my 1 1/2 yr old is still not sleeping through the night, help?

Question

we have a regular bedtime routine. she also has a bedtime movie, and night light she falls asleep to. every night she gets layed down by 8-830 at the latest, but by 9-10pm she is up and hystrical. ill go in to calm her but it only works some of the time. the only way she sleeps through the night is if i put her in my bed. if i am at work at night, she wakes up the minute she realizes i have come home

Answer 1

My babies pediatrician suggested Melatonin. They have it in the vitamin aisle of Walmart. It is an over the counter drug. You can get it in 1 mg, and 3 mg. The peditrician said to only give my 11/2 year old half of a 1mg Melatonin. It works wonders and its not addictive. Basically it just forms a sleep habit for them and allows them to sleep peacefully. I feel your pain though. Until my daughter was recommended Melatonin....I didn't know what SLEEP was!!! She is the same age as yours. If I can help you any more feel free to email me!

Answer 2

That's normal for the age. My daughter started sleeping through the night a little after 2. Even then it wasn't every night- but she started doing it more and more. Just reassure her that you're there when she wakes up, be there for her. She'll outgrow it. Having her sleep in your bed is a good idea. We did it with our daughter and by 2 years 3 months she was asking to sleep in her own bed so we let her, of course. This stage is short and passes quickly. Our kids need to know we will be there for them any time of day or night. Sounds like you have a good solution with her in your bed if you're happy with it. I know it worked great for us.

I'd recommend skipping the night time movie. Kids under 2 aren't supposed to have any "screen time". Try a bedtime story instead.

Answer 3

You know, some babies have a harder time. My oldest daughter started sleeping through the night when she was about 6 weeks old, and from then on was regular. I thought I was the most brilliant parent on the planet. I would give people all the advice you just typed about in your explanation. And just nod condescendingly at them when they said it didn't work: Amateurs , they were obviously inconsistent or something. But then 6 years later God blessed me with a second daughter. This one never slept through the night. She's 19 years old now. I don't think she sleeps through the night even now. Sometimes when I get up to drink water in the middle of the night, I'll see a light on upstairs. At least she doesn't wake me up anymore.

Answer 4

I know this will hurt, but you need to let her cry when she gets hysterical. I went in, always thought there was something wrong, and I had a four year old who thought 2am was a good bed time.

Keep doing the routine. If she gets really bad, just go in and sit on her floor. Do not talk to her, just sit there. Do NOT bring her into your bed. She knows now if she cries enough, you'll give in. She's playing you.

Been there, done that. It's exhausting.

Answer 5

you may want to try keeping her up until 9:30 or even a little later. If she is napping during the day cut back on how long or how many. As my little ones got older I went from two naps a day to just one. Stop the movie, that may exciter her too much. Try a warm bath and a story. It takes a little while but don't give up and don't put her in your bed if you are trying to break the habit.

Answer 6

First thing, never start to have your child sleep in the same bed. You have to stop that right away. Second when she is in bed you need to let her cry it out, eventually she will fall asleep. She knows that if she cries for long enough you will go get her, so she keeps going until she gets her way and sleeps in your room. This will go on as long as you go and get her and put her in your bed. You have to be firm. It is hard but you have to do it so she will sleep through the night. You have to let her cry it out.

Answer 7

Its normal
its a separation anxiety phase which a lot of toddlers experience
It will pass usually around age 2 1/2

Answer 8

I just did my 10 months girl. you were right having a bedtime routine.
I give milk 30 minutes before I give her a bath after bath I put lotion and massage her, put pajamas, and rock her a Little bit. but remember to dim the light and then i put her in the crib, and tell her to go sleep. I leave the room. 1st time she cried, after 5 minute I came back and tell her that she has to go to sleep by her self and leave the room, she cried Little bit and fall a sleep. after couple days she can fall sleep by her self. if she wakes up at night. I tell her to go back to sleep and calm her and I don't pick her up. and I leave the room, she may or may not cry.
The key is consistency, do the same everyday, same reaction when she is hysterical, it will get better after couple of days, and less crying too.
put her to sleep when she is sleepy but awake, they will sleep better at night when they fall a sleep by them self and they can go back to sleep too.

I know, this method is hard they call it cold turkey, but it's worth it. I get mine done in three days. Everychild is different.

Answer 9

My fourteen month old daughter does the same thing it is frustrating. She is going through separation anxiety. She loves you and needs you. Enjoy it. It goes by quick. I have a fourteen month old, a three year old, and a sixteen year old. What I wouldnt give to have my sixteen year old little again. I know you probably think it is stupid, but you will feel the same way one day.

Answer 10

Your going to have to tough this one out, and get her used to sleeping in her own bed. Get ready for the water works, but it has to be done