Older Sibling Regression

pepperpotts317 · August 2014

My DS is almost three and had been sleeping through the night wonderfully for quite sometime. About a month ago he officially potty trained and since then he's been up between one to three times a night crying for me or climbing into our bed. Is this something anyone else is going through? I'm wondering if it's the new baby or maybe something developmentally with the potty training? Thanks in advance!

Emerald27 · August 2014

It's hard to say what it is, but I have heard that lots of toddlers do this. Sometimes it's potty training related, sometimes it's developmental (a lot of toddlers to through phases of wanting to be babies again), sometimes toddlers have nightmares, etc.

Has anything other than the pregnancy changed for him recently? Could you get him a nightlight or a twilight turtle, or a special stuffed animal to hug?

My DS wakes once per night and doesn't cry, but he does call for me. I go to his room and snuggle him back to sleep (we also snuggle to sleep at bedtime), and then I go back to my room. Not sure if you fit in his bed, but that could be helpful to you.

When toddlers wake frightened, it's usually recommended to go to them in their bed instead of bringing them into your bed. This teaches them that their room is a good and safe place to be, whereas bringing them into your bed can reinforce the idea that their room is scary or unsafe. It also gets them used to the idea that this is where I sleep. DH can also help snuggle LO at some night wakings, to give you a break.

Toddlers are tough, man. Especially "threenagers."

Good luck to you!

MrMrsandBaby · August 2014

My pediatrician told us to expect regression when LO arrives but I don't know if maybe pending arrival would do it too? Maybe he is waking because he has to go to the bathroom?

Sorry, that was basically no help.

pnwlover12 · August 2014

DD is also almost 3. Her sleeping habits haven't changed much, but all of a sudden now she's the baby. She insists on it. If we call her a big girl, she says, "No! Baby!"

I'm assuming it's because all of the fuss surrounding her baby brother coming. When his swing showed up the other day, she realllly wanted us to open it and let her sit in it. I've just been trying to remind her how cool it will be for her to be the big sis.

Emerald27 · August 2014

pnwlover12 said:
DD is also almost 3. Her sleeping habits haven't changed much, but all of a sudden now she's the baby. She insists on it. If we call her a big girl, she says, "No! Baby!"

I'm assuming it's because all of the fuss surrounding her baby brother coming. When his swing showed up the other day, she realllly wanted us to open it and let her sit in it. I've just been trying to remind her how cool it will be for her to be the big sis.

Just THIS WEEK DS has started pretending he's a baby. I call him my big boy and he makes a cooing sound and curls up in my lap and says "you're the mama and I'm the baby." ...are our kids all in on this together?!

I play baby with him for a bit and am generally ignoring it (not correcting him, etc.) for now.

Starfish17 · August 2014

DS went through a similar phase when he was around 3 - he would crawl into our bed almost every night, in the middle of the night. Nothing had really changed - he had potty trained a few months before, had transitioned in his bed about 9 months before, and his sister was already like 6 months old. It lasted a couple months, then resolved on his own. We didn't really see any true regression issues with him when DD was born.

Kendrav4 · August 2014

I think its a normal toddler thing. My son has gone through this a couple of times and he's been potty trained for about 7 months. It usually resolves on its own after a while and he goes back to sleeping in his room. He also has gone from wanting to use a big boy cup (no kid) to a "baby cup" (sippy) and I have no idea why

pepperpotts317 · August 2014

Thank you all so much for your thoughtful replies!

@Emerald27‌ we have the twilight turtle and he cuddles with his special grey kitty. Those things are super helpful. I will definitely make an effort to get into his bed instead of letting him stay in ours. We got a twin bed so we would be able to lay with him when be needed it.

Sounds like maybe this is just normal three year old behavior. I'm glad we're all in this together! You ladies are the best!

AppleGrapeMSTK · August 2014

Nicb13 said:

Emerald27 said:

DD is also almost 3. Her sleeping habits haven't changed much, but all of a sudden now she's the baby. She insists on it. If we call her a big girl, she says, "No! Baby!"

I'm assuming it's because all of the fuss surrounding her baby brother coming. When his swing showed up the other day, she realllly wanted us to open it and let her sit in it. I've just been trying to remind her how cool it will be for her to be the big sis.
Just THIS WEEK DS has started pretending he's a baby. I call him my big boy and he makes a cooing sound and curls up in my lap and says "you're the mama and I'm the baby." ...are our kids all in on this together?! I play baby with him for a bit and am generally ignoring it (not correcting him, etc.) for now.

DS has too!

Add me to this. When I take him out of the bath and wrap him up with the towel, he tells me he's a baby. Last night he tried to nurse, and this morning he put on a bathrobe that was gifted to the baby.

hippohat · August 2014

I think DD had a bit of sleep regression when she PT - I remember thinking that it was likely from the massive development changes going on. The girl has never been a good sleeper from day 1. She has been sleeping SO much better lately I'm dreading messing with her good sleep!

Her new thing is neeeeeeding me to do everything for her. Dress her, do all the potty steps for her (undressed, wipe, dressed, wash hands), but no acting like a baby yet. I'm not super excited to see how she deals with baby's arrival…

krazyinsane · August 2014

DD#2 has been potty trained since 22months (now is 32 momths) she comes in every few nights and wants to cuddle... But that wakes me and my bladder up. So her and I go to the bathroom together. I help her up, she goes, I wipe her, and move her out of my way (before I explode!!!) And help her get back into her clothes... 9 times out of ten she'll tell me goodnight and go start climbing back into bed. She doesn't pee the bed on the nights I don't get up with her and just cuddle but I don't like to think she's holding it all that time :-? So I make an effort...
Just an idea to try

pepperpotts317 · August 2014

Nicb13 said:

We just recently put DS in a twin bed and it's so cute when I hear him call out "mommy! mommy!" over and over and when I go into his room, he just wants me to lay with him for a minute. I love it!

That is so sweet!! Your little guy is adorable!

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