My baby just turned 1, and he goes down fine at bedtime, but then he wakes up at 12 or 12:30 and stays up for 1-2 hours. This is probably 3 nights a week. I am exhausted. Yes, I check his diaper and rock him and hold him and nurse him (probably part of the problem itself), and nothing helps. We have a dr. appointment on Tuesday for the 1-year check-up and I'll bring it up there, but I was wondering if anybody else survived this.
I just picked up a FP soothing ocean toy for his crib. It soothed him at lunchtime--a mac and cheese eating cherub was he!--and I hope it will help him at night too.
I really need some constructive ideas, particularly what to do besides going into his room and doing what seems natural (comfort him, or try to). Thanks so much.
2007-01-12 06:14:07 · 26 answers · asked by JK 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Have you tried a night light??? My son had the same problem.. (all babies wake at some point during the night and most will fall back to sleep on thier own.) I figured out that he was scared of the dark..... when he woke up, he would freak out and it would take forever to get him back down again.. once we put a night light in his room... (on the opposite side from where he sleeps) he hasn't ever had any more problems... I wouldn't recommend letting him sleep in your bed all the time though.. I have a few friends who did that cause it was easier, and they are still having a heck of a time getting their kids to stay in their own beds...
2007-01-12 06:28:04 · answer #1 · answered by Mommy of 2 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am having the same trouble with my 10 month old. I am trying the method where you soothe the baby, but don't pick her up. A few "shhh shhh shhh's" and say "night night" and walk out of the room. I don't let her cry for more than 5 minutes before I go back in there and soothe her again. (the book says 10 minutes but I can't bring myself to wait that long.) Surprisingly, it is working really well. It has only been 2 nights since I've started this and she is sleeping much better. The book I read said this teaches the baby to "self-soothe".
2007-01-12 06:34:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I ran into this same problem when my daughter was that age. I bought her a glow worm to comfort her at night and it seemed to do the trick. Granted, she did still wake up every now and then but if she cried, I would not go in there. Instead, soon after I would hear the glow worm start playing music and then not another peep out of her. Another thing too, if you use a night light, make sure it isn't too bright. I finally decided to buy my daughter a new night light that is much dimmer and she has been sleeping so much better since then. Hang in there...it gets better!
2007-01-12 06:55:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, having gone through this twice myself and not having had too much success, I probably can't give you any advice. Our 15 month-old is going through teething and it seems like she can't sleep 60 minutes without waking up and needing comfort right now.
I will say that this will pass. In fact, when you look back on it 18 years from now, you may find that 1) you don't even remember or 2) it seems so short looking back.
That being said, Elizabeth Pantley has written a book called the "no cry sleep solution" and she has a TON of different ideas you can try if there is really no external cause (teeth, diapers, etc)... some may work, some may not. Good luck!
2007-01-12 06:19:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I experienced the same thing with my son. Nothing seemed to work. (He already has a nite lite) I think it does have something to do with them just being used to getting up every couple of hours to feed. So, I made sure he was really full before I put him down for the night (to ease my mind that maybe he was real hungry) and sure enough 12am there he was screaming. I went in there. I didn't really talk or coo to him. I did not pick him up. As routine as possible, I checked his diaper, not wet, he was not hurt or sick, so I told him he was OK, and laid him back in bed and said nite, nite and walked out. He cried. Eventually he fell asleep. About 1 week of this and he was cured. You just can't give in too much with the cuddling etc..I think that only positively reinforces their behavior. Good luck...
2007-01-12 07:19:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is very common and normal for a one year old who sleeps fine, wakes up in the middle of the night, and then sleeps until morning.
I think it might be because, even if you think he is not hungry, he is just accustomed to waking up at the same time every night (they call this a "body clock") because it is part of his routine now. If you were getting up to nurse him, he expects it now.
Good luck at the doctors!
2007-01-12 06:18:17 · answer #6 · answered by mellybee4321 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
He probably is still hungry at night, and yes nursing him keeps him that way. My third was this way, it was tough. I started feeding him a bed time snack, real food, not milk. Protein is slow digesting, so cheese, peanut butter (very thin layer on toast, to avoid potential choking) and such are great. It worked. Maybe it will work for you as well.
2007-01-12 06:21:59 · answer #7 · answered by wickywickyjoka 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
We did this about 6 months ago. He is going to have to learn to sooth himself and put himself back to sleep, otherwise you will be up with him every night. Let him cry it out a few nights. Everybody says 3, but it took us 4. It drove my wife crazy. I had to stop her from going in to check on him. He was fine, just bored and lonely.
Now some nights when he wakes up, you can hear him playing in his room, quietly. Or singing or talking. Man that is funny.
Good luck!
2007-01-12 06:18:53 · answer #8 · answered by Steve H 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I have two kids and I never really let them cry for to long. My wife would let them cry for hours, but I can't. This is a phase both my kids went through and both got out of it just fine. The only thing I am strict about is no kids sleeping in my bed...I will sleep in their bed with them before I let them come in my bed (of course both my kids are out of cribs at this point).
Many parents find that if you let the kid cry it out he/she will eventually fall back asleep. This works if you have the intestinal fortitude to listen to the crying for 30 minutes or more in some cases. If not, your options are to let your kid sleep with you or continue to get up and feed and rock him back to sleep.
2007-01-12 06:21:00 · answer #9 · answered by Cyber Stalker 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
he might be hungry or in pain or try giving him a warm bath or push him in his stroller around the block, go for a car ride or lay a blanket on top of dryer and put him on dryer and the vibration might put him to sleep
2007-01-12 09:49:12 · answer #10 · answered by the_used_fan_0717 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋