Not sleeping through night @ 18 mo

[AKA_PI]

I'm sure many of us have similiar sleep issues but maybe mine are a little different.

DP and I started putting our son down for bed at 8:30-9 every night when he was 14 months old. The first couple of weeks, we could just put him in the crib and he would either cry himself to sleep or just doze off. At the time, he would sleep until 5am (Which is when I get up for work). Of course this was perfect for me because his dad only spends the night on the weekends and I'm here by myself during the week.

Fast forward to 17 months and his sleep habits are shot! He climbed our of his crib, so we converted it to the toddler bed. I put up a baby gate at his door since he can climb out of when he wakes. Now for whatever reason, he will not go to sleep and sleep the entire night. He wakes at 1am and 4 am, sometimes staying awake the entire time. If put him in bed with me, he dozes right back to sleep. Basically if he sleeps with me, he sleeps the whole night.

I'm going to try a new routine of a nighttime massage, story time and then lay with him in bed to see if maybe he calm down and doze off. Once asleep, how do I get him to sleep the entire night? Or at least until 5?

Any other suggestions on what I can do?

[LadyCatherine185]

My 17 month old still wakes hourly, so no suggestions on how to get your son to STTN.

Is there a reason you need him to sleep alone in his room? It sounds like he needs his Mama at night, especially if you are at work during the day. He could be teething, going through separation anxiety, developmental milestones, etc.

I would either bring him to bed with you when he wakes up, or put a mattress on the floor in your room as a 'compromise' with him to see if he will accept that. You can't make a child sleep, or keep them from waking up at night. I'm 24 years old and I've never slept all night long.

[Chloe'sMama]

DD is 19 months and still wakes up 3-6 times a night, several to nurse. I can't give any suggestions (other than co-sleeping when you can). I can relate though. They do grow out of it (i have heard.....)

[Cersha]

My DS is 31 months and doesn't STTN. He still wakes to nurse 2-3 times a night. It was even more before I got pregnant...he doesn't wake as often now cause there isn't as much milk.

[rzberrymom]

Originally Posted by LadyCatherine185

My 17 month old still wakes hourly, so no suggestions on how to get your son to STTN.

Is there a reason you need him to sleep alone in his room? It sounds like he needs his Mama at night, especially if you are at work during the day. He could be teething, going through separation anxiety, developmental milestones, etc.

I would either bring him to bed with you when he wakes up, or put a mattress on the floor in your room as a 'compromise' with him to see if he will accept that. You can't make a child sleep, or keep them from waking up at night. I'm 24 years old and I've never slept all night long.

Very very wise words. He sounds like he needs to be close to his mama.

[Maluhia]

He may be reacting with extra vigor because of having had to cry himself to sleep at only a year old, sadly the stress hormones this releases into his brain could make some big changes for him. First off I think giving him as much time as possible in your bed, cuddling and feeling comforted will help him feel attached and safe and hopefully will allow his body to sleep for longer periods of time.

[StoriesInTheSoil]

Originally Posted by Maluhia

He may be reacting with extra vigor because of having had to cry himself to sleep at only a year old, sadly the stress hormones this releases into his brain could make some big changes for him. First off I think giving him as much time as possible in your bed, cuddling and feeling comforted will help him feel attached and safe and hopefully will allow his body to sleep for longer periods of time.

This sounds very smart and logical to me.

OP, is your son completely nightweaned or is he waking because he wants to nurse? Their metabolisms are so so fast at this age.

My 18 month old wakes in the night, I think 2-3 times but usually only one wakes me up. Some days it bothers me more than others so I was thinking of nightweaning but he's teething so I'm waiting until we're done with this tooth to try. I do know that being there for him to touch and cuddle up to is still really important to him though.

hope you can figure something out soon!

[AmyKT]

My DD only started STTN in her crib at about 18 months. Now she's waking 2 times again. Co-sleeping is the only thing that works for us these days.

[ainh]

I put my kids to bed in the crib and then bring them straight to bed when they first wake (if I'm already sleeping, that is). Once they are used to sleeping through the night (even if part is in your bed), then the length of time in the crib increases. I find that when our routine is disrupted, he comes to bed at like 1am and as he gets more "happy" stress free nights, then he sleeps until 4am in the crib. With my first he suddenly just started going all night. Good luck!