why is my two year old waking up crying in the middle of night?

Question

my son is two years old. unfortnely we share the same room. its me ,my bf, daughter and son. i don't think it has anything to do with sharing a room. My son wakes up even out of his naps crying. He sometimes wakes up in the middle night and sits up crying.its pretty quiet for the most part and they don't wake up to eachother. my daughter cries for a few mintues for a bottle but goes back to sleep. does anyone know how i can make him feel better. not to mention he likes sleeping in our bed

Answer 1

He wakes up and wants attention, - of course you reward him by giving him attention.

Figure out circumstances where he does sleep longer, - and try to duplicate them.

Answer 2

He could be waking up for any number of reasons (e.g., bad dream, growing pains, going through something new, has to go to the bathroom). It's just a normal thing that some kids do. The one thing I would be concerned about is an ear infection Since the the pain and pressure are worse when laying down, it is something that could wake him in the night. If he seems completely fine during the day, though, it might be nothing. Our son woke up crying and half asleep at that age and still does sometimes at 4 1/2, but our daughter is now two and wakes up perfectly lucid in the middle of the night. All kids are different. It will pass.

As for sleeping in the same bed, do not feel pressured to stop something that works for you and your family. If anything, not having to be alone in a dark room is more comforting for your child (not less). Your situation is actually quite normal, as an estimated 90% of the world sleeps the way your family does. Even 1/3 of American families often sleep together. It is highly unlikely that billions of people are in the wrong and ruining their children.

My family often shared a bed growing up (six people in a double bed!), and all of us have grown to be successful and independent individuals. Our family also remains very close and supportive of one another. We all have plenty of room now, but most of us choose to allow our children to come into our beds and share rooms with one another. My children's doctor says to just enjoy it, because before you know it your kids won't want to be near you during the teen years.

Answer 3

I think he needs the feeling of security. Some children are independent and some are not.It seems that your son needs to feel more secured, that's why he likes to sleep on your bed. Don't reject him. Just take it easy and let him sleep with you when every he cries... soon he will feel really secured and will stop crying.

Also remember that some people are scared of dark so are not. Your son might be scared of darkness ... he can not see you at night in a dark room... he cries ... he is scared of darkness... a small hug form you will calm him down and give him a feeling of security. I am sure he want to sleep in your bed because he can feel you (not see you as it is dark) and that gives him a feeling of peace and security. Love him and keep him beside you when he need to be with you and you'll see that he will change after few weeks as he grow up. Don't worry it's just a turning point in a child's psychology. Once he finds love and security he will stop crying in the middle of the night.

Answer 4

all 4 of my children all had the same issue.

wake up crying (they were still asleep but crying sitting up).

Carried on from 2 years old until about 5.

What was the problem? They had to go to the bathroom. Bladder was full, and they would wake up feeling they had to go. Get comfort from mom or dad and then laid right back down to sleep only for it to happen again.

Make sure they go before they go to bed. When he cries take him to the bathroom and put him back to bed. Will only happen once a night that way ;)

Answer 5

That is quite hard to know as every child is different.

Maybe he's having nightmares? Maybe he's stressed out if he is being scolded a lot of times during the day? Maybe you could ask him in the morning privately if somebody has been hurting him or molesting him(I hope not) anywhere.

Also, you didn't say if your boyfriend is their Dad. If he's not, maybe he misses his Dad and is scared now that somebody else is there. You just have to discover by talking to your son in private, in a loving way, assure him your love, give him lots of hugs...he needs it.

Try to read them stories before bedtime as a routine.Hopefully, those nice stories will be part of their dream,instead of something scary.

Good Luck!

I also agree with Beccy and coach. Both are good advice.

Answer 6

That sounds all too usual. try getting a bedtime recurring in case you have not got already got one. it might nicely be a similar element on a similar time each nighttime. rather of permitting them to cry it out or giving in try this: tell them it is nighttime nighttime time and in the event that they do no longer give up crying you're leaving. in the event that they do no longer give up depart the room for 5 minutes. Then pass decrease back in and tell them to pass to mattress or you will depart lower back. the subsequent time depart for 6 minutes. Then whilst they hear sit down in a chair next to the crib till they pass to sleep. in the event that they awaken in the process the nighttime do a similar element yet lower back. have confidence me they'll thank you for helping them sleep greater helpful. My 2 y/o slept with us and awakened quite a few cases in the process the nighttime. i replaced into at my wits end and tried the Dana Obleman Sleep experience application and it labored miracles!

Answer 7

My guess is that he wants attention. You could try hugging. You might also try rewarding him for his more quiet periods (an alarm on your cell phone?) or for him learning to be more articulate about his needs.

re: Ihaveaor: If you do not have soothing music, you might be able to get a(n old cheap) radio. Tune it between stations to get "white" noise. This tends to mask out other sounds.

On the more expensive end, sheepskin (fleece) has been shown to calm infants down and put them to sleep.

Answer 8

Well the sleeping in your bed should have been taken care of early on. He should be in his own big boy bed. He could be having nightmares. Do you ever ask him what woke him up? Maybe he can remember and let you know. When he has these episodes just talk soft and sweet to him to give him comfort. But I would talk to my pediatrician about this it should not be occurring all the time.

Answer 9

My 2yo does this too! I think its nightmares,apparently its a common thing.Be carefull letting him sleep in ur bed. it can become a habit that is hard to break.