We had to do CIO last night with my almost-3-year-old

Ugh, she's been a disaster sleeping at night for the last month or so. It started when she had a nasty cold...she'd cough a lot and would sleep restlessly. Before the cold was even gone, she got the stomach virus...so after she'd get sick in the middle of the night, we'd clean her up and she'd want a small sip of water. She got sick (oddly) for over a week EVERY NIGHT at least once...so she'd ask for her cup afterward (can't blame her).

Since then (about 2 weeks since she's vomited), she wakes up AT LEAST 2-3 times a night....wants some water Obviously she's not thirsty, it's a habit...and this is SO how she is, you give her an inch and she'll take a mile. We tell her sternly when we go in that she better not do it again, we take away privileges the next day if she was up all night (which she FULLY understands)...it's a game to her.

So last night, we told her that if she woke up that we weren't going in there....again, she totally gets it. But she was up at 10 something, then at 1am...she was up for an hour or more at 1am-- and it was totally fake cries and whining....she FINALLY went to sleep, but it was definitely over an hour.

I hope it's better tonight. I never though we'd be doing CIO again at almost 3 I haven't gotten a full night of sleep in a good 4-6 weeks....maybe she's preparing me for a newborn again?

Message edited 3/26/2010 1:54:23 PM.

Re: We had to do CIO last night with my almost-3-year-old

It's so frustrating when you give in to them. then they know what you will do. Hope you both get a full nights sleep soon!

Re: We had to do CIO last night with my almost-3-year-old

I'm glad you're sticking to your guns!!! You need your sleep!

Re: We had to do CIO last night with my almost-3-year-old

what about leaving a small sippy cup of water with her at night so if she wakes up and wants water she can have it? We do this with my DD.

Re: We had to do CIO last night with my almost-3-year-old

Jaidy is the same way!! What makes it worse is they can talk so she will yell at me to get her out of her crib RIGHT NOW!!

Re: We had to do CIO last night with my almost-3-year-old

It's sooooooo much harder to do as they get older. I find that I hardly make Jack cry anymore unless I absolutely have to (the other night he woke up from getting his foot stuck in the crib, we got him and we were going to let him sleep in bed with us, two hours later he was still playing so we had to let him CIO and it was not easy at all)

I hope tonight is better!

Re: We had to do CIO last night with my almost-3-year-old

Oh golly. She's being feisty, huh? I think she is just prepping you for baby-to-be...how considerate of her. Hope tonight and the weekend are better. Maybe I'll give you a call around 1 am if Bella is up too?

Re: We had to do CIO last night with my almost-3-year-old

Kaitlyn was waking a few months ago and wanting water - so I now leave her a small straw cup with some water in it. She took it a few nights then stopped waking for it. But at least we didn't have to go in there. Can you do something like that for her? This way if she really does need it and isn't just stalling then you will know b.c she shouldn't have to wake you if all she really wanted was the water.

Re: We had to do CIO last night with my almost-3-year-old

been there!

Re: We had to do CIO last night with my almost-3-year-old