Can/does your 3 year old cover himself?

ShanJosh777 · February 2012

DS calls me at least once nightly to cover him back up, but sometimes 2 or 3 times. I have tried to show him how to cover himself, and tell him that if he wakes up and needs to be covered, all he has to do is pull the blanket back up, but he always says he can't. I find it hard to believe that a kid who can completely dress himself can't pull a blanket up over himself. But of course at 3am, the easiest thing to do is just to run in and cover him, so I'm probably making it worse.

Last night was one of his 3 wakeup nights, and it is getting kind of disruptive. Just wondering if he should be able to cover himself, or if I need a different blanket for him or something. His blankets are kind of small, not baby blankets, but not full twin size blankets either.

KathrynMD · February 2012

yes, DD can

We use 2 blankets - her blankie and a regular toddler/crib sized quilt. She sometimes complains that I haven't done her blankie "right" but its a stall technique.

IMO even if he's uncovered, its not really a big deal. I would slowly stop goign in to help with this problem or at the very least, go in, but make him do it himself.

Mrs.JLC · February 2012

My 3 year old DD has been able to cover herself for a while. I originally taught her to cover herself when she showed an interest in playing "night night/wake up." First we took turns tucking each other in (and waking each other) and then I worked in tucking ourselves in. Then I just had her tuck herself in at bedtime by working it into our routine. I said something like "get comfy for your book." Once she was in the habit of doing it herself before she went to sleep she stopped calling me in to help her in the middle of the night. Good luck.

brightning · February 2012

I guess this is a non-answer because my DD prefers to be uncovered so this has never been an issue for us. Can you dress him in warmer PJs until he figures out how to cover up?

KatFCo · February 2012

DD took a while to learn. She's still in a toddler bed, but we use a twin size blanket so it's easier for her to pull it over herself. I started by showing her how to cover herself, then having her practice. Then I would tell her to cover herself while I watched. Sometimes I'd "set them up" for her, so she could just pull them up. Now she only needs help if they get really tangled or just completely fall off the bed.

kmhunt11 · February 2012

These 3.5yo's are crafty. He just wants to see Mommy

Love the idea of the night-night/wake up game. DD can cover herself and has for a long time.

VTbride05 · February 2012

Yes he can.

And he came downstairs last night to ask me to do it.

Love age 3!

jsugrin · February 2012

Yes both of my kids can cover themselves up, now of course I know this for sure because I'm often sleeping with one of them so I've seen first hand that they reach for the covers and pull them up. I'd say he's playing you but how you want to handle that one is totally up to your parenting style.

ss+el · February 2012

I'm guessing he can but, like pp said, he wants to see his Mommy.

DS can cover himself, but the only blanket he'll touch with a ten foot pole really isn't big enough for him, so he wears a fleece sleeper and pajamas so that he doesn't get cold at night.

anna12 · February 2012

My DD can cover herself, and does so at night before she goes to bed, but will still call me in at 3am to cover her every so often. I haven't figured out a good way to avoid these night time requests entirely, but they have tapered off as she has gotten older.

byrne15 · February 2012

DS is in a full size bed and he can cover himself back up. We have regular sheets and a comforter on his bed.

JoannaJes · February 2012

My almost three year old is suddenly struggling with finding his sippy cup that is by his bed. Instead of looking in the exact place it is every night, he'd rather ask me to gt it for him, ha ha. But yeah, he covers himself up.

neverblushed · February 2012

I'd go to the door and poke my head in, and say, "You can do it! Grab the covers and pull them up. There you go. Night night!" but not actually do it for him. After he demonstrates that he can do it, just call in and tell him to do it himself.

This is probably your child's clever way of just getting a little nighttime comfort and attention from mommy. When he finds that he's not getting what he wants, he'll quit calling to you.

FWIW, this general type of night-time neediness (can I have a drink of water?, I saw something, I had a bad dream, I need kleenex, I need to use the bathroom) is REALLY common for kids this age. If you gently but firmly resist getting roped into this cycle, he'll get over it quickly.

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