless nights In reply to: Cool Jules

i can't believe anyone would let an 8yerold still sleep in bed with them. i coudln't stand it - neither could my husband. i'd try a 'bribe' for the first night she stays in her own room ( a really good present she wants) and after that she's on her own..

Re: Sleepless nights In reply to: wor kate

Think that's a bit harsh to leave her to get on with it. She may be worried about something & need her mum's reassurance. Agere not ideal to ahve yr 8 yr old in bed wth you, but it won;t be every night. I'd give her a cuddle, maybe let her sleep in our bed for that night & try to persuade her back into hers the next night if she's syill upset. 

Re: Sleepless nights In reply to: Cool Jules

sorry, think you need to be firmer than that. she's 8 not 3. Kids of that age need to know their boundaries. your bedroom is out of bounds unless she's sick.

Re: Sleepless nights In reply to: wor kate

WOT?? cooljules - you're mad. I assume you and your husband haven't got any younger kids?? You wouldn't get a chance with an 8year old in yer bed!!!!!

Re: Sleepless nights In reply to: shelby3470

I think you definitely need to find out why she won't sleep in her own bed - she's 8 now and should be able to tell you coherently. Sit her down in the day at a relaxing time and ask her, but not in an abrupt way. Something like "Can you tell me why you're not able to sleep in your room?" Or "Is there something me and your dad could do to make your room nicer for you to sleep in?" You can make changes on the condition that she sleeps in her room. I always find that sticker charts are very well received too!

Keep Smiling and Eat Well :o)

Re: Sleepless nights

 Me and my partner are really suffering from sleepless nights at the moment. We live with my family (have been trying desperately for the last year and a half to get our own house, but that's another issue!), and because of that my two year old is still in the same room as us. He was a fantastic sleeper when he was born, he was sleeping through the night at a month and a half, but since he turned two he's been a nightmare. It started with him waking at about three, crying to come into our bed, which we thought was fair enough. Then he started waking when we went to bed, which we don't appreciate quite so much, as it means we can't enjoy a physical relationship if you get my drift! For the last week or so he's been waking through the night while we've been downstairs before going to bed ourselves, and tonight he threw a temper tantrum as soon as I put him in his cot, and made it clear he wasn't going to stop until I got into my bed and let him come in. I ended up having to let him cry himself to sleep, which I felt awful about,but I wasn't about to go to bed at eight o clock just to pacify him! I know the situation of us and him sharing a room is probably a major factor, but we just don't have the room for anything else. any tips on how to stop this, as it's leaving me so drained I can barely play with him during the day?

Re: Sleepless nights

This sounds like a nightmare! It's a shame that your son has to be in the same room as you but do you think there's a possibility that he's outgrown his own cot?

My eldest two daughters were both sleeping in beds by 2 years old because they have always been tall for their age and were more comfortable in a bed. I didn't bother with expensive things to put on the side of the bed to stop them falling - I just bought low beds and put their old cot mattresses on the floor next to the bed - but I'm tight @rsed like that!

Would it be possible for you to fit a bed in the room you're sleeping in? Your son could help you choose one and you could make a big thing of him sleeping in it and getting a prize each time he stays in in all night (like a sticker or a sweet).

If you can't fit a bed in the same room, then I'm not sure what to suggest. Do you have a night light for him or a lamp? He could be afraid of the dark?

Don't sweat the small stuff. It will make you stinky.