My 1-year old has sleep problems. She is up several times during the night! I am open for every suggestion!?

Question

She is on a routine, every day is the same. She takes her nap at noon, but always wakes up after 30 minutes for me to go in and put her down again. At nigh she is up several times again for me to go in and put her back down. I am at the end of my rope and don't know what to do. Is "cry it out" the only thing left? I never feed her or rock her to sleep. What can be wrong?

Answer 1

This is a tough one. We had same problem with our son around 2. Worst thing is to make it fun for them or let them in your room. We actually, under Dr. advice locked our door and let him cry. It was hard. Eventually it ended.
John

Answer 2

1. Make sure she has had enough to eat/drink

2. Make sure she hasnt got an upset tummy or needs burping.

3. Whatever you do to put her back down - thats what she is needing each time she wakes. Eg dummy or pats or just you being there. They learn these sleep cues so when they wake during the night (which is normal) if all the sleep cues are there then they will just go straight back to sleep. But if a sleep cue is missing - they will need that to go back to sleep.

Sleep cues can be own cot, dark room, dummy, rocking, patting, etc. (Like when we stay at a hotel or somewhere different - or our husband is away we have difficulty getting to sleep. It takes a couple of nights to adjust to different sleep cues - babies are the same)

4. Try just letting her cry a little. Sometimes they just have a little cry then settle back to sleep. If she can learn to go back to sleep on her own then that saves you going in to her.

5. Maybe one nap during the day is not enough. She should be having two and sometimes it is harder for them to settle at night when they are overtired.

6. Wait until she is a little older. She will sleep through. Sometimes it feels as though this is the way it is going to be forever. But it will get better.

Answer 3

Each child is different but my son now 3 use to be like that as well he would wake up about 5 times a night before finally crashing to sleep. I let him cry it out. I would put him in bed the first time read him a book then turn off light (leaving nightlight on) then I would leave he would get up, I would lay him down a second time and tell him if he stays in the bed he would get a toy when he wakes up. I think after the first morning he woke up and found a toy under his pillow he has been in his bed since. I just bought cheap $1 dinosaurs at the dollar store but it worked and he has been sleeping in his bed for 2 1/2 years now.

Answer 4

Keep her napping to a minimum and before bedtime is a great time to give her a warm bath, a small snack (warm milk or cereal to fill her up) and hopefully that will help.

My eldest didn't sleep at all during the night until after she was weened from the bottle, then there was no reason to cry during the night. At 13 months old, I weened her and she's been sleeping ever since.

My youngest slept about 22 hours out of each day until she went to elementary school. God, how I loved that.

Answer 5

I had some problems with my children, minor ones, so I bought "The no cry sleep solution" book by Elizabeth Pantley. While I didn't follow her method exactly she had wonderful ideas.

for example my daughter started waking up once she was in a bed at 19 mos and asking for juice, so we would give her juice mixed with water, we just figured she was thirsty. She would do this several times a night and each time her diaper was extremely full. So I banned juice after dinner and night. I now only give her water. She rarely wakes up now. I also started a strict routine. I had one before...but I tightened the ropes if you will. After 5pm, no TV, 6pm bath, brush hair, brush teeth, then we read a few books, night night to the stars and off to bed.

Good luck

Don't let her cry it out. Just try different things. hang in there.

Answer 6

If this routine isn't working for her try changing it, if she is more tired when she goes to sleep, she less likely to wake up during the night. Try keeping her up a little later than normal, so she really wants to sleep, which might make her sleep for longer when she does. Or maybe she doesn't need as long a nap as she is getting. Also, I don't know whether she is too young for this to work or not, but try letting herself get to sleep on her own, so she is used to sleeping without you being there (again, I don't know if 1 is too young to try this!) Hope this helps! Em xXx

Answer 7

Teething?
Teeth issues are most bothersome at night.
Talk to Doc about the possibliity of giving her a dose of Children's Motrin at bed time.
Also you could use this:

Hyland's Teething Tablets you can get it at Walmart, or any natural remedy store. It works -I used it with my last two.
I would not use anbesol... it toughens the gum and makes it harder for the teeth to come in , thus prolonging her pain.

Also consider sinuses.... it is a possibility. Remember kids are not really that big of a mystery they are just smaller versions of adults.
I'd try the teeth thing first.

Answer 8

just a 10 minute rock in her Mommy's or daddy's arms isn't going to spoil her! Sometimes you need to comfort her at night sweetie:) They grow up so fast, what is it really going to hurt? It may be she's getting too much nap time during the day. Love your kids no matter what anyone else thinks:) good luck:)

Answer 9

she s still young, some babies dont sleep throughthe night til after theryre 2. If you feel you must, then let her cry it out. eventually shell fall back to sleep, but for now do you feel thats the right thing to do? She is at that point where she needs to know that you are there for her. So is it more important that you get your sleep or be there for support for your daughter?

Answer 10

she might be having nightmares and wakes up
you might try sitting with her during her day nap, she might become more relaxed..and sleep better...maybe try giving her a bottle or cup of milk before putting her down for a nap during the day and see if her sleep is still disturbed....and if during the day she sleeps better, maybe try giving her the milk at night...