My Almost 3 Year Old Won't Sleep Through Night!?!?!?

Has something changed in the family routine? Are you working more outside the home? Does he have a new sitter or daycare situation? SOOO many things are going on developmentally with children in the 2-3 year range. Growth spurts (seemingly non-stop eating), and huge emotional and developmental leaps. Onset of better verbal skills, gross motor skills, new social skills. A big time of change.

He NEEDS you and is stating it clearly. I truly believe that a child's needs for his parent/caregiver do not go away because the sun goes down or a calendar date passes. Meet your little guy where he is at. It IS exhausting to be up a night... especially when you have to get another little one going in the morning, but it is well worth it to meet the need when it occurs. Does he need some one-on-one time with you daily, outside of the regular hustle bustle?

Other advice about diet and bedtime CALM routines are helpful too. One thing I have found is that when these little ones are over-tired (missed naps, etc) it makes them MORE wakeful at night, not less.

Good luck Mama... relax and realize that this could just be a little developmental hiccup and that "this too shall pass"

Give him a cup of water to keep by his bed. Other than a potty stop there shouldn't be anything else he needs... except sleep! Direct him back to bed without converstaion, stimulation, and absolutely positively do not let him go downstairs to eat or play or anything else. That is uncalled for. Just be firm and consistant with him and hopefully this will stop. Good luck.

A.

Have you considered that it is not just a behavior issue? My daughter was never a good sleeper, and when she was 3 we discovered that she had sleep apnea. She was waking me anywhere from 2 to 6 times a night, but apparenlty she was waking up herself on average 8 times an hour because she couldn't breathe. She resisted going to bed because she was afraid. Once she had tonsils and adenoids removed she was able to breathe and her sleep problems have almost disappeard.

Good luck!

You might want to try a night time "pass". Take an index card, write "night time pass" on it, laminate it, and introduce it to your child as his one chance to get out of bed after you have put him down for the night. Once he gets up, take the pass from him, and if he tries to get up again, remind him he has used his pass, and has to stay in his bed. We went through a time when our child would not stay in her bed, and after months of taking turns staying with her until she fell asleep (exhausting and frustrating for both parents), we tried this and within a few weeks, she did not even ask to get up after she was put to bed. I also cannot stress the importance of a consistent bedtime routine (bath, brush teeth, story/snuggle time, lights out)! Good luck!

No sugar sweets or sugar drinks at dinner.
Keep him active, needs more running around outside.

At 3 years old he should be sleeping through the night!! I have a 7 month old son who sleeps through the night, he has been waking more frequently now that he is teething, but your son at 3 years old is done teething.
I think you should discuss this problem with his doctor, let the doctor know that it is starting to disturb his sibling's sleep pattern. I think the doctor will have advice.
My advice would be to be stern, not yelling, but in a stern voice tell him it's sleeping time, even my 7 month old understands me when I tell things in a stern vioice. Your son might cry and fuss a little and if he does just go in to him room, tell him again it's sleeping time, tell him you love him and walk out, spending no more than 1 min. in his room even if he is crying. I know it is hard to hear the crying and fussing and you and your family may loose a little sleep for a few nights or even a week, but in the long run it will be worth it. The key to this ever working is to be consistant!!! If you are not consistant it will never work for you. Do this every night for a week and you will have a child who will go to sleep easily and sleep through the night!! Good Luck and much happiness to you and your family!