3 yo night wakings

[alison]

We just got back from our trip, and my dh and dd are still working through jetlag (up late, and sleeping in). It was only a 3 hour time difference, yet they seem to have more trouble than the 9 hour difference that we had when we traveled to Europe last summer. She has at least 3 nightmares and night terrors every night that we've been home thus far.

The past 2 nights dd has also been waking up every 2 hours or so complaining that her foot hurts. I go in and rub both legs, and she says after 2-3 minutes that her foot is better. Rinse and repeat. My sense is that her legs are falling asleep and they tingle. Any advice? She likes to be wrapped up in her blanket like a burrito with her arms against her body when she falls asleep. Essentially swaddled!

Any tips that I can give her for a less restless night?

[ladymoreta]

I wish I had some advice, but I just wanted to say I think it's adorable that she still likes to be swaddled! She always loved it!

[Pollyanna]

Any chance she is going through a growth spurt? Maybe try a dose of motrin before bed and extra fluid throughout the day.

[alison]

Definitely, Tara! I hadn't thought about the possibility of a growth spurt.

[spotty_dog]

My DD did that at about the same age! She'd be up at 2am *screaming* that her feet or legs hurt. I thought it was her footie pajamas, or sleeping funny and getting pins-n-needles, but after a few repetitions I became convinced it was probably growing pains of some sort. It did pass, at least.

[alison]

You guys are amazing! It's so great to have you all btdt parents to walk me through this. It's starting to make sense. M hardly ate anything in Hawaii (we took her to ice cream every day to at least get a few spoonfuls of fat/calories in her). And now that we are home, she eats far more than usual. She just ate an entire half of a mini bagel. That's a big lunch for her!

All starting to make sense..... . Thanks!!!!

[alison]

Dd is still sleeping (8:40am), and I haven't heard a peep out of her room for the last 13 hours. Wow. After all those rough nights, I'm convinced that this is the part of the developmental phase/growth spurt where she sleeps.