my three year old has started not to sleep through the night any ideas why he could be doin this ?

Belinda - posted on 02/26/2010

Oh so familiar!! My son did this for 3-6 months, stopped and then started again for a few weeks in January. I just found out he had a bad ear infection and HUGE tonsils! So, he just finished up his antibiotics and stopped waking up and stopped being naughty at school. I would never have known about his ear infection if he hadn't told me one night that his "mouth was blocked", when I looked his tonsils were touching! I don't know if this was going on during that 3-6 month period or what. Kids are all so different and things affect them so differently. You may try calling her pediatrician for ideas too. Good luck!!

Shanna - posted on 02/25/2010

Hi Heather and all,

Any new information, I am going through this situation with my daughter. She just turned 3 and has started this sleeping thing. I don't know what is going on with her she was such a great sleeper and then it stopped. It started with her waking at 4:30 and now it is almost impossible to get her to sleep and she just started waking up at least 3 times a night - Last night she was up for 3 1/2 hours I would get her back to bed and she would be up again in in 20 minutes. I am at my wits end and don't know what to do. I have read all of your replies, She sleeps in her own bed - I rarely get in bed with her unless I am utterly exhausted. She says her ears don't hurt and she isn't showing any signs of distress. I call her school everyday to check on her and I have to listen to the girls tell me how bad she is and it kills me. She used to be such a good girl but being so tired has made her fresh, and they don't give her any room even knowing she is sooo tired. HELP PLEASE!

Heather - posted on 01/05/2010

he is starting to settle down some now but still waking up with bad dreams and some times just crys and starts banging on his bed

Christina - posted on 01/05/2010

Quoting heather:

Quoting Wendy:

Could he be sick...ear infection? My son is 3 too....and when he has an ear infection he will not sleep through the night but no other signs....except he is really really moody during the day. Ask him if something is bothering him or if something hurts. If he keeps doing it I would take him to the doctor just to be sure.

thanks it is possiable he not to long ago had a eye ear and trote infection so maybe it could be his ear but he does not complane about it during the day and not at night just wakes up crying and most of the time he goes straight back to sleep and still keeps wakeing a couple of times though the night.

check for sleep apnea! If he wakes up fromnot breathing right it can be scary...tonsils out and my son sleeps like a dream

Christina - posted on 01/05/2010

My son was doing the same thing! See if he has sleep apnea.....we got my 2 yr olds tonsils removed and now he sleeps!!

Amy - posted on 01/04/2010

I cannot offer any advice, but I can tell you that you are not alone! My son will be 4 next month and he has been doing this for the past 6 months now. I don't know why, but he gets up every night around 2 a.m. and goes right back to sleep, after getting in bed with me, and then is back up for the day at 5 a.m.! For some reason he is requiring less sleep lately and it is making for terrible evenings! He gets so cranky around 4 p.m. and is bad all evening till' bedtime! He refuses to take naps anymore too! So, I feel your pain!! Hope our tykes start sleeping!!!

Sue - posted on 01/04/2010

Kick the napping, It may take a few nights and some hard days but its all worth it, he will fall into a pattern again very soon. Good Luck

Belinda - posted on 01/03/2010

My son recently got out of a similar phase. Sometimes it just takes time. I thought maybe he didn't need naps anymore, but clearly he still does. Eventually he just stopped waking up in the middle of the night. But it lasted a good 3-6 months... It's tough, but this too shall pass.

Effie - posted on 01/03/2010

Growing pains???All my kids had them so bad at different ages and stages. And I to can rember being little and wakeing up with bad pains in my legs. Granit some kids wake up just cause but some do have bad enough pains to take them up.What I did with my kids and still do. Is test it out. Give them a dose of tylonal before bed to see if this helps them sleep thru the night.I only had to do this for 3 or 4 nights (and my ped. said it was fine). Good Luck!

Mandy - posted on 01/03/2010

My daughter only seems to wake up at night when she's sick. She has a hard time sleeping with a stuffed up nose, plus she sucks her thumb still, which is hard when you have to breath through your mouth. ;)

Tammy - posted on 01/02/2010

Security and comfort. Plus if he is potty training or is potty trained it may be because he is needing to go in the middle of the night. Also at this age sometimes they get night terrors.

Serena - posted on 01/02/2010

Sometimes its just a phase. There could possibly be no reason he is doing it or something we as adults will never figure out. My son will have periods of waking up in the middle of the night. We did our best not to change much of his routine and make things worse. If it is just a phase...you'll just have to ride it out and visit starbucks every morning. Good luck :)

Christine - posted on 01/02/2010

Is he still having his daytime nap? If so, it might be a case of too much sleep. Perhaps cut back on his day nap or cut it out all together. If he's not having his daytime nap, could it be that he is over tired? They say that 3 yo needs around 12-13 hours of sleep including his nap and that naps should be no more than 45 mins.
On the other hand, at this age, toddlers are infamous for testing the boundaries and instead of letting him stay up, I would be quite strict about introducing a bedtime routine and would even go so far as waking him up at a certain time each day. I am sure if he is tired, he will soon fall into a routine and will most probably thank you for it.
Another possibility is that at this age, some children no matter how good they were with sleeping, start becoming afraid of the dark or have nightmares.

Christine - posted on 01/02/2010

keep us posted!

Heather - posted on 01/02/2010

thanks to everyone who has helped it has give me more ideas on what else i can try with him and hope it will be sorted soon

Heather - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting Wendy:

Could he be sick...ear infection? My son is 3 too....and when he has an ear infection he will not sleep through the night but no other signs....except he is really really moody during the day. Ask him if something is bothering him or if something hurts. If he keeps doing it I would take him to the doctor just to be sure.

thanks it is possiable he not to long ago had a eye ear and trote infection so maybe it could be his ear but he does not complane about it during the day and not at night just wakes up crying and most of the time he goes straight back to sleep and still keeps wakeing a couple of times though the night.

Heather - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting Elizabeth:

night terrors

well thats what i think but his dad thinks he doing it on propose.

Heather - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting Laura:

What are his sleeping conditions? Bed Crib? Night light? It has been in my expericne that this time where they are almost ready to give up naps is the most tricky. also i think they are starting to have bad dreams. Talk with him about what is making him wake. He may not have any answers if he does then you will have something concrete to work on. If he doesnt make a game plan before you go to bed. Ask him what he will do when he wakes at night. Encourage him to come up with a plan that is comfortable for example. Turning on some quiet music. Turning on a night light or even just counting or breating. Three year old are at a great age for learning good habits sleeping or otherwise. I have a friend who found her 3 year old slept better when she put her back in her crib. She was able to safely navigate in and out of it on her own so Mom did not have to worry about broken bones. A crib may be just the thing, They are only little once it wont be forever.

well he sleeps in a cot bed which i turned in to a bed a week or two after the 28th november and no night light he does not get scared of the dark. and i think he maybe ready to stop the naps but at the moement thats when he get at least some sleep. i have tryed talkin to him about what is makin him wake but everything i say he repeats it back to me.and he dont really talk really good and dont think he really understands what am going on about.and he never falls out of bed he loves it

Heather - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting Holly:

My 2 1/2 year old has been doing the same thing lately. He just doesn't seem to be getting enough outside play to really make him tired. We have started going to the park, even if it is really cold, and he is sleeping much better. He will also wake if he has an ear infection. Sometimes that is the only way I know he has one!

i think it maybe that but he not said he has any pains

Heather - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting Christine:

the other thing that may be happening is that he may be getting growing pains. Our 4 year old would wake up (and sometimes still does) screaming...all he can tell us is that his legs hurt. If it continues (we will take him out of bed and rub his legs)...if they still hurt, we give him some tylenol. He has also had night terrors....to get through that you have to totally wake him up....which can be hard....also look at naps. Our 2 and a half year old is almost at the point where he is ready to give up naps....not looking forward to that.

well every time i ask him what is wrong he always says yes to every question i ask

Heather - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting Amber:

Do you put him to bed real early or does he take really long naps through out the day? If yes to either of these questions then that is you problem. Try to set a nap time for about 12 or 12:30 right after lunch if he/she sleeps to long wake him/her up. Go to the park or outside or do some activities around the house to tire him/her out. Make bedtime around 8 or 8:30 right after dinner give a nice warm bed and tuck in. If that doesn't work then it's probably just a faize that he/she is going through and will get over it. When he/she wakes do you let him come to bed with you? If so don't do that go and tuck him back into his own bed that may be his way of sleeping with mommy.

he goes to bed for about 7pm and yes he goes to bed for a nap but does not always go to sleep. its really hard to get out as i have 2 other children they are 2 and 8 months. i have try keepin him up and not have a nap but he still did not sleep though the night . and he has his own bed and does not like gettin tucked in he has to have it free and he never sleeped in bed with me.as i kick and toss and turn all night long

Heather - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting Debra:

Hi Heather! Oh do I know your pain well! Here's a few things to think about. What happens when he wakes up at night? Is he put back in his own bed or does he get to come into bed with you or do you come into bed with him? Is he waking up crying? Is potty trained and if not, is he waking up wet? Has something changed in his bedtime routine or does he have a bedtime routine? Is he asking for anything when he wakes? I've found that the more a child sleeps, the more a child sleeps! In other words, an overly tired child may fall asleep quicker but I've rarely seen them stay asleep sounder. If you could, take some time and think about what is happening when he wakes and let me know. Maybe then, we can all put our heads together and come up with some suggestions. Good Luck!

well he just crying when he wakes up his sleeps in his own bed . i dont go in bed with him or him in bed with me either me and his dad goes in and tell him its ok and try go back to sleep.

 and he does for abit then starts again. no he is not potty trained he does have a bedtime routine he goes to bed at 7pm and he reads his books for half about hour then he goes to sleep but not always straight away. he does not ask for anything when he wakes up have asked him what wrong but always says yes to everything i say but it only started getting worse since we got married and he was with my mum for 2 days but still at home in his own bed   

Christine - posted on 01/01/2010

the other thing that may be happening is that he may be getting growing pains. Our 4 year old would wake up (and sometimes still does) screaming...all he can tell us is that his legs hurt. If it continues (we will take him out of bed and rub his legs)...if they still hurt, we give him some tylenol. He has also had night terrors....to get through that you have to totally wake him up....which can be hard....also look at naps. Our 2 and a half year old is almost at the point where he is ready to give up naps....not looking forward to that.

Holly - posted on 01/01/2010

My 2 1/2 year old has been doing the same thing lately. He just doesn't seem to be getting enough outside play to really make him tired. We have started going to the park, even if it is really cold, and he is sleeping much better. He will also wake if he has an ear infection. Sometimes that is the only way I know he has one!

Laura - posted on 12/31/2009

What are his sleeping conditions? Bed Crib? Night light? It has been in my expericne that this time where they are almost ready to give up naps is the most tricky. also i think they are starting to have bad dreams. Talk with him about what is making him wake. He may not have any answers if he does then you will have something concrete to work on. If he doesnt make a game plan before you go to bed. Ask him what he will do when he wakes at night. Encourage him to come up with a plan that is comfortable for example. Turning on some quiet music. Turning on a night light or even just counting or breating. Three year old are at a great age for learning good habits sleeping or otherwise. I have a friend who found her 3 year old slept better when she put her back in her crib. She was able to safely navigate in and out of it on her own so Mom did not have to worry about broken bones. A crib may be just the thing, They are only little once it wont be forever.

Elizabeth - posted on 12/30/2009

night terrors

Wendy - posted on 12/30/2009

Could he be sick...ear infection? My son is 3 too....and when he has an ear infection he will not sleep through the night but no other signs....except he is really really moody during the day. Ask him if something is bothering him or if something hurts. If he keeps doing it I would take him to the doctor just to be sure.

Amber - posted on 12/30/2009

Do you put him to bed real early or does he take really long naps through out the day? If yes to either of these questions then that is you problem. Try to set a nap time for about 12 or 12:30 right after lunch if he/she sleeps to long wake him/her up. Go to the park or outside or do some activities around the house to tire him/her out. Make bedtime around 8 or 8:30 right after dinner give a nice warm bed and tuck in. If that doesn't work then it's probably just a faize that he/she is going through and will get over it. When he/she wakes do you let him come to bed with you? If so don't do that go and tuck him back into his own bed that may be his way of sleeping with mommy.

Lizanne - posted on 12/30/2009

My daughter has also been waking up in the middle of the night lately, either because she has to pee (even though she sometimes even has a diaper on, she won't pee unless it's on the potty!) or I think she's having nightmares. She won't get out of bed though, and is usually really confused when I go in to comfort her. Usually she just sleeps through it - as soon as I make a habit of going in there every time she peeps a little, she'll get used to the special treatment!! Don't want that!!!

Debra - posted on 12/30/2009

Hi Heather! Oh do I know your pain well! Here's a few things to think about. What happens when he wakes up at night? Is he put back in his own bed or does he get to come into bed with you or do you come into bed with him? Is he waking up crying? Is potty trained and if not, is he waking up wet? Has something changed in his bedtime routine or does he have a bedtime routine? Is he asking for anything when he wakes? I've found that the more a child sleeps, the more a child sleeps! In other words, an overly tired child may fall asleep quicker but I've rarely seen them stay asleep sounder. If you could, take some time and think about what is happening when he wakes and let me know. Maybe then, we can all put our heads together and come up with some suggestions. Good Luck!