Star Chart for 2.5 year old

[BANNIGAN]

Hi,
I was given some great help the other week about a child waking up regularly in the night for food/drink etc., and I was advised to use a star chart for being good and bad.
Could somebody please advise me the best way to implement this i.e. format of chart, timescales etc

[mimififi]

I'm not sure I would use a star chart with my 2.5 year old. Especially if it were for nightime stuff? Just my opinion. If I had a perpetually waking child, for whatever reason, I think all you can do is just keep puting them back to bed, and wait for it to run it's course.

I haven't read your original post, but if they are waking in the night for things, you must make sure you NEVER give them anything in the night (unless they are sick) just keep saying no and putting them right back to bed, and walk away. Make no bones about it, make no compromise or anything. Just stick to your guns....You can be uet more stubborn :-)

I know it's hard, but it will stop as long as you are consistent. I just don't think star charts work on a child that young, my 2.5 year doesn't give two hoots about stars because she can't see far enough into the future to see many stars being any use and can't see far enough behind either. She doesn't really understand the concept and thus it isn't a motivation.

just be consistent and believe in yourself, you are a good parent and it will be ok.

[curiosity]

As mimfifi says, I think your child is too young for a star chart, and it seems a bit formal. This is something a lot of parents go through, I always thought it was because my child didn't eat enough before bedtime. Stick in there, make sure there's a drink at hand and once they start school it gets them into a routine and they just need to sleep! Sorry I didn't have a magic wand, but, you get there eventually!

[phae]

Star chart wont work for night waking... this is a habit he has fallen into, not bad behaviour.

He's a little too young, but to get him started try buying loads of stickers from a pound shop. Then reward him EVERY bit of good behaviour by putting a star on his body, or letting him stick it on a chart. (just the day written in columns with (say) 10 boxes after for each star. When he is bad, get a black marker and put a cross in the box, making a point that he doesnt get a sticker.

Dont put too much emphasis on the chart for things like making a mess, and general little things. Concentrate this method on a REWARD system for acknowledging GOOD behaviour. Only use the cross if you feel you really need to make a point. If he ends up with 10 crosses bcoz hes had an off day, it will de-motivate him.

I hope the above makes sense, if not, post me again and I'l try to explain with better english!!!!