3 year old sleep issues

So I'm certain this is my fault but now I am trying to fix the mess I've created . DD is 3.5. When we first moved her to her big girl room after my 2nd LO was born, my husband or I would lie down with her until she fell asleep. Fast forward almost a year later and we kept this going. She has a pull out trundle under her bed so every night after reading a story I would lie with her for a few mins until she fell asleep. Since it was only a few mins, it never bothered me much.

But now my bigger problem has become her waking up at night. She would wake up once in a while in the middle of the night and come to our room. I would bring her back into her room and lie down in the pull out bed. Problem is I always fell asleep since this was usually happening around 2 or 3 am. But once again, this was not a normal thing so I didn't think much of it. Now, over the last month or so this has become an every night occurrence and I've decided I need to try and stop this. So over the weekend, DH and I agreed we would not sleep in her room no matter how tired we were, lol. So Friday night, she woke up, she cried, she yelled, she kept getting out of bed but we brought her back and put her back in her bed each time.This went on for about 3 hours or so. She eventually fell back asleep in her bed. Saturday night - same thing. She woke up, we put her back in. She protested but eventually fell back asleep. This probably went on for an hour or so. Pretty much the same thing last night.

For those of you who have dealt with this, do you have any other suggestions or ideas? Should I keep doing this until she gets it? Also, she has a night light and dream light pillow. She actually doesn't like the night light and always asks me to shut it off. Mostly, she just doesn't want to be alone. I feel awful but I just can't continue this habit of having her wake us up every night. Mommy needs all the beauty rest she can get!!

Re: 3 year old sleep issues

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3 year old sleep issues

My three year old has sleep issues as well and I fall asleep in his room as well.

My friend recommended using a sticker chart to get them to stay in their room alone - after a certain number of stickers, her daughter was able to pick a small present (something from the dollar store). It worked well for her but, I have yet to try it.

3 year old sleep issues

The key was to not be there when she woke up
plus a lil bit of lying

We would do all that you said. Our solutions were:
He would come get me after 15mins so if I fell asleep he'd pull me out. Or vice versa.
If we went in late at night or even at bed time, we'd pull the "ill be right back" deal. So at first she'd cry or call our bluff but we DID come back but it was the point of showing her to trust us to be back and trust she'd be ok. She has a moon that lights up and stars from her turtle.

At bedtime, she'd be wide awake and then got used to us coming back. Then we'd stretch that out longer and longer and she'd call us back in, which is fine. Then it was call us back in and we'd say "in a minute" from there, etc. Got to a point she'd fall asleep waiting for me. I'd always go in anyway to check on her. Sometimes she'd wake up a lil bit but only for like 5mins and it made her know that no matter what, I WAS coming back! Even got to the point where I'd move a bear a place we agreed about to show her I'd been there (because I worked late hours for a bit there).

Middle of the night is tougher because her bed is comfy! LOL but shes a kicker and I'd usually wake up and leave. If not, my hubby gets up before me so he'd get me out of there while she continued to sleep. Then after we got awake, we'd go in together and wake her up, so she'd think she slept alone. Mostly tho the "ill be back in 5mins" worked well at middle of the night wake ups.

after all that, we got to the point where we go in to put her to bed and I tell her "I can only stay 5mins" at first she'd cry and say "Ok, but I miss you" which broke my heart but I'd leave in about 5-10mins even for just a 'minute' but finally she was ok with 5mins and would tell me to leave. Now we just put her in, tuck in her blankets, kiss good night and tell her what to dream of (something we do) and off she goes. Goodnight mama, goodnight AJ.

Its a work in progress but we no longer sleep in there. Shame was, we didn't before just sort of fell into it somehow and needed to work out way back out.

Re: 3 year old sleep issues

My now 3.5 year old had sleep issues to & still goes to bed in his room with either dh or I lying on the floor next to him. He use to come in to our bed in the middle of the night & fall asleep. All of a sudden something clicked & he no longer wakes unless he needs to use the bathroom.

Like pp said, the key is not bring there when they wake up. I still believe its ok to be in their room to go to sleep but I would never sleep there.