Night sleep problems - ARGH!

Is he in a bed or a cot? We have just had exactly the same thing with our DD. She has been in a bed since mid March, and transitioned really well, never got out, settled really well. Then a week ago she started getting out of bed when we put her down, and then getting up at 2am and 6am as well

but.... We managed to turn it around very quickly, by offering rewards. We started with a little packet of Smarties a a sheet of stickers (her most favorite things), we would say to her,
"tonight, we are going to do ( insert night routine here ) and then mummy/daddy is going to put you into bed. If you stay in bed, you may have some emmys(what she calls m&ms) and some new stickers. But you need to stay in bed. " repeated a few times till I knew she had gotten the point. Then we would do all that, put her into bed with normal routine, and walked out and shut the door.
(So you know, this is coming from a woman who fed her to sleep till she was 15months old because I really don't agree with babies CIO, but I was wits end too with a newborn, so sleep deprived also.)
We left her to it, shrieking away, then checked on her just before we went to bed. She was out to it, fast asleep, but still in bed! And no up in the early morning as well. So of course, huge fuss was made and chocolate and stickers were duly given. Then for the next night, we promised some clips (another favorite of hers) and then walked out and shut the door. Only about 10 mins of hollering then. Next night, a promise of something else ( a little less exciting than clips, can't remember) and barely a complaint. Now, it's as simple as saying we can go to the playground at the mall, or any other slightly cool thing we were going to do in the morning anyway... That's enough motivation for her. Because you want the staying in bed going to sleep well to be a matter of course, not one to have to be rewarded. But, I think a little incentive is great.

To be honest, when my mum suggested doing this, I was very very skeptical, I totally thought that DD was too young (23 months) to get the concept, let alone it actually work. But I decided to give it a week of doing properly, and if it didn't work, at least i had made a good effort at trying. Couldn't be happier now.

I hope my rambling has be helpful

Or could it be teething? My DD always had separation anxiety when she was teething - as soon as the new tooth came through, she was back to normal again...

WestiesGirl wrote: Im not a fan of using lollies, in fact, Jackson doesnt get given lollies normally so that might not end too well but will think of something else to use instead.

Haha fair enough, I actually made the mistake of asking her what reward she wanted, her grandmother introduced her to m&ms and she loves them! Needless to say, I pick the reward now.... Oooh I did do a purple hot wheels car, you could buy a whole bunch off trade me (or somewhere similarly cheap) and use those? Or duplo bits? Or pieces of old technology (ie old cellphone, remotes etc)?

Oh, and I definitely think there is a difference between rewards and bribery. Rewards are offered before there is an 'issue', and bribery is offered in the midst of an 'issue'. Slim line I know, but it makes a difference haha

haha Westies girl there must be a few of us sitting in rooms at times.

DD is a lot younger, and we have some nights where she sleeps through, but the ones when there is a wakeup - the best way to get her back to sleep is go in, lie her down, and sit on the rocking chair in her room until she is asleep.

We've also tried other methods recently... but we're hoping it is a phase and will stop soon!


good luck!!!