My 4.5 year old daughter has been getting up 3-4 times a night in the middle of the night for various reasons. Sometimes she will claim it is a bad dream but often it is some random thing or she won't even give a reason. I get up and put her back into her bed without making a lot of fuss. She sleeps with a night light and my 2 year old also sleeps in the same room.
I have an 8 week old baby who gets up 2-3 times a night to feed so the extra times I get up with the 4 year old are really cutting into my precious sleep!
What can I do? My husband is a sound sleeper so usually doesn't hear my daughter when she gets up.
What if you let the two that share a room sleep together for extra comfort? Our son is almost 4 and it really is the age where they get up a lot cuz they are starting to be scared of 'monsters' and the like. Recently my son has been waking up at 5am and coming to get me to sleep with him-I do, but I don't have a newbie to nurse anymore either.
My almost 4yr old has been waking up also, although it's usually just once a night. I'm due in 1month so I'm worried about the extra lack of sleep too. We did move her bed a few months ago, and it's closer to her nightlight flower that hangs on the wall. I'm wondering if the nightlight is shinning in her face and waking her up.
Maybe try moving the nightlight to a different plug?? We'll probably go the sleeping on our floor route if it becomes a problem. Sleep is just too important at that point (with newborn). Good luck, and I hope you find some good suggestions on here.
My 4.5 daughter goes through phases where she will get up in the middle of the night as well. She usually says that her covers fell off and needs to be tucked back in. I will take her back to her bed and tuck her in. Then the next night she'll do it again and before I know it she's getting up every single night. So when it starts getting out of hand I have to stop tucking her in. I'll tell her that she needs to tuck herself back in, that Mommy is not getting out of bed. She will usually have a tantrum in the hallway before she goes back to her bed and cries herself to sleep. It breaks my heart but the next night she doesn't get up! It always breaks the cycle.
If she's gettring up b/c she afraid etc, can you make her a bed "sleeping bag" on your floor where she can come in and QUIETLY lie down and go to sleep on her own? ... that is if you don't mind her on your floor.
Sounds like a jealousy thing, wants more attention from Mommy. I'd make the mid-night events as low key and quick as possible, the more she's nurtured, the more she's encouraged. Secondly I'd try to carve out some special Mommy daughter time during the day so her emotional needs are met.
I know this is hard with a new baby, but hopefully it will have an impact!
Best wishes!
If she's in and out of your room or one of you had to lie down with her sometimes, is that really so bad? She's at a highly imaginative age plus you have a new baby and a 2 yr old you must care for. She's still needing a lot from you and may be dreaming, imagining scary things at night.
