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Saturday, August 19, 2006
Waking at 2am
Midnight Runner, 36 from Maryland asks...
We have a 3 1/2 year old son who wakes up some nights between the hours of 2:30 to 6:00 am. When he wakes up he cries for his mom saying " Mommy I want you.. Being the mom that she is she quickly jumps out of bed to be by his side.. I on the other hand have to run downstairs to get him some milk..Is there any way to change this behavior or will he just outgrow this??
Stacy Says...
Well, is he waking up because he's hungry or are you getting the milk as a way to calm him down for sleep? If so, you might've created a viscous cycle. While he originally wanted just mommy, now he also gets some milk and so he might be waking up wanting the milk. Kids develop patterns real fast.
I'd suggest next time he does it to simply try to comfort him without milk. Some experts argue to let the kid cry it out. I can't stand for my baby, in the middle of the night, cry for me and not go. Maybe your wife can simply try to calm him down by hugging and cuddling him, asking him what's wrong--giving him reassurance that mommy and daddy are here, but not giving him the milk for comfort.
If that doesn't work and he keeps waking up, try letting him cry for 5 minutes. Maybe he might calm down without you there. Chances are by breaking the cycle, even one night, he'll stop awakening so distraught.
We have a 3 1/2 year old son who wakes up some nights between the hours of 2:30 to 6:00 am. When he wakes up he cries for his mom saying " Mommy I want you.. Being the mom that she is she quickly jumps out of bed to be by his side.. I on the other hand have to run downstairs to get him some milk..Is there any way to change this behavior or will he just outgrow this??
Stacy Says...
Well, is he waking up because he's hungry or are you getting the milk as a way to calm him down for sleep? If so, you might've created a viscous cycle. While he originally wanted just mommy, now he also gets some milk and so he might be waking up wanting the milk. Kids develop patterns real fast.
I'd suggest next time he does it to simply try to comfort him without milk. Some experts argue to let the kid cry it out. I can't stand for my baby, in the middle of the night, cry for me and not go. Maybe your wife can simply try to calm him down by hugging and cuddling him, asking him what's wrong--giving him reassurance that mommy and daddy are here, but not giving him the milk for comfort.
If that doesn't work and he keeps waking up, try letting him cry for 5 minutes. Maybe he might calm down without you there. Chances are by breaking the cycle, even one night, he'll stop awakening so distraught.
