3 year old waking up and crying for mommy

[bjboxer]

I'm feeling really desperate for suggestions!!!  My husband and I made the mistake (now I know it was) of having a "family bed" after my son was born.  He's now 3 and we moved him into his own bed in June.  He absolutely loves his "big-boy bed" and the set-up of his room but insists on having my husband or I lay down next to him for him to fall asleep (which, I know is to be expected because that's what he's used to). 

After he falls asleep, I move back into my own room but then he wakes up in the middle of the night crying.  The only way we can get him to stop crying is to bring him back into our room or stay with him through the night.  I'm 5 months pregnant and am extremely stressed thinking that when the baby's born, we're going to be tending to both in the middle of the night.

I know the logical thing to do is let him cry it out like you would an infant but he's LOUD and seems to be pretty frightened (despite the fact that we have two night lights in his room).  And if we ignore him, he'll eventually come into our room on his own.  I honestly don't know what to do at this point!!!  Has anyone experienced a similar situation?

[shellm]

I can totally sympathise - whist we haven't always had a family bed we have always bougt our son into our bed for a bottle in the night!  He is now 20 months and we are trying for another- however I am distressed that we will not get this sorted before the next one arrives!  Have you tried pick up put down?  We did but he cried louder and louder...  I too am at my wits end with this and am reading all the forums possible so if I hear of anything else to try I will be in touch!  As everyone keeps telling me..."It will pass"  Good God I hope they are right!  Keep your chin up

[jessica and emilys mummy]

Hi.I had the same thing with my dd and it was almost as if she was scared.We had the night lights  so I thought it couldn't be the dark,but when I laid with her during the night she was staring at the shadows that the night lights were making.We now have fluffy fairy lights across her curtains which are light enough to not cause shadows but also low enough for her to sleep.
If she does wake up during the night I tell her I will lay in her bed for only 2 minutes then I go to bed.If she gets up again I tell her I will turn her fairy lights off.This normally does the trick.I always tell her no to my bed as we don;t want to wake Daddy :lol:
Keep us posted and keep calm for baby
Sarah

[SandyGal]

Hi.
I'm moving this to the toddler sleep board so that you can see what other parents of toddlers have to say.