My 2 1/2 year old is waking in the middle of the night and is awake for at least 2 hours!! He isn't crying - he's just laying there or tossing and turning - sometimes laughing. Any ideas why he might be doing this? He does still nap but this happens on days where he isn't taking a good or long nap during the day. He sleeps in his own crib but when he wakes he comes into bed with us so therefore we aren't getting any sleep! He will cry for hours if we don't get him.
**He goes to sleep in his crib, goes to bed just fine but at some point during the night, he will wake up, my dh will get him and bring him to our room where he lays there awake. CIO is tough because I have 2 others that he wakes up, plus my dh is not a fan of CIO. I think that's the only way and everyone will have to deal for a few days. He does not crawl out of his crib so not sure why I should move him to a toddler bed at this point. He naps great in his crib. Thanks everyone for your suggestions!**
It sounds like an adrenal imbalance to me. Go to Vitamin Cottage and get the Herbs for kids Valerian Super Calm. Give it to him before nap time and bed time. This should help him stay asleep. If it is adrenal imbalance CIO will not only not help, it will actually make it worse because he'll produce even more adrenaline from stress.
Good luck!
J.
I think the clear answer is to get him in his own bed all night long. My 3 year old is a BEAST when he sleeps with us (for example on vacation when he has no separate sleeping area). He tosses and turns and is completely restless. However, when he's in his own toddler bed, he sleeps wonderfully and peacefully.
You are probably just going to have to put in the time to let him cry it out for a few days or a week until he realizes that you aren't going to bring him in your room, and that is bedroom is where he sleeps.
Like a previous poster said, make it exciting! Transition him to a big boy bed and let him pick the sheets, etc. Give him some special toys or blankets. And then stick to your guns about keeping him in his bed!
Good luck :)
K
The brain development in the first five years of life is extremely fast. My suggestion w/be to read up on the brain development of a 2 yr old and find out where he is on that scale. Moving him into his own bed might be wise. The longer you hold off doing so the harder it will be. You are sending the message to him that he belongs in your bed and at two this is not the way it s/be.
my son didn't sleep threw the night until he was in his own room. that happened when he was 11 months. it was the best decision for us. we had a baby moniter on all night so we would here if he woke up. I was so glad he slept threw the night.
Why is he still in your bed? He's awake and aware that he has "company" so he's reacting to that. He's sleep deprived and so are you. He needs to learn to settle down at night. I don't know why you have not given him his own bed or, ideally, his own room. If you move him, I wouldn't tell him it's because he's keeping you up. Make it fun and exciting to have his own special place.
I disagree about the toddler or big bed. That will be even more of a nightmare if you can imagine that! He's not crawling out so keep the crib til 3.
Would you consider CIO? It will be a few VERY tough nights.
Does he have a good bedtime routine? bath, books, prayers, etc and is he getting to bed BEFORE he is VERY tired or exhausted? Over-tired kids don't sleep as well.
Try some white noise, a soft music CD on repeat all night, a humidifier.
Is something waking him up? Furnace, AC, cars?
So he'll lay in YOUR bed for hours laughing, tossing, turning or in the crib? I'm sorry--a little confused. I'm guessing he cries when he wakes up, you get him and then he tosses & turns?
sorry, I don't have a specific thing but the book "Sleepless in America" is very good.
Perhaps he's working on his 2 yr molars & some mild pain reliever or teething meds will help.
i agree that your husband needs to stop bringing him to your room. what we do when our 2 yr old wakes is go into her room, tuck her back in with comforting words, press play on the cd player, and go back to our beds. if she keeps crying, we wait about 5 minutes and repeat the process, holding her a little if necessary. sometimes she can tell us what's wrong like she's thirsty or had a dream. two of our kids went back to sleep much better if their dad was the one to go in to comfort them. transition to the toddler bed when you want to, but i think the issue here is more about comfort. good luck!
