I think we often associate night wakings with younger babies but if your 3 or 4-year-olds waking in the night you’re not alone. It can be hard to know what to do to stop this. Here are my tips to help them get a good night’s sleep. 

Things that can support your 3 or 4 year old who’s waking in the night.

1. At bedtime encourage independence. For example, get them to get into bed themselves and tuck themselves in. 
2. Night lights are a great idea, and can stop children from being scared in the night. Fairy lights are really good at this age as they are not too bright and most children like them. 
3. Have a chat with them about expectations during the night, that they are really so grown up now. They could be sleeping through the night, but they keep waking up, why do they think that is? If they’ve had a big change recently, starting preschool for example, then find time to talk this through with them. 
4. Try some role play with toys, you could use teddies, dolls or even trains it could be anything, and act out bedtime. Let them lead the way with ideas of how the toys should go to bed and sleep nicely. You could talk about one of the toys being tired because he was woken up last night by the other toys, why might that be? It might be that your child comes out with a useful nugget of information, something like ‘well maybe his feet are cold’. Children can’t always answer the questions we ask them but remember things more easily this way. It could be that a pair of bed socks is the answer to a good night’s sleep!
5. Using a weighted blanket at night can be helpful and calming. Some children sleep much better with these.
6. Limit screen time for at least half an hour before bed. I know this is boring! Screens emit a glow that inhibits the production of melatonin, the drug our bodies produce at bedtime making us sleepy. 
7. Use a stuffed toy as their ‘sleep friend’ This will be their guardian in the night, catch any bad dreams and help them sleep. This really works for some children. 
8. Watch out for nap times being too long. This is that age when children generally drop their nap. Some times they’ll sleep beautifully during the day but wake up at night, leaving parents thinking that they still need the nap. Try cutting nap time down or letting them nap every other day.
9. When they wake in the night don’t go to them straight away. Leave it a minute or two to see if they’ll go back to sleep by themselves. 
10. Try a reward, children generally love anything that involves you. For example blowing bubbles with them in the garden or park, making cakes together or a picnic. Indoor picnics are fun in winter! If your child isn’t making progress then do something nice for trying. 

For more help with toddler wakings and a personalised plan with sleep solutions for your child please get in touch.