night waking and wont go back to sleep

DS is 3, and has been waking up between 1-3am, wide awake and wont go back to sleep. He turns all the lights on between our room and his and runs throught the house screaming until we wake up. He wants to sleep in our bed, then he wants to sleep in his bed, then he wants a story, leave the light on mummy, stay here for a little while mummy.

I was getting more sleep than this when he was a newborn, last night I got 2 lots of 2 hours and now Im at work trying to figure out whether I've got enough sick leave to go home early and sleep :(

I dont know what to do. Family members think they are giving advice, but drugging him with paadol and hoping he will sleep through is just not on as far as im concerned.
DH will happily roll over and ignore it all and let him scream, either that or he'll scream back at him and scare him half to death - neither of which Im happy with.

I know it will take a while to get him back to his regular sleeping pattern, but i dont even know where to start!

Could it be related to me being pregnant? Or is it normal for a 3 year old?

I've asked him if he is having bad dreams and 90% of the time he says no, no bad dreams, nothing hurts, he donest know why he is awake. :wall:

Help!

I have no idea... I was going to mention keeping all the lights off... if he wants to be awake he will have to be awake in the dark... but sounds like you have low light switches??

yep, unfortunately he can reach them all, and the ones he cant, well he just moves his stool over there and climbs on up. Once his lamp is on there is no stopping him.

We need to have some light outside his room so that he can get up and (hopefully) go to the toilet, so once one is on, the rest just follow.

wonder if there are covers that you can put ove light switchs when he goes to bed.... if he cant turn on the light, i doubt he will run around in the dark.

Apart from that, im not sure, but it must be quite frustrating. Is he having naps during the day??

Yep Hollye he sleeps for about 1.5-2 hours most days.
Can you get covers for light switches? I didnt know they eisted - I know you can get the powerpoint ones.

Rayray, it sounds like a phase. He says he isn't having a bad dream, but maybe he just isn't remembering it or able to articulate it properly? It could be anxiety with a new baby on the way. Not wanting all the lights on and sounding genuinely distressed, he is obviously looking for comfort from you. (My DD still naps for the same amount during the day and if this has only just started occurring I would doubt it was because of the nap).

Even if you can stop him turning on the lights, will that help him get back to sleep? What do you do when you put him to bed at night? Is it possible that you could somehow replicate this with him once he's woken (ie drink, toilet, cuddle, bed)?

:hug: He will grow out of it.