How do I get my 3yr. old to sleep all night? She wakes up at 2am or so and won't go back to sleep.?

my little girl will be 3 in september and she has just know started sleeping at night i guess she is playing all day outside come in eat and take a bath and is wore out and goes to sleep and helps her to relax

i'd suggest making a bedtime routine set in stone lol if you think there could be any health issues involved then see your doctor otherwise consider tiredness, lights, temperature, noises, needing the toilet, routines and environment influences.

here are my suggestions:

lots of activity during the day so your child is tired then a strict routine for bedtime, for example an hour before bed is 'quiet' time. no tv, noisey games or running around. a nice bath is a great start (johnsons lavander bubble bath is good), after the bath a trip to the potty then a cosey story on the sofa or in bed, a nice cuddle then bedtime. The same routine every day will build a fun and comforting environment for a little one.

If possible no bright lights on after their bath, also a bed in their own room is the most effective, use dimmer lighting or lamps then turn these off when it is sleep time. Use a nightlight or leave the door open a crack if necessary but as dark as possible and make sure curtains keep out day light or street lamps. Make sure the room is at a confortable temperature, throughout the night. For example is the child getting up when they are cold/hot. Try not to allow drinks direclty before bed, as this can wake children up needing the toilet.

If they do wake up then take them back to bed and say good night. no games or playing or long conversations. just check they are ok (tiolet, temp, etc) and pop them back into bed. repeat if necessary. lay them down and leave. Do not make it a game else they will enjoy having you coming back. Talking to them will only wake them up further.

If you have a child who cries once in bed for you to come back then wait five mins and then go in say 'no it's bedtime and lay them down and then leave for 5 mins. if they continue to cry out wait again 5 mins plus half their age (so 3 years= 1.5 mins) so that would be 7 and a half mins the second time. then if you have to go back again, same thing, add on another 1.5 mins to make the wait a bit longer, that is 8.5 mins. I know it will sound terrible to listen to them cry but remember, you've just been in, the child is fine, there is nothing wrong, this is just for your attention. This consistant and repeated routine should support a gradual fade into a routine acceptable for you it won't work straight away of course but in my experience usually works within the week.

Be firm. you may need your partner or family support too as you will probably be tired but keep it up! Good luck!

:D x

She may be hungry, my daughter used to wake up in the middle of the night hungry, she wouldn't go back to bed, so we'd give her something little like a banana and some water.

Now we make sure she has a snack soon before bed.

She may also be thirsty, do you let her take some water to bed with her?

Maybe she's just scared of being alone. When my daughter does wake up I sing to her from outside her door, so she understands I am still there when she needs me, and even when she doesn't need me even though she doesn't see me.

She could just be having bad dreams too. I'm sorry I don't have a suggestion for that.

Hopefully that helps.

There is also a website called cafemom.com if you haven't already heard of it, that is just for what it's called, moms. You join groups and ask other moms these same kinds of questions. It's very helpful sometimes when you just don't know what to do.

I think a child this age does need a nap but when she gets up I suggest maybe giving her a drink of water but as little as conversation as possible. Talking will only make her more alert. Put her back in bed tuck her in and lights out. Do this for a few nights and see if she sleep through the night.

If shes still wears pull ups she may be waking up if she has to use or has went to the bathroom. However, children adjust very easily...stop going in there when she wakes up and after about a week she'll stop. I know it sound awful but if shes doing it every night its because its what shes used to...just give it a week. i guaranty she'll start sleeping through the night again.

I used to do the same thing. What got me to go to sleep was when my dad or someone I loved would come and lay down with me, and when I'd fallen asleep, they'd leave the room. Maybe she has bad dreams or something. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

my neice does the same thing my sister usually make her go back to her bed with her light out and she'll fall back asleep.she usually puts her to bed are 8 and if she was up the night befor she has her take a nap i dont know if it helps but it what my sister does

My only solution is DO NOT give her naps during the day and then she'll definetly sleep all night.

this is usual if i were youu i wouuld pretend to sleep with her and cuddle her in ur arms that way she feels ur presence. kids wake up bc they dont want to miss anything