my 20 month old toddler won't sleep through the night?

Question

I'm a single mum, and as you can imagine it's all go. So when it comes to night time i'm pretty exhausted. But i can't remember the last time i had a decent nights kip. My little man will not sleep through, he'll go to bed between 7 and 7.30pm and be awake at 10, i'll then take him back through to his bed where he'll moan about it for a few mins then go back off, this will repeat throughout the night. Some nights he'll be crafty and quiet and i'd wake up with him snoozing beside me. Any tips on how to resolve this? Thanks guys. xx

Answer 1

Heres some ideas..

1. That you put him down for a nap at the same time every day. Even if he does not actually sleep, at least have him go down for his nap. And the nap should be in his own bed.
2. Establish a night-time bedtime and stick to it. Go through the same pre-sleep routine every night. This routine can include a bath, brushing his teeth, getting into his pajamas and being read a story. Again this routine should take place in the same way every night and at the same time. The reading and saying goodnight should take place in his own room and bed.
3. When he cries, you allow him to cry. When he gets up, then you return him to his bed without saying anything to him until he is back in bed and then you can go through a mini bedtime routine (tucking him in and kissing him goodnight and leaving). Be prepared the first few nights to do this as many times as it requires. Since you're not getting sleep anyway, you won't be out much. But it will show him that he does not get to sleep in your bed and he must eventually go to sleep in his own bed.
4. Give him lots of praise and attention during the day for having gone to sleep in his own bed (I assume he will eventually do this).

Good Luck

Answer 2

Putting him to bed at 7-7.30pm sounds about right.
We found that the secret to a good night's sleep is to make sure that the afternoon sleep doesn't go past 3.30pm(4pm at very latest). This means by 7 he'll be knackered and is ready for a good sleep. Hope this helps; were on baby #2 now and the lessons learnt with our first is making it so much easier this time around.

Answer 3

7-730 is pretty early. I would try 8-830. I have a 16 month old and if I put her to be between 8-830 she sleeps all throught night but any earlier and she is up too. Granted she cant come in our bed as she is still in a crib but then we have to go in there and clam her down again.
Maybe some nice warm milk and 15-30 minutes of quiet time, reading or looking at pictures.
Good luck.

Answer 4

my son is 22 months and he did sleep through until a few weeks ago when he decided he didn't want to anymore!!
he now wakes at 12, 4:30, and 6am, his dad works nights and i also wake up to my son sleeping in my bed with me!!
i have started taking him back to bed and not talking to him and it seems to be working as when i put him down last night he only woke up once! I've only been doing this for about a week and he did cry a little at first but now he runs back to bed before I'm even out of my bed!! it could be that your son is thirsty, i would keep a drink in your bedroom so when he wakes up you can try him with a drink and then send him back to bed! my son goes to bed between 8 and 8:30 and will sleep until 7:30-8am so try sending you son to bed a little later after a long bath with Johnson's bedtime bubble bath and a story, i found that if my son stayed upstairs after his bath and i took his bedtime bottle up for him to drink while listening to his story then he fell asleep quicker because he isn't thinking about whats going on downstairs!!

i hope I've helped! at least you know someone else is int the same position as you!!

Answer 5

my 26 month old toddler still gets up through the night at varying times, sometimes I put her back to bed if I've got the energy if not I generally put her in with me and my other half. I did the same with my 5 year old until she was about 3. When she was attending pre-school 5 days a week she was more worn out and slept though really well.
If you watch Super nanny Jo Frost she recommends putting them back to bed every time they get out, you have to stay outside their room all night long for a few nights until they just stay there.
It depends on you being on your own how much you can cope with. If you are on your own with just him could you catch up on some sleep during the day? Have you got family who can help you out at all and give you a break?
Good luck and happy sleeping.

Answer 6

1.give him some warm milk before bed
2.try putting him to sleep a little late say 8:30 kinds if that suits you
3.make the room dark
4.talk about all good things in life and god has given us before bed
5.tell him everything in the world goes to sleep at 8:30 stars,moon,all his toys,mom n everybody else
6,play some nice lullabies after you've given him a nice warm bath
i'm sure this will work IF NOT then do not lift him up after you put him in bed nomatte how much he cries just let him cry out,he'll get exhausted and go to sleep on his own. it really works i've tried that

Answer 7

You said it Mommy. You are his woman! His and his alone. He is always going to have a crush on you but it is real strong when little boys are young. I am usually the first to say, don't let them sleep in your bed with you. You said you are a single Mom. So that he doesn't feel all alone, you maybe should give in once in awhile so that he knows he is your main squeeze. And, if you can, try to wear him out by running at the park or long walks and try putting him to bed later. Make sure he has a nice warm bath after dinner, read to him, cup of warm milk. See how that works. I think he is so used to it being just you and him, he doesn't want to be away from you ever, nevertheless, waking up all alone at night. He is at the age of separation anxiety. If he cannot see you, to him, you are gone. So, he gets up to check on you to make sure you are still around. Then he sees it as convenient to just crawl in with you. Oh, the love of a Mother's little boy. If you really need to sleep Mommy? I say cuddle up with him. He will probably sleep all night and so will you. You can read all of those parenting books and all, but sometimes, our littles ones just cannot control their undying love for us, so enjoy and cuddle up! LOL! One day, they probably won't want to be seen with us and then we will long for the days when they would cuddle with us. :)

Answer 8

our pediatrician gave us the terrific suggestion grew to become into to set a timer for 20 minutes whilst he starts off to cry, do no longer pass in the room until it is going off, if he continues to be crying, you are able to pass in there, pat him on the returned, reassure him (and your self) that each little thing is great and go away the room, do no longer %. him up and don't take a seat in the room the two. Set the timer returned for 20 minutes and repeat the technique as many cases as you're able to until he finally is going to sleep. If he wakes up returned, initiate the entire technique over. that's long and arduous for the 1st couple of nights, even with the indisputable fact that it worked nicely for my son. i spotted that once my son grew to become into teething grew to become into whilst he might awaken the main and as quickly as I knew that he grew to become into actual in soreness, i might %. him up and convenience him, yet in any different case, i might enable him cry. that's plenty harder reported than executed, i understand, I actual have been on your shoes! yet, now, your son knows that each physique he has to do is cry out and you will come dashing to him, as quickly as he realizes which you're actually not likely to come again dashing to him suited away, he will start to sleep a sprint extra helpful. i would not be giving him something to drink after he's laid down for the night, if he's eating adequate throught the day, he would not prefer anymore with the aid of the night. good success!

Answer 9

ok from one single mum to another. you need
1) a stairgate
2) earplugs
I am not a mean mum i have 2 gorgeous little boys- 33mnths and 3 months- this is obviously in ref to the older one
If he is warm, clean and has been fed then you close that stairgate say goodnight and put the earplugs in. Kids have you sussed from an early age if they know they can get away with something they will!!

Answer 10

dont let him sleep much during the day again taking him to bed at 7 its to early.feed him around 8 and bath him he will sleep for about 8-9 hours good luck