My 3 year old just won't sleep through the night...?

Question

We are using the 'rapid return' technique for bedtimes, but regular as clockwork she appears in our room anywhere between 2 - 4.30am claiming not to be tired, to be hungry, to need a poo, to need her baby (you get the drift)...If i can't get her through the night soon (She has maybe slept through the night 15 times in her life) I will go bonkers.

My son who is 2 also wakes, demanding milk on a regular basis...they both have a banana before bed, and classic FM playing quietly in the background.

Baby number 3 is on the way and i just have to get this sorted...

she no longer sleeps during the day, refuses to even though she is as exhausted as me!

Answer 1

Ok my daughter will be 3 next month and I just figured out why she would wake up 3 to 4 times a night. When she used to wake up I would take her back to her room and tuck her in and she would go right back to sleep. But 30 mins. later she would wake up all over again. Anyway, I figured it all out. One was the thristy excuse. She would always wake up wanting something to drink. So now I make it an every night event to get her little cup of very watered down juice. I let her sip some and then I take her to bed and leave it on her night stand next to her bed. So she knows where it is when she wakes up thirsty at night. Ok so this idea helped a bit! But then she still woke up at least once a night. It was driving me crazy. But I soon learned that she would wake up in a sweat. My house was a lil too uncomfortable at night. It was too hot for her. So what I did was adjusted the A/C to a comfortable temp. and I put a lil fan next to her bed. I leave it on low when she sleeps. Now she sleeps all night and Im loving it. Im not sure if this may be the cause of your late night visits. But my advice to you is to find out what the cause the late night visits. It may take a while to figure out but when you do it will be total bliss. Good Luck!!

Answer 2

a child should not be 'demanding' anything from you during the night, particularly milk at 2 years old. You need to keep up the rapid return for BOTH of them, but this sounds like a result of over nurturing as younger babies. By this age, kids should be sleeping through the night no problem, minus an odd nightmare or toilet trip.

If your child needs the toilet during the night, fine. but do NOT pander to any other need during the night - straight back to bed. Lay off the bananas too - they are 'brain food'

try a piece of toast or apple slices instead.

As for new baby, don't pick her/him up every time they cry. This is a typical start to the pattern you are seeing later on with your older children.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I've only just got my two year old sleeping through. He was still having milk during the night so I just put the bottle in the bin. It was really hard for like two or three nights but after that he slept through. When he woke asking for milk I just put him back into bed and let him cry for a few mins and he would forget the milk and go to sleep.
For your kids I would give them a glass of milk and some toast about an hour and a half before bed, bananas are full of energy! Keep up the rapid return technique but don't give her any attention, just lift her up and put her straight into bed with no conversation.
Good Luck!!

Answer 4

Sounds like she's over tired. Any person, especially children, wont sleep well if they are over tired. Its like the very thing they need their bodies wont do.

If your 2 year old still naps during the day, see if you can lay down with your daughter and get her to nap.

Or, what works for me when nap time gets screwed up, is to spend an hour or so in the car at the same time each day until nap time is done and over. Once you set the routine for sleep in their bodies, its easier to decide where it happens.

Answer 5

It sounds like youv'e let them rule the house, and now they can come to you just because, do you get up with them, and get them whatever they want, If so then that should be stopped. also I would not have the music playing. That is a stimulant and when they wake up it is almost like someone is talking to them.
Just let them know that And I would probably say something like this, I know that mommy has allowed you to get up through the night and that is not right, night time is for sleeping and from now on when you get out of bed I aqm going to put you back in bed and I am going back to my bed. let them no that there is no talking no eating no reading stories. If there thirsty then maybe keep a little cup of water by there bed. And if they have to go potty then tell them they need to make it quick. I have 3 girls 11. 9, and 5 and I also had to get tough on my 5year old who constantly wanted me in with her or she would get up to sleep with me. She would cry in the middle of the night and as much as I wanted to let her get in bed with me I couldn't. It took about 2 weeks and she now sleeps through the night in her own bed, And I don't have to lay down with her to get her to sleep. You have to be tough but after a few days they will be happier and so will you.

Answer 6

My 3 year old trys that. We just tell her quietly its bed time and take her back into her room, tuck her in and say see you in the morning. If she gets up again, we don't talk to her we just place her back in bed. It works, when they realise the more they persist, the less you will interact with them. It isn't rare that she doesn't sleep during the day, my 3 year old girl doesn't also and she is up early every morning. Give both of your children a drink of milk then a warm bath before bed, make sure they use the toilet/potty etc before bed, then you know they really don't need anything until morning.

Answer 7

I would get them enrolled in one of the Baby Gyms. They're great resources for parents because the kids can run around and play with each other (so it's a socialization thing too!), but it'll help them get all of that excess energy out. Otherwise, I would hire a babysitter in the afternoon so that you can rest while s/he runs around with them, playing games, etc.

Answer 8

0. Get a routine going every single day routine routine routine
1. No naps in the daytime. Bedtime is at nite
2. Make bedtime at 9:00 pm and get them up every single morning at around 6 am or 7 am. Make it a routine
3. Eat supper every nite before 6 pm and offer a lite snack at around 8 pm. routine....every single nite
4. Cut out the candy, pop, junk food.
5. No TV, go outside to play with them and get a lot of sunshine and play
6. Give them jobs at home such as dusting the furniture and washing dishes, making their own beds.
7. Give them a drink before bed and say goodnite...see you tommorrow and hope for the best.
Good lord I would hate to be in your shoes. My niece has a 8 month old who does not nap. She was very colicy and did not sleep thru the nite until she was 8 months old for the very 1st time.

Answer 9

Try a warm bath using Johnson & Johnson's Bedtime Baby Wash AND the lotion. Then a "before bed snack"...like cereal. Let me tell you...IT WORKS!!! My daughter was the same exact way. There's "something magical" in this product that relaxes them completely. Chamomile is the magic agent. I live by it. My daughter is 17 months old and it still works for her to this day.

p.s. I hear it's good for adults too. :-)

Answer 10

You want to have three kids under five years of age and still be able to sleep? Take your kids to the park more often.Let them run and scream around. Cut down on nap time. They will sleep.