My Two-year Old Keeps Waking up in the Middle of the Night.

Updated on February 06, 2008
J.S. asks from Northville, MI
5 answers

My daughter has always been an excellent sleeper. She has slept through the night since she has been 6 weeks old. Now, she is waking up in the middle of the night crying. The only way she will go back to sleep is if she lays with my husband or I. Last night I went in her room, and told her it was night time and everyone was sleeping, and she needed to go back to sleep. Something my pediatrician recommended. I let her cry for 30 minutes, and couldn't handle it any more. I went and got her. Does anyone have any suggestions of what I can do? Or any ideas what is bothering her? Any advice would be helpful.

Thank you,

J.

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C.R.

answers from Detroit on

My daughter did the same thing. Slept threw the night since she was 6 weeks and started waking up in the middle of the night at like 22 months till we put her in a toddler bed. But she is very independent. She has been potty trained since 25 months but I still put her in a diaper at night(resently started using pull ups). I wasn't sure about the toddler bed thing but you know she sleeps in it for mostly the whole night, maybe around 5 or 6 she comes inour room and sleeps a bit longer. I think she was just unhappy with the crib. I don't mind her getting into bed with us in the mornings. I have never let her sleep the whole night with us unless she was sick. My husband is a OTR truck driver and I still never let her sleep in bed with me when he was done for weeks at a time. So maybe ask her if she wants to be a big girl and try it. My suggestion though, dont take down the drib we still use it if she acts ups! lol So if she doesn't stay in bed I tell her it will be back to the crib and she goes right in her room and lays down. May be wrong but it works! Good luck.

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K.C.

answers from Detroit on

This is the age when their little imaginations get going and they start having nightmares. I would cuddle her and calm her and then put her back in her own bed. Reality is that kids wake up... but it also doesn't last forever and I guarantee that by the time she is 3 or 4 she will be pooped and sleeping from 7pm till 7am... and by the time she is 16 you won't be able to get her out of bed!
Don't let her cry... keep the trust between you and her strong... she needs to know that if she cries... Mummy or Daddy will come and help. She may need the extra cuddles from you as she is in daycare, and that's ok. I strongly disagree that the parents bed should be 100% off limits. kids all need cuddles and security and when they feel secure they are more likely to seek independence. both my kids know where I am and that they can come see me... and they also know where their bed is ...and most nights sleep there.
Keep the faith... this too will pass, and I guarantee you will miss your middle of the night cuddles!

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A.W.

answers from Detroit on

I would say continue on with what your pediatrician recommended. I think she's probably testing you. Of course a child would probably want to sleep with mommy and daddy, but it's a very unhealthy habit to start. This may be very far from the truth, but do you and your husband fight at all in front of her? If so, she could be having some security issues. If not, then it's probably just a phase (one of many :-0) that you just need to persevere through. Oh, another thought, make sure that her nightly routine is the same every night. I hope this helps at least a little bit.

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E.S.

answers from Detroit on

I am a Wellness Educator and there could be a couple things. What is your chiild doing before be beds down? Is it something that he would have nightmares about and wake up?
Also what she eats before she goes down at night. Is she eating anything sugary? I know she is little but snacks before bedtime does affect some children.
E. S

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L.S.

answers from Detroit on

I really don't have any great advice, but we went through the same. At 15 months our little guy started waking up, sometimes 2 or 3 times and once and a while 2 hours before he would go back to sleep. It took us 12 to 13 months to get back to semi normal. I had to take up going to lay with him in the night so he would go back to sleep, now he basically is sleeping through the night again at 27-28 months. I did read somewhere to make sure the room is exactly as is when they fall asleep as it will be if they wake up in the night - lights on or off - doors open or shut, etc. This atmosphere would get them just to roll over and go back to sleep.

One thing we did when he was 22 months that helped was get a "big boys" theme (Cars - the movie) going in his room and talked about how cool it was and what a big boy bedroom he had, etc. This made him excited to go to his room.

Best of luck to you!

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