3 year-old with fears and sleep problems

[sarees mom]

Hey guys, thought it would be appropriate for me to join this thead. My 3 yr old has been having major sleep issues for the past few weeks. She always slept with a noise machine bec she is a light sleeper and is afraid of the nearby railroad at night. The machine stopped working so shes been waking up, we got it to work last night, so thought it might makes things better, but last night was terrible. She was waking at night crying hard, she had several accidents last nite. I dont know if she had the accidents bec she was scared or if she woke up bec she had the accident or if she had the acident bec she was crying so much. (i was trying not to rush into her room) She has been waking up several times a nite for the last few weeks but never with accidents.
I dont know what to do anymore, i cant re route the railroad although id like to. I just dont have enuf patience to deal with bedtime plus 2-3 NWS a nite. My 6 mth old sleeps better than her!
Any advice?

[bennybean]

OK, I don't want to jinx anything but we have had 3 great nights in row of going to bed, and 3 days of going quietly for a nap!!  There are still 2-3 NW but he will easily go back to bed after each one, which he wasn't doing last week. 
I read this book called From Difficult to Delightful in Just 30 Days, and the simple change I made from this book has changed our house!!  It sounds crazy, and may just be a coincidence, but all I did was change a couple of things.  I started noticing positive things he did with his brother, etc and started writing them down.  Before bed each night I would read him all the great things he did and tell him how proud I am.  I have noticed he has tried to do positive things each day, and he will even ask me to write the things in my book!  For the last 3 nights we go through our entire routine and then he gets into bed and asks me if I am happy and proud!  I don't know if this will last with, but I thought I would share the info in case this tiny change is what has fixed most of our problem   Maybe he was just looking for a little extra attention...

[nwmm]

I am facing similar challenges.  I assume it is just a phase.

My little one does not like bugs.  While I am not in love with them I have never reacted negatively to one from the moment she was born.  When she freaks out, I will say, "Is Mommy afraid of bugs?  Mommy is here to protect you.  Bugs live outside.  We are outside blah, blah, blah.  We just spend a lot of $$ on a swingset.  Have had it less than 24 hours.  She is thrilled with it, but wanted to play inside today due to bugs. 

Bedtime is another challenge.  I believe some of it is a seperation anxiety.  It is frusterating putting them back in bed a million times.  Mine will just cry and meltdown.  One parenting book, I read, says they cannot calm themselves down at 3.  So what is one to do and is that true??

[*Stephanie*]

Things have been going a little better at our house this week.  We have been putting her back to bed with minimal talking, and she has only gotten up to go to the bathroom.  We did have a major meltdown last night, but that was because of a big noisy fan in our house.  Once I turned it off, she went right to sleep and no more getting out of bed.  She tried to say she was scared tonight, but i told her that we were in the house and that nothing would happen to her because we would protect her.  Then she went right to sleep.  Maybe it is just a phase and they want some extra attention.  I'm just not used to all the NW.

[Pens Fan]

Ladies,  I have just posted a 3 year old NW middle of the night horror post - I am having similar issues too.  I don't have any guidance for you just wanted to share that I am experiencing it too and will keep an eye on this post in case there is a "magic" cure for it- will also google twighlight turtle too...

Thanks
Eliz