My 1 year old son keeps getting up in the night?

Question

About a week ago, my son started getting up in the night - usually before 12 a.m. He will cry and sit up and in his crib. We wait to go in there and after while we go in there to comfort hmi. He likes to be held and then when we put him down, he crys bloody murder. I don't know if this is a habit for him or if he is teething. I have two older daughters and they never did this so I am a bit confused. If you have any suggestions I would appreciate you answering my questions. Thanks!

Jimmy Saint is obviously NOT a parent and hopefully will never be one!

Answer 1

My one year old is doing the same thing right now. My oldest son never did this. When he does this I do several things. I check and make sure his room is warm. (We had to put plastic on his windows because it was so cold in there) If not I bundle him in a blanket. I make sure his nose is clear of snot. (he is a little congested right now) I make sure he hasn't pooped in his diaper. (he is a champion pooper) I also check his gums and see if they are swollen or if any new teeth are coming in. If they are, I give him Motrin. That usually does the trick.

Has your son just recently started walked? I have read that new walkers are more anxious at bed time and have a harder time going to sleep/soothing themselves back to sleep. I think it may be because they want to be out of the crib running around just because they can do it now.

My son went through a week where he would wake up between 11 & midnight doing this. Sometimes the only thing we could do was take him out of his crib and let him run around for 10-20 minutes. Then I would put him back into his crib while he was awake and happy. He would sleep through the night and sleep in for an extra hour. Good luck. I hope this helps you.

Answer 2

He might be having some separation anxiety. If he was a decent sleeper before now I would just continue to comfort him through it and see if he resumes his normal sleeping routine. If he doesn't, you might need to implement plan, for example, let him cry for twenty minutes(you decide how long), then go in let him know you're there, comfort him without picking him up and continue to do it for atleast a week. You might be exhausted the first week, but he'll learn you won't pick him up and you'll get better sleep in the future. What you are describing is very common. He could be having a bad dream, it could be teeth, or it could be that he just wants you to hold him.

Answer 3

Actual scientific studies have prooven that *most* children do not sleep through the night and up until age 2 it is normal to require parental intervention.

"However, even in the 12-month-old group, 50% of infants typically required parental intervention to get back to sleep after waking"[1]

"The findings confirm that night waking at the end of the first year is a common developmental phenomenon"[2]

"Sleeping through the night: 71.4% did this on at least one occasion by 3 months of age, but many of these relapse into more frequent waking in the 4 to 12 month period. It is not until after 24 months that regular night waking (requiring attention) becomes much less common."[3]

"Night time settling requires more parental input from 18 months. "[3]


"Baby's age
% babies waking at night

3 months
46%

6 months
39%

9 months
58%

12 months
55%
"[4]

My suggestion is, if it isn't something you resent and it isn't stopping you from functioning during the day. Respect your son! He will learn to self-soothe in his own time. However during periods of stress, sickness, or developmental milestones he may need you again, it is a need. You won't spoil him, he won't be taking you ro college, it won't be "harder to break the habit later". Respecting your childs need for comfort actually makes them less clingy. It's like sleep, if you miss an hour of sleep each night for a week you end up needing to make up more than 5 hours, because you were deprived and the need builds up. Or like people who deny themselves chocolate and then when they finally give in they eat tonnes more than they would have if they hadn't denied themselves for so long.

So don't worry, your son in perfectly normal. Do what you feel is right for you and your family and don't worry about all those people who say your son "should" sleep through the night.

Answer 4

i know exactly what your going through as i have a 11 month old that is Doing the exact same thing. my little boy is waking up cause he is teething so we just put him some bonjela on his gums and give him a bit of milk and he will go strait back down i don't pick him up cause he will get used to it and we also keep the light on low so he knows its night time.

Answer 5

if hes teething there would be other symptoms, red cheaks, loose stools etc. other wise he is just getting into a bad habit. or maybe u could try cutting down a little on his afternoon sleep so that hes tired and sleeps all night? praise him when he goes all night without crying. and try not to lift him during the night, tell him mummy is tired etc explain to him

Answer 6

If he is quiet when he wakes up he just feels like playing. Leave a night light on for him, so he can see his toys, and he will amuse himself. You don't need to go in there unless he is crying for a diaper change or something to drink.

Answer 7

don't pick him up alot he'll get to use to it thats why he crys, but he's spoiled don't spoiled him cuase he never wanna get down he always wake up crying wanting some one to pick him up, but you just have to teach him that he can't be picked up al the time, and then he'll know, but don't worry i'm sure verything will be fine

Answer 8

Easy solution...Buy a cat.....then let it sleep on his face.....before you know it...problem solved........think of all the money you'll save .........