My Daughter Still Likes to Get up in the Middle of the Night.

My daughter started waking at night again when she was 3. 1st, you should only allow water. If she's really thirsty she'll drink it. Also, the calories she's getting from juice and milk can offset her hunger and contribute to the pickiness. At this age, she needs only 6 oz milk 3 times a day, and may have 1 4-6 oz serving of juice a day, but its not necessary. About the waking at night, we gave incentives for staying in bed- she could only watch her favorite program the next day if she stayed in bed all night. Pick something she really likes and stick with it. This did not work right away (honestly, I thought my husband and I would divorce over it before she would quit), and she would improve then go back again. In time, it does work if you stick to it.

I don't know if this is bad or not, but I give both of my kids a sippy cup of water to take to bed with them. I sometimes wake up thirsty in the middle of the night so I assume they do sometimes too. They have the cup in bed with them so they don't need to get up and get it. It's worked for me and I don't see any harm in it. I don't give them anything other than water though because that'll hurt their teeth.

My daughter is 4 and still wakes up in the middle of the night for a drink. I also let her keep a class of water on her nightstand or let her get a fresh cup of water out of the bathroom. I agree with the other mothers that I wake up in the middle of night wanting a glass of water as well. I always make sure my girls drink milk before bed and drink of water after brushing their teeth then off to bed.

my daughter is 4 yrs old and still gets up in the middle of the night for a cup of milk. I ahve no idea how to brake this either but you are not alone.

I leave a glass of water in my sons and daughter room for them at night. he is 6 and she is 3 they get thirsty sometimes and if the water is there they don't wake me up and they easily go right back to sleep.. I don't give them anything but water at night. If she isn't a big eater maybe she shouldn't drink as much my ped always told me that to much juice and milk fill up there little tummies so they don't eat enough. try giving water at meals and half the juice and milk inbetween meals. but if she is gaining weight and everything then don't worry about it she might just be thirsty..

My daughter too used to behave in same manner.Initially she used to eat and drink whatsoever,but lately it seems it is kind of dictating your terms and having them too.We try to distract her and tell her to eat when everyone does.Since few days we are having respite.
Be little persistent in your effort;I know these children are emotional black mailers,just don't give up.
good luck.
An experienced mom.
Alittle about me:
I am a home maker ,looking for ajob,have 2 daughters:9,and 3 yrs old

My son is 3 1/2 and sometimes would rather have a sippy cup of milk then a steak dinner. I was frustrated for a long time. Very picky eater. Although he is a tall and big boy almost 50 lbs, but not fat, I was concerned about him getting enough nutrition. Now if you dangle a chicken nugget or a piece of chocolate he loves it... So my point is give her what ever she will eat. And always offer the things she wont eat.. Doctor's say kids sometimes need to be offered certain foods about 12 times before they will even think of eating it. Offer a bowl of cereal about an hour before bedtime, this will A. give her milk and B. fill her belly with cereal to get her through the night. As far as the milk in the middle of the night, nono. This will make it really difficult for her to properly potty train. She will be dissappointed in herself if she pees in her pants. Thats how you should approach it to her. But also reward her graciously with a milk first thing in the morning. Children get habbits just like we do it is our job to nip it in the bud early! When she wakes up at night go to her and lay with her till she falls back asleep, reminding her, if she is crying that she doesn't want to pee her pants. After a couple of weeks hopefully she will start to sleep through. It is difficult to change habbits, especially when you have given it to her so often. So give her time to break the habbit!

Response to other comments: Yes we all get thirsty sometimes in the middle of the night but our bladders can handle it till morning, it is more difficult for children especially a 3 year old to hold their bladder till morning after sipping water through the night. When a child pees their pants it is such a huge dissapointment to them, I think this can create an insecurity. I know I felt that way when I was a child and I peed in the bed Till I was 8 years old. My mother gave me anything to drink that I wanted. Just try to limit water intake near bedtime!!

Good luck!!

Sincerely,
K.
todaysbabies.com
mom of 3 year old Niko and 10 year old Jess!

Boy, do I understand. I have a 5yr old boy who does the same thing, especially when he isn't feeling good. He is tall and skinny for his age. He is now just starting to eat a little better so I have noticed he doesn't ask as much. I always felt guilty of depriving him from his warm milk before bed because I thought he was just always hungry. The only real problem is wetting the bed because of the milk drinking so late. I also think it might be a comfort item, because he doesn't have anything else he is attached too. I think there is HOPE!! I hope I helped a little bit! A.

My daughter does the same thing, but not every night. I usually tell her to go back to her room and go to sleep, which she does...

I am not trying to sound harsh but I have 4 kids, they are 10, 4, 2, and 1 and my profession is a preschool teacher. In my experience 3 is not too old to wake up in the middle of the night ....sometimes... to ask for a drink. Every child moves at their own pace and maybe its her way of being sure you're still there to take care of her if need be. Give her some time.

I don't know but it doesn't seem like a big deal. Some people just wake up in the middle of the night for a drink. As long as shes going right back to sleep I don't think it's a problem. Although I would tell her thats its only ok to have water at night to keep our teeth healthy. That might keep her from doing it becuase water is boring. also if you limit to water you can start just keeping a bottle of it in her room for her so she doesn't have to get up.

My little ones also take a sippy of water to bed. If I wake up, I like to have a cup of water available for a couple sips so I figure they do too. Sometimes my daughter's is empty in the am. She s 3.5 now and is potty trained. I thought it might be an issue for staying dry at night, but it hasn't been. The rule has always been only water in bed so we stick to that for their teeth.

As long as it is every so often I dont think its a problem....if thats the worst thing you have to deal with...SMILE and get her a drink:)