NEED HELP With 2Year!

I think he is just wanting to be with you. I had a stuffed bunny that was in my room. It was "mommy's bunny". When my daughter calls and wants me, has a bad dream, etc. I go get my bunny for her to sleep with. I tell that this way I'm still with her because my bunny is with her.

Ok - you are not going to like this answer but you probably already know what has to happen - you have to break him of this habit. He has you where he wants you and is not going to change without gentle firmness on your side.

I too have a 2 and half year old and for a good while she insisted on her sippy cup of milk with her in bed to go to sleep. She would scream and cry until we gave it to her out of pure frustration. When she turned 2 we decided this had to stop because in addition she was waking up twice a night asking for more milk. My husband and I had to really strategize and commit to breaking the behavior. We realized that I was the enabler as well as couldn't be consistent with her. We started having him put her to bed and firmly say no when she asked for the milk. We also got a door handle lock for her room so she couldn't come out and let her cry for a good while before we went in to soothe her. If she woke up at night my husband would go to her and say no to the request and gently rock her back to sleep. After 4 or 5 days of these tantrums she finally stopped. As a direct result she doesn't wake up and night anymore and she also knows that milk is drunk in the kitchen BEFORE bedtime and teeth brushing. She sometimes still asks for it and then smiles sheepishly because she knows the answer. It was hard but well worth it.

Don't be afraid to be lovingly firm (I was) it is only hurting your sons development (learning how to fall asleep by himself and potentially damaging his teeth) and making yourself a slave to his wishes.

Good luck! You can do it. Ask for help from your spouse. Think of it as a gift you are giving your son by setting clear and consistent boundries.

First and foremost, I would advise you to talk to your pediatrician about any major changes to your child's behavior. Then, as a mother, I'd do my very own detective work. Ask yourself questions about what has been going on in your child's life, lately. Has any major (emotional) event or anything that you can think of happened where your child could have been affected? Last, many children become accustomed to "bad" behaviors because we allow it to progress over time. It might take a couple of (rough) weeks, but after your child falls asleep or not, go back to your own bed. When he comes in again, walk him back to his bed and put him in it. Tell him that he either doesn't get another drink until morning or keep a water filled sippy cup next to his bed for easy access. When that is gone, don't give him any more until the morning. Often times parents continue "bad" behaviors, because they don't want to "crush" their child's little spirit. They think that it's somehow easier to just give in to this little person's demands; However, as you are quickly finding out, it is actually the hardest, in the long run. Maybe your son is just going through a bit of separation anxiety. That's completely normal. Just continue being consistent in your methods and all should turn out just fine.

May GOD bless you. I'll be praying for you both. By the way, I have 3 children of my own, under the age of 5, so I understand the madness. Consistency has worked, thus far, with my babies. I hope that it works for you, as well. Good luck (-:

Has your son already gotten his 2 year molars? My boys both had a really hard time at night at around 2 yo because of the pain associated with those big honkers coming in.

I would want some water if I was going through that at night too. Can you keep a sippy cup near him so he can get it for himself?

Good luck!
A.

my daughter started waking up in the night around that age too. the dr said that they can "unlearn" sleeping through the night. he recommended making sure that he is okay- no poopy diaper, pjs on right, etc and then letting them cry it out. mine still wakes up in the middle of the night crying, but i just let her cry and in 1-2 min she's stopped. they realize that this point that it's so much more fun to be with you and to play. nut we know they need to sleep and everytime you go in there/talk/give juice you're feeding the problem.

J.
sahm 2 1/2 yr old girl, almost 5 yr old boy

Well, i definitely would recommend setting some ground rules. Number one, we only have a sippy cup of water at night that is given to him when he goes to sleep. Juice will ultimately lead to caviities....Tell him he certainly doesn't want ouchies in his mouth or on his teeth...no camel teeth! They are stinky and hurt! (Whatever works!)
Number 2, Mommy has to sleep in her bed and son has to sleep in his bed. Mommy can't get good rest because she doesn't have enough room to sleep well and doesn't want to roll over on son. So...maybe settle on a stuffed animal from mom that will take care of son when mommy is in her bed.
I think ultimately, we need to find out why he is waking up..is he scared? Did he something on a tv show or video game or hear a story from a friend? Something is unsettling him to wake him up. We need to make him understand that mom's home is safe. Make bedtime routine...go potty before bedtime, give kisses, sippy cup of water ready, read one book one time-rule (one he gets to choose), hand him his little stuffed animal (security blanket) and lay with him until he is ready to let mommy go to her room. Maybe count down from 10 slowly so he can prepare himself for the departure. He is a big boy now--2 years old! Then it is time for mommy to go to her bed so she can rest too.
We have to hold tight and respect the rules! Good luck!

My daughter who is about to be three does this too. She is getting better now. First of all, stop sleeping in the bed with him! We either offer her a reward for staying in her bed, even if it's something that she does anyway, like watch cartoons in the morning or if that doesn't work than we have to get onto her and take things away (cartoons). I used to go get juice about four times a night and now we just tell her that she can have juice when she wakes up in the morning. I would just be firm with him and let him know that he has to stay in his bed. Let him have a treat for being a big boy and staying in his bed all night when he does it. But most of all be firm and don't be afraid to let them throw a fit about it, even if it's 2 am. Hope you get some sleep soon.

I will tell you that my boy twin did the same thing. They just turned 3 at the first of Dec. If you don't stop the cylce right now, I promise it is only going to get worse. I know this is going to be hard, b/c I had to do it, but you will be a lot happier in the long run. This is very common for this age. I was told that when they turn 2 is when they really start dreaming, and a lot is going on in their mind. I have always told my children that Mommy sleeps in M/D bed, and that they sleep in their beds. Don't get me wrong when my son is sick, and he can't sleep unless it's on my chest then I will spend my nights in his room, but if nothing is wrong with him then he has to do it on his own. You do realize that by giving him juice in the middle of the night that you are first of all doing harm to his teeth, and giving him sugar. He will continue to push you until you set some boundries, he's testing you, and winning. My son wants a drink every night, so I went out and bought some of those little bathroom disposable cups and let him have 1/2 a cup to drink. That's it, no more. Once I brush their teeth, nothing but water. If not it will sit in their mouth and decay their teeth, and trust me you don't want that!! It usually only takes 3 nights before this will come to an end. If you have to let him cry it out, I promise it will work. I go through this about every 3 months, since he was 2, but that's 3 mths. of uninterrupted sleep. Then you have to go through the whole cycle again. Good luck, and sorry so long.
I'm a stay at home mom of three, 3yr. old twins, and an 18mth old. Trust me, I have tried it all, and this worked!!!