Toddler and waking in the night, bad sleep, advice please

[MissR]

My LO is now 2 and a half and she has mostly been brilliant with sleeping. We moved into our new house a year and a half ago and she always slept great on her cot bed. Then at Christmas, we got her a carriage princess bed which is a single. I don't think it is the actual bed that is stopping her having a good nights sleep though.

She has always had a baby's gate on her bedroom door as she is close to the stairs and don't want any accidents. I think that she used to always wake up early because when I used to get up at 7am she would be playing in bed with her books and toys. She was always happy to do that though. However i now leave her baby gate open as I wouldn't like her to wake and be scared etc. But now she comes in to our bed at least once a night, usually between 1-3am, and then will get up between 4-5.30am. She has always gone to bed early at around 6pm but now I think i need to try and get her to stay up but she is literally shattered when she gets in to bed at 6.

Any advice about how to get her to sleep later in the morning. Also how to make her stay in her own bed in the night? I don't mind her getting up in the night, it's just she always wants milk to get herself back to sleep and I'd rather she didn't have so much! Xx

 

[HappyAnjeL]

Does she nap during the day? And does she wake at a point between 1 and 3 and fall back asleep rather quick or is she up for those two hours? My LO goes through stages of night waking but if she's waking and going back rather quickly I wouldn't worry as she is still getting a good amount of sleep.

If you want her to sleep later move her routine back a few minutes (10-15) at a time until she's waking at a better time. I would also give less milk each night until none and offer water as she might be waking hungry as her body is getting used to getting extra calories at night now.

Hope it's just a stage and I'm sure others will have better advice than me! Hang in there.

 

[MissR]

That's actually great advice! Didn't think of slowly upping the time of her bedtime so that eventually will be the time I want it. I think I will give that a shot because it will help of she goes to sleep later. She rarely has a nap in the day anymore, only occasionally when we are in the car and she nods off. I tried yesterday to put her in bed for a nap at 3pm as she was exhausted having got up at 4am. I then woke her for dinner at 6pm thinking this could be the best thing, but she didn't go back to sleep until 11pm! However she did wake at 7am this morning with no night waking which is good.

And no, she will wake between 1-3am, climb in our bed, wake me and ask for milk, I then give it to her as I know it helps her get back to sleep, and then she's straight back off. But maybe this is a bad habit?? Should I resist giving her the milk? ! X

 

[PoppyPainting]

If I let my DD have milk during the night she uses it as a sleep prop and demands it over and over again so she wakes me continuously and her nappy leaks too! I recently bought a gro clock and set it for 6am and told Evie she can't have milk until the sun comes up on the clock. She cried and whinged for milk the first few nights but I stayed firm and her sleeping has improved dramatically 😊

 

[MissR]

Luckily my LO just wants one bottle and it sends her back to sleep! But that's a great idea, finding something to indicate its morning so that she knows when she can have it. Where did you get the clock from? Would be great of I could find one! Thanks x

 

[PoppyPainting]

You can get them on Amazon or in supermarkets. They are quite easy to get hold of. Its spelt 'gro clock'. Good luck, poor sleep is rubbish!

 

[MissR]

Thanks so much! Going to purchase one. Reviews seem pretty good so fingers crossed it makes a difference! X