2.5 Year Old Son Waking up EVERY Night

Updated on February 05, 2009
L.J. asks from McDonough, GA
4 answers

We have never had any trouble with our son going to bed at night. Since he was born we have the same routine of bathtime, rocking storytime, lights out. I had several weeks off over Christmas, so we decided to convert his crib into a daybed with only 3 sides. He has not fallen out and we still have the same routine each night. Sometimes he fights going to bed now, but not too much. Changing the bed was not a big deal, although he says we "broke it". The real issue is that every night now, between 12:30 - 3am he wakes up crying. He says it is for all different reasons - he needs some milk, wants to go potty, wants to come to daddy's bed, wants us to lay with him, or just simply that he needs us. He doesn't get out of the bed to play, but lays there calling to either mom or dad until we go visit him. Why is he now waking up every night, and what can we do to help him put himself back to sleep? nightlights have not helped.

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K.M.

answers from Atlanta on

We had a similar problem. We told our son that we talked to the doctor and he said it was very important that he stay in his bed all night. That sleeping in his own bed was the best way for him to be healthy and grow up big and strong and to have lots of energy for running fast the next day. We usually talk about all the things we have planned for the next day that he will need energy for. We really praise him in the morning when he sleeps through the night (Wow! You must have lots of energy b/c you slept really well! Good Job! etc). We were all ready to give him prizes or start a sticker chart or something but just the praise seems to be enough.

Telling him the Dr said so keeps him from trying to argue his case with us or talk his way out of it. We have a fan going in his room for white noise so other noises won't wake him up. Our son hasn't attached to a blanket/stuffed animal etc but that has helped our nephews...

Is he still in diapers at night? Our 18 mo old wakes up and cries for a few seconds when he pees at night. Who knows... maybe your son is in a growth spurt or something.

Good luck finding what works for him!
K.

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B.F.

answers from Atlanta on

I got a sound machine my kids are having that problem again ages 6 and 8. However during that age your little one is at I had a fisher price aquarium they loved the ocean sound but it didn't play long enough...however now I have a radio with nature sounds and the sounds can play soft all night my boys are sleeping again. I got our at Belk's 29.00 was less then some other places has the time and project onto the ceiling.
Maybe this is worth trying for you plus I used it when I had a headache it was rather nice.

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R.C.

answers from Spartanburg on

We've discovered a trick that has kept our son from calling out to us at night. He was a little over 2 1/2 and he'd wake up every night saying he was scared of wanted us to lay on the floor by his bed. Somehow, we got started on letting him go to bed with a glow stick. It doesn't matter which kind he has, either the kind to make a necklace, bracelet, or the short stick kind, as long as he's got one when he goes to bed, he will stay quiet all night (99% of the time). Fortunately our Dollar Tree sells a variety of glow sticks, so it's worked out for us, but now our son won't go to bed without one! Maybe that is something that could help.

Good luck!!!

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M.H.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi L.,

There are many different reasons kids get up in the night. But doing what I do...(I do counseling for nutrition and environmental wellness) my first thought goes to your laundry detergent or his mattress. Synthetic chemicals are in everything now, laundry detergents, food, even natural cotton fiber :) because the FDA has deemed most of them safe in small doses. What happens when we add these all together is we have a toxic cocktail. Sometimes these things manifest themselves in sleeping patterns, sometimes in more dangerous disorders like ADD, ADHD, Autism, Asthma just to start with the As. If you use anything sold at Walmart or the grocery store that is NOT truly non-toxic, it's not safe. Be careful because most things labeled non-toxic are non-toxic to the "environment" but not to our little ones or us.

Chemical toxins build up in our system so we don't always SEE a reaction all at once. I always recommend detoxing the house and making sure that bath and body items are safe. That way, if symptoms occur, then you know that there is really something to deal with.

If you'd like more information, I'd be glad to help.

God bless,

M.
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www.go2harmony.healthyhometour.com

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