PR: Pre schooler sleep help

ASmallWonder

We don't know WTF to do anymore.  Some nights DS sleeps all night (he's 3.5) and some nights he's up a ton.  And these are not calm wake ups.  He wakes up screaming and crying but for no real reason.  We've tried remedying too hot/too cold, night light issues, "scary" things, etc.  There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to it other than that he might startle awake and then just can't calm himself.  He was an awesome sleeper when he was younger so I don't know what to do.  The nights he wakes up many times he ends up wanting to sleep in, which he can't do on weekdays and he doesn't nap during the day so I feel like he doesn't get a good rest those days.  It happens probably the majority of nights.

I'm considering asking his doctor if he could need melatonin but I've read up on it and it seems there are some definite potential concerns.  We're all kind of at our wit's end.

ILoveBoys

DD just turned 3 and is going through that right now. My boys both went through this stage too. Time was the only thing that cured them. It sucks. I'm so sorry

Littledeer84

We are doing this fight right now too. Right now I make her go to sleep in her own bed. We leave the door open, low watt light on, etc. If she gets up in the middle of the night and is really upset, I let her sleep on her old crib mattresses on the floor in our room. The sleep deprivation was too much when I was trying to keep her in her bed. I know it isn't for everyone, but it is working for now. Just hoping she will grow out of it.

robyn2201

DD is doing this as well and we are considering setting up a little cot in our room. Everything is scary for her and she keeps having nightmares.

ILoveBoys said:

DD just turned 3 and is going through that right now. My boys both went through this stage too. Time was the only thing that cured them. It sucks. I'm so sorry

@ILoveBoys, how long did it last?

JourneyToBaby

Just went through this EXACT thing with one of my boys.  He was up crying bc he was scared, or just up saying he couldn't sleep, his back, skin, bones, eyes, neck, feet, muscles, brain hurt so he "couldn't sleep", he said that "sleeping was hard"... ha. He also had issues staying in bed when I put him to bed initially, it would drive me BSC putting him back in his room a thousand times. 

 My other son has no issues sleeping.

A couple of friends suggested an incentive chart.  For some reason, I thought he wouldn't understand how it worked.  I got desperate enough to try it and he understood completely.  I drew a super basic chart with 7 vertical squares and put it up on his wall.  If he stays in his bed without getting up or crying (with the exception of getting up to use the bathroom and going right back to sleep) he gets a sticker.  Once he fills all of the squares with stickers, I told him that we can go to the store and pick out a "prize".

I also changed what I do when I put in him bed initially.  I told them I would tickle their backs for one minute (thats a THING in our house) and then I would leave the room.  I did say that I would check on them every 5 mins if they wanted.  My poor sleeping son usually wants me to.  I was blown away that he went for this.  

Its only been about 5 days but he has totally bought into the incentive chart and out of 6 nights, he has cried only once one night.

JourneyToBaby

My siggie is gone, I should say that I have 3.5 year old twin boys.

ILoveBoys

@sweettalkin417 - sorry didnt see this notification, ive been on mobile. The boys lasted anywhere from 4-6 months in varying degrees (sometimes they would STTN and other times it would be weeks). DD has been doing it on and off for a couple months. She's gotten much better lately especially if we take her lightbulbs out. (She wants to get up and play with the lights). Now she has croup so.... lol

MamatoA2010

My DD (almost 4) still wakes late at night about 1/3 of the time. If she does wake at night its at 4am thinking that its time to wake up for the day. I just go in, lay her back down, cover her with her blanket and give her a lovey and she goes right back down. Thankfully its been over a month that she's been STTN from 8pm-7am so I think we're onto something good now. Hang in there! Your problem is a common one! Sorry I don't have any good advice, I wish I did

ASmallWonder

Thanks everyone - guess it's nice not to feel alone? lol