A night light back fired on us !

[Khyan & Sahria's mum]

So last night I thought that maybe giving Khy a night light might help him to not feel scared during the night. We talked about how the light would be on all night and that he would be able to see mummy's photo better with the light on, I set up a clock radio in his room and showed him how he could get up if the music came on etc and all was good UNTIL 4am 

So around that time he started to fuss and woke up, he then called for me, I told him it was still night time and I would see him in the morning, so he called at 4.15am, 4.30am, 4.34am, 4.45am, 5.00am, 5.03am, 5.12am, 5.34am, 5.38am, 5.43am, 5.58am and then at 6.10am I had enough and I went in and lay on his floor he then tried to engage me at 6.15am, 6.20am and then not again till 7.40am.

Soooo I would say that last night was a disaster 

In the beginning I went in and asked him what the problem was and I was greeted with silence - he wouldn't say ANYTHING and after about 3 times I just went in and said "it's night time - go to sleep, I'll check on you a bit later.... see you in the morning " but this went on FOREVER 

I don't know ! I think that I will just stop the night light as it causes more problems than good  So back to the light on outside his bedroom and I'll just have to stick it out whilst teaching him how to sleep ALL night

OHHHHHH fingers crossed he gets it soon so that I can then start on Sahria 

If you have comments, advice or personal experience with this please feel free to comment !

[Wife and Mummy.]

I have the same problem with my dd2 she is 4 in July and NEVER slept through the night.Im at my wits end and very tired and grumpy most of the time.I do hope you have better luck.

[tjteems]

Sounds horrible!  I'm going to try the alarm clock idea with my 3 1/2 yo this week.  He has been waking at 5:45 cranky and tired.  Yuck.  All I can say, is that you need to try anything for a solid week.  Even though you don't want a repeat, it may be worth hanging in there for a solid week to give it a fair try.  Good luck!

[jumblebox]

I don't have any personal experience, but I heard or read this somewhere, so maybe it'll help...

For toddlers & young children who wake early, they (can't remember who) suggested putting a nightlight on a timer. Explain that when the nightlight comes on, it's morning & okay to wake up; if it's still dark, it's still nighttime (time to sleep). Start out with the timer set just a few minutes later than their normal wakeup time. Once they catch on, gradually start setting the timer a few minutes later, every few days... until you reach a time that you're happier with.

Whatever you try, do give it a few days! Anything new will take time to adjust. Good luck!

[15milner]

I know that not being in the dark is part of the problem, but the problem we are having at the moment now that it nearing summer, is that the time when it is light is getting earlier in the morning.

I have had to try and completely black out the bedroom as best I can - blackout curtains and blackout lining velcroed round the window because 3yo logic is setting in.  It's light outside - its morning - time to get up.  I don't much fancy that at 4am when it's light outside and the birds are singing.!!

We are lucky that Matthew knows his numbers and knows which is number 7.  We have been telling him that he can't get up until the clock says 7 then its OK to get up.  If it still says 5 /6 then 'yes it might be light outside' but it's not 7 so it's not time to get up.  I can't say - look matthew its still dark, its still nighttime. Try and go back to sleep.

The blackout for the last week has worked better than I had hoped and Matthew is sleeping even better.

good luck. 

Alex