My 2 year old daughter usually is a great sleeper. However, this past week she has been waking up crying, wanting the light on and her door open. We can go into her room and turn on her mobile and cover her back up and she will go back to sleep. Sometimes she will sleep the rest of the night, other times she's up a few more times. She has a night light and a mobile. I'm just not sure if she is having bad dreams, or if this is a plot not to go to sleep!
N.-
I think she is probably getting her two year molars. All my children started waking again (after being great sleepers) when they were getting theirs. I give my daugter the homeopathic teething tablets at night and that seems to help. You can get them at the drugstore and sometimes the grocery store.
Mary
I have always heard/read that children can start dreaming at around 2 years old. And I believe they can have nightmares at that point too. I would just keep to a routine as much as possible with how you respond to her when you are trying to get her to go back to sleep. I have a 3 year old, but I don't think he's woken up because of dreaming. Good luck.
around two years old alot of kids get something called "two year old night tremors" and yes they are little baby nightmares.just about little things that would upset a 2 year old..a scary dog they might of seen,or maybe mommy leaving them with the babysitter. just comfort her and put her back to sleep. if you let this become an excuse for her to start co sleeping or something it will make your nights alot worse!!!. goodluck
My daughter went through that stage and she still does sometimes. She is 3.5 now and still wakes sometimes. It can be dreams, or maybe she has become sensitive to different things. Mackenzie woke every night for a while and we found out she would wake up every time the heat kicked on because the heater was making a wierd noise and it woke her up. It may be something like that, or she may just be a little more sensitive to something else in her room. We never leave our kids doors open, but we have dogs who decided to play after the kids have gone to bed. Maybe you cn try giving her a nighttime bear or something she can grab instead of crying. Our son likes his water globe, the one with the fish and it hangs on the side of the crib. He knows how to turn it on so if he wakes up in the middle of the night, he just turns it on and finds his paci and goes back to sleep. But he hates the night light. He wants a dark room, with the exception of the water globe's light. But he knows how to change the music and how to turn the light off and leave the music on. He will turn it on with music and lights, then find his paci and turn the light mode off and listen to the music until he goes back to sleep.
This is an age where children start to dream or have nightmares. My son started talking in his sleep too. I notice every once and a while, he'll try to tell me he's scared or he needs me and it seems like a ploy to go back to bed, especially if he wanted to do something he couldn't right before bed. I usually try to trust my gut as to whether he really had a bad dream or if he's plotting against me. Both are possible. I have started just going in hugging him and turning on his pooh pillow, it has a little dim light show and music with a timer. Then if he's really upset, I'll sit in the rocking chair next to him or rock him if he's REALLY upset. I think this is helping the false claims, because he's not getting tons of attention. Good luck!!
I am a mother of a 31yr.old he use to sleep walk and dream. It's just part of life. If you start leaving the light on it will all ways be on once she goes to sleep turn out the light. NO sweets or pork before bed time it will reduce the dreams. Good luck!!!!!
My Grandchildren call me Madea
hi N.,
sometimes there is an anxiety of seperation that hits children at diff. times. she just needs to know that you are near with her beckoning call.
I would suggest that you pray peace over her at night and a peaceful sleep in Jesus' name. Also is there anything new that has been given to her as a gift that could be scaring her? is she eating or getting some sugar before bed which could be stopping her from having a restful sleep? is there a new noise in your house that may be scaring her too like a new appliance kicking in?
Just some thoughts but hope they help. Just tell her how much you love her and then cover her and back to sleep. when it continues jsut walk in, say nothing and put her back to sleep. keep doing this without speaking to her. it will get less and less each night....
blessings, L.
My almost 3 year old has been going through this off and on too since he turned 2. What I have been told is that it could be dreams but also them "bringing their day" to bed with them. I guess they are more focused on what is going on around them now and their little minds are working overtime. What I found was that when my son didn't get enough sleep during nap or he went to bed later than normal, the crying periods were more frequent. Do you think this is the case with your little girl?
Good luck!
She might be having night terrors. Try leaving a lamp on (something brighter than a nightlight). Also, she may have a little bit of separation anxiety. Have you moved her out of the crib yet? Some of the parenting mags that I have read said that when you do move them, they may get scared of various things like the dark or all the wide open space. The suggestions I've read and used are to have a night time routine. We read books and play music while our twins explore their room. (We're lucky enough that they have a built in buddy). Also- what are her naps like. If kids don't nap well in the day, they may not sleep well at night.
Good luck!
F.
She's playing you to get you to come in her room at night. When you turn on a light in her room or come in when there is obviously nothings wrong you are telling her there is something wrong. If there wasn't you wouldn't come in or if she's playing you you are telling her that what she is doing works so lets do it later or tomorrow night. What you need to do is put her in bed at night with the intention of not going back until morning. When she cries look in and say nothings wrong now you go back to sleep. EACH and EVERY TIME. Don't change it up. Only go in if there is REALLY something wrong, like she fell out of bed or is hurt. If she gets up and goes to you. Don't say a word just pick her up and put her back in the bed and say there is nothing wrong it's time to go back to sleep.
(I wanted to point out another person said it could be night terrors, It's not night terrors) They way you know it's night terrors is you will hear a LOUD scream in her room and she will be throwing herself around when you get in there. Very little you say will help. So won't ask for food or lights or anything from you. Actually she will act like she hates you and wants you to leave. You will def. know if it's night terrors.
Hi N.,
Sounds like night terrors to me. My son starting them a little before he turn 2. Just keep doing what you are doing, and she will be fine.
I believe she can be dreaming. I don't think at two she will be plotting not to go to sleep because nature has it's way. Keep doing what you are doing and show her love. Maybe keep her door open anyway.
S.
