Does anyone else have this problem?

Question

My 2 year old (he will be 3 in Oct.) will wake up in the middle of the night and will be wide awake (asking to turn on the lights, wanting to watch TV, singing, etc.). This happens about once every two weeks. None of my other children have this problem. He will stay up for a couple of hours and then fall asleep again. I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem and what you have done to get your child to go back to sleep or help them sleep through the night.

Answer 1

i tink they clock thing would work great

good luck

Answer 2

Don't let him watch tv!!! It's his bedtime, and it's time to sleep. Make him go back to bed tell him to close his eyes even if he lays awake for 2 hours he'll get over it soon and you won't have this problem anymore.

Answer 3

its normal just ignor them and make them go to bed the baby will fall back to sleep ----nothing to stimulate or he will be wound up

Answer 4

I experienced this occasionally with my boy.  

After the fact I learned a few things.  One is that if kids play video games before bed it affects their brains, because the brain has to function so fast when someone plays video games.  It was suggested that kids who woke up during the night not play video games for several hours before bed.  Only calming activities like snuggling and reading.

Also monitoring the diet, especially anything that may contain caffeine (read labels, caffeine is found in a lot of things that I thought was ok to give my kids)

If he is on any medications it could be causing the wake fullness.

Lastly, establishing a constant bedtime routine helps release the melatonin he needs to sleep better.  

Good Luck, hope it helps!

Answer 5

I haven't had this problem yet and mine just turned 3.  When she does wake up, I tell her that she need to go back to bed and that she needs to stay in her bed until 7am.  She has a clock in her room and she knows when she sees 7, she can get up.

This has worked well with our family.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

Welcome to my night last night from 3-5:00 she wanted hugs and watch a movie. I think she was overly tired. But h**l who knows with them?? She does it about 1 a month. We have a very good bedtime routine she hardly ever gets out of bed and always falls asleep good.

Answer 7

He may have nightmares, sleep apnea, etc.

First, rule out sleep apnea with a doctor.

Rule out nightmares too. Make sure he doesn't eat right before bed and ask him about his dreams.

If he persists in waking up after you have ruled out the above, instead of turning the lights on (which throws off his sleep cycle and wakes him up), try keeping the lights on low and playing a tape or cd for him with relaxing music, while you rub his back.