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Parenting
RondackHiker
member
I need sleep help for ds
RondackHiker
member
in Parenting
I don't know what to do.
For the past month, DS has woken up 1-3 (or more) times a night, freaking out.
Sometimes he wants the lights on. Sometimes he wants the dog to be with him. Sometimes I need to check for monsters or hug or cuddle him.
I am tired and I know he has to be as well. I don't want to leave his room lights on since he shares with DD. There are two nightlights beside his bed and a bright one outside their open bedroom door. He's got a light up sea horse and stuffed animals to cuddle.
The dog won't stay in there all night with the door open, and DS wants it open. I don't want a gate that'd keep DS from reaching the potty.
I am not sure what to do. I've talked to DS about it. He's afraid of bears and monsters. He knows he's safe during the day, but it clearly doesn't hold over to nighttime.
To top it off, DH was a complete dick last night when I got frustrated and said (to DH) that I didn't know what to do anymore when DS woke up for the third time.
Anyone have any suggestions?
For the past month, DS has woken up 1-3 (or more) times a night, freaking out.
Sometimes he wants the lights on. Sometimes he wants the dog to be with him. Sometimes I need to check for monsters or hug or cuddle him.
I am tired and I know he has to be as well. I don't want to leave his room lights on since he shares with DD. There are two nightlights beside his bed and a bright one outside their open bedroom door. He's got a light up sea horse and stuffed animals to cuddle.
The dog won't stay in there all night with the door open, and DS wants it open. I don't want a gate that'd keep DS from reaching the potty.
I am not sure what to do. I've talked to DS about it. He's afraid of bears and monsters. He knows he's safe during the day, but it clearly doesn't hold over to nighttime.
To top it off, DH was a complete dick last night when I got frustrated and said (to DH) that I didn't know what to do anymore when DS woke up for the third time.
Anyone have any suggestions?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: I need sleep help for ds
Married DH 7/30/11
CSC arrived 5/7/12
CHC arrived 6/2/14
He wakes up screaming he can't see as is... Ugh. I don't know.
Sorry no help, just commiserating.
I'm so freaking tired. He and DD don't wake at the same time so I feel like I'm up all night.
And when I said I was frustrated last night, DH said "we've got to just keep getting up with him. It wouldn't be okay to ignore him. You're worrying too much. It's your anxiety." Yes, ass. Because worrying about my scared kid is totally just anxiety. And it's abnormal to be frustrated and feel helpless when DS and I are both tired and the poor kid is scared.
I'm so fucking pissed with him today.
Married DH 7/30/11
CSC arrived 5/7/12
CHC arrived 6/2/14
He's had one in the past and I get called in because it's lost in the bed.
Of course it may have helped him sleep a dozen times I'm unaware of.
Maybe I'll look for a big one that'd be easy to find today, and figure out how to dim it.
What if he's playing me and that's why he's waking?
But if he's crying for real then I do feel mean.
He and DD share a room too, which complicates things.
I'm so indecisive about it.
edit: just saw your earlier post.
Thank you, @HilarityEnsued.
We also let him sleep with a flashlight. There are only a few times he has lost it and asked us to come find it. I am ok with going in occasionally to help him find it because I know it actually reduces the number of nighttime wake up/freak outs because he feels secure.
This came literally out of nowhere so I'm stumped. It's been about a month and I want to pull my hair out.
I hope you'll have better luck than I've had. For now, stay strong and know that it will not last forever, whatever it is.
Disney recently released, on DVD, one of their nature movies about bears. (Do I really need to warn about spoilers in a nature film, just in case)
No bears die. It has some tense bear fighting scenes, but no bears die. There is a mother bear and her two cubs (boy and girl.) Maybe if he sees the bears as having normal families like his, he won't be scared of them? I don't know. Good luck.
I read how this is common at this age because imaginations run wild and to use that as a tool. When he is calm have him describe what he is afraid of, don't dismiss it, and ask him details. Then have him imagine what will protect him from the bear, be specific, describe it, what it will do etc. DD picked a ninja turtle. So now if she is scared we do a little ninja move and make it silly. I will say that DD so far has been doing this more for attention then actually being terrified.
I agree with HE though for the middle of the night. I would do a 'sweep' or something else that comforts him before bed, but during the middle of the night, there would be no hoop jumping. Since he is crying and scared, I don't think I could ignore him, but I would go in and not say anything, give a brief cuddle and leave. Getting up that much is utter misery, hope it gets better soon!
@TyrannosaurusLex Luckily he doesn't wake up evelyn, at least not usually.
@notreal2 I'll check it out. It's nice to "see" you!
:-h
I think it was really upsetting for her to realize not only was she sharing mommy during the day, but he was also getting my attention at night. I try to get him to bed first, so her bedtime routine is only about her. We keep it short, sweet and positive, but it's just her time. And tough love if she wakes at night. For us, she responds to this better with DH than me. She settles much more quickly for him with a quick "You're fine, I love you, now go back to sleep."
GL, hopefully this phase passes soon!