3 year old not sleeping

Hello- My 3 year old daugther is waking 2 or 3 times in the night. This has been going on for quite a few months now.
Its as if she is having tantrums in the night. Either at my bedside or in the hallway. I wonder if she wakes because she still sometimes wets at night but this isn't always the case. I have cut back her milk at night. We have always had a good bedtime routine since birth so why is it all going wrong now? She shouts orders from her room as well as getting out. We have tried ignoring her for over 45 minutes, taking her back each time and the other night it got so bad my husband put the stairgate on her bedroom door. We have not shut the gate since as she was very upset by this and it worked for a few nights but now she has gone back into getting up. I am too afraid to shut it again as I know how upset she is by it so its kind of a warning to her but do we need to be cruel to be kind. I guess its a little like being in a large cot with the gate on the door. She is so well behaved during the day I dread the nights? My husband has tried to take her back to her room at night but she will scream blue murder for me. Am I alone?

hi katie,
although my daughter is just 16months she wakes up at around 3 every morning,crying for no apparent reason. this is only when she sleeps in her cot.then shes in the bed with me and falls back to sleep straight way.. i dunno...maybe im just taking the easy way out,by not controlling the situation...ie,putting her back to sleep in her cot. and of course in some cases, You do have to be cruel to be kind!! maybe if ye went out for a drive with her at night..take he late night shopping,and if she falls asleep in the car,try sneaking her into her bed and see how that goes. otherwise...keep ur eyes peeled for other people on this who are in the same situation...u usually get a few good replies!!
best of luck!!

katie my kids are murder for trying to play me and my husband off. they whine most for the one they think will give in quickest. they are all little... so and so's. you and dad have got to kind of unite on one course of action. my kids ask me for something then when i say no they will go and ask their dad. they got away with this for too long. i've had to say no and mean it and make sure my husband does the same.

you are not alone.

my daughter used to be a little like that.

have you asked her why she is waking up - maybe she needs a cuddle and comfort?? she could have had a bad dream??

Does she wear a nappy to bed? kacie used to wake up when her nappy was wet 2/3 times a night what with a baby as well it was a nightmare. We took nappy off and lift her at 10pm and she sleeps perfectly apart from every now and then.

I do have the odd treat lurking around and i did used to say if you sleep like a really good sleeping princess tonight you will get a special treat - it doesnt have to be anything amazing a comic, colouring, bk or maye you could take her to the park?

why dont you take her to bed if she is calling you? i just wondered maybe she wants you because you are more of a comfort to her.

Kacie woke up the night before last she came into me crying she said she could hear a scary noise when i asked her what was wrong. I went to bed with her gave her a huge cuddle and told her that i loved her - though sometimes she goes to daddy and he takes her back to bed.

is she at preschool - could she be upset because of something you dont know about?

It sounds like something must be upseting her i think thats what you need to find out.

let me know how you are getting on.

vg
xx

my two year old doesn't sleep either, he never has really there has always been a time when he's woken up of a night either for a dummy or just becuase he's woken up and wanted a cuddle. I'm getting to think he will never sleep through the night!! The nappy thing might be it though as he is potty trained in the day now so might give it a go!

hi, my daughter has just turned four.  She has always had a set bedtime routine, she has always been a bad sleeper, but until now we have never had a problem putting her to bed, just the waking in the night.

for nearly two weeks, she has had "tantrums" starting with,

 "Icant see the pictures in my book" - the landing lights on. 

 I want a drink - its next to her.  I want my hot water bottle warmer!

I want a kiss/cuddle - shes already had loads

I want to tell you something - everytime you leave the room

We have tried being calm, being angry, asking her whay she is doing it, bringing her downstairs (as not to wake her baby sister), ignoring her, putting her back to bed but not talking to her, banning sweats and tv, bribing her, reminding her christmas is coming etc.    This can go on for hours at a time.    We are at our wits end.  How do you end this????

Hi Katie

I dont know if you'll get this message as your thread was 2.5 yrs ago. It was about your 3 yr old daughter who wouldn't sleep at night. I have the same problem at the moment almost identical other than she's night trained and has been for 3 months and has never wet the bed.

Guess what i'm asking hun is how did you solve  the problem as i'm not sure how much more night waking and constantly taking her back to bed i can take as it lasts about 3 hours per night any help and advise would be great

Andrea x