waking up at night crying.. HELP!

Barbara - posted on 03/17/2010

My best recommendation would be to keep him up another half hour to an hour, and shorten his naps. Only slightly though because Lord knows, it only makes things worse if they are over tired. When he does get up, don't talk to him any more than necessary, just like when he was an infant it is pivotal that you make sure he knows that that is not the time to be awake. One more thing again from infancy, don't turn on the lights, a nightlight at the most is more then adequate, but if you can function in the dark that has always worked best for me. Good luck!

Rosheemah - posted on 03/16/2010

Yes, the best way to deal with that is to go into his bedroom, and try taking him to the bathroom. then you can sit in a chair, not on the bed because you might fall a sleep. And just reading a book to him. Then watching him fall back to sleep.

Josee - posted on 11/04/2009

My 2 year old often does that too. Most of the time, we just give him a sippy cup of water and he settles back to sleep. I read that it is very common and normal for them to start having nightmares at this stage. It will soon pass. Have you ever heard of night terrors? Those are also very common at this age and very scary for the parents but they also go away on their own. I wouldn't worry too much about it and just keep doing what you are doing and they will eventually go away.

Becci - posted on 11/03/2009

One of my twin girls do that, I find its just a comfort thing for her.... I lay her back down and stroke her head a bit then go back to bed. It is confusing but its not forever.

Jennifer - posted on 11/03/2009

My son was sleeping through the night. It used to be that he would get into his bed, we would read him a bed time story & he would go to sleep. Then about 3 weeks he got sick with a high fever and was waking every 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Now when he just sits in his bed at bedtime he starts crying & screaming. In order to get him to sleep in his bed I have to sit in a chair next to his bed until he falls asleep. If I don't (we tried letting him cry it out) he'll stand in the middle of his room crying & screaming until he makes himself throw up. I'm starting to get very frustrated. I'm hoping that it's a phase & he'll out grow it soon.

Abi - posted on 11/03/2009

My son hasn't had this specific problem, however he does sometimes wake up in the middle of the night crying, and all he wants is a bottle of water... Yes I know not every 2 year old is still on a bottle, but he finds it very comforting... I would try that.... its a very soothing thing for him... I explain it to people as this..... We as adults often keep a bottle or a glass of water by our bed at night, and a 2 year old doesn't do this... and their only way of getting your attention in the middle of the night is to cry... anyways... hope this helps.

Desirae - posted on 10/29/2009

My daughter does this randomly, it is not every night or at the same time. When she does wake up crying, usually if I go in and give her a sip of water from her sippy cup she will lay back down and go right back to sleep, sometimes she needs a little comforting before she will lay back down. I did find though - that for awhile she was doing it more consistently and I think she had learned that if she cried I would come right in. So now, I wait a few minutes to see if she will calm herself down first before going in.



You might try this with your son, letting him cry for a few minutes before going in to lay him back down, and then try to extend the time you wait before going in each night. Hopefully he will eventually learn to soothe himself back to sleep if he wakes up instead of needing you. Just a suggestion - feel free to disregard as not everything works with every child. :)

Kim - posted on 10/18/2009

my son also does this but he usually just needs something to eat so i give him half a banana and a drink and he goes right to bed after he eats so try giving him a snack hope it helps

Sheila - posted on 10/17/2009

It took me 18 months to get Zoe to sleep though the night consistently. Now she is doing the same too, waking up once a night. To me it sounds like she's waking up with a nightmare, she needs reassurance. I go in and try and sometimes she needs a bottle to comfort which I give her and she goes back.
Zoe's day is full on stimulation, she demands it and we give it to her, we think she is very bright, she migth be too over stimulated?? She is also very active when she is alseep, always tossing and turning, talking etc.
I personally was very active on my sleep and only outgrew it when I was 29!!! so I am sympathetic.
I think reassurance is key, just a shhhh, there is so much going on in their lives at the moment.
HOPEFULLY they'll settle down soon. Sx

Heather - posted on 10/15/2009

I dont have much of a recommendation, just wanted to let you know I am going through the same thing. I am hoping it is a phase and it will pass as the other phases have. Good luck!

Teagan Altaira - posted on 10/14/2009

have you tried just sitting there, and calmly (slightly whispering) saying "shhh, nothing is wrong, everything is ok, shhh just sleep".
it could just be a reasurance thing? and having you (a comforter) just there might help

Tracy - posted on 10/12/2009

Both of mine do it. My son is 2 and my daughter is 5. It doesn't usually last more than a few minutes.

Jenny - posted on 10/12/2009

my son is the same but he doesnt calm down even if i go in there there is nuffin i can do wen he is like it ive spoken the the health visitor and she sed 4 me 2 ignore him and i tryed that but he doesnt give in he screams all night so if anyone has any answers i wud like 2 here them aswell

Christine - posted on 10/11/2009

I find that my kids wake up more when there is change going on. Change involving routine or even them (ie. language, potty training). It seems like their mind is just moving so much faster during those times. Of course,you are talking to someone with a 3.5 year old that still doesn't sleep through the night. My 2 yo often does but she does frequently move and wake up around the same time, 11ish. Sometimes I have to go in there and sometimes I don't. Her teeth are in (not the 2 year molars) and she's not sick so last night I checked on her and then let her fuss and she went back to bed after a while.

Elena - posted on 10/09/2009

Two of my boys did same thing in different ages... It did make us upset.
With the older son (he was about 4 and a half) it was some steresses in school - something he didn't like there probably but didn't told us - though he likes the school very much.
With the young one (he was about 20 months) it stopped after I stopped breastfeeding. He used to fall asleep while being fed and then was not happy not to see me near...

Tiffany - posted on 10/07/2009

Hi Rebecca, I know how you feel, My son does the same thing, and settles the same too, goes straight back to sleep. Although in the last 2 weeks he seems to have settled into a more restful sleep and has only woken every coule of nights. I know it may not help you but maybe they will just grow out of it?? I would be interested in any replies too.