It is getting a little ridiculous at night

[elven87]

I'm looking for some help. 

Our daughter is 16 months, has co-slept with us since birth, and we love it. 

Except for the fact, that whether we put her to bed at 7pm, or 11pm, or anytime inbetween, she always, always, always wakes up about 1/2 hour into the night - and doesn't go back to sleep.

For months, we just took her out of bed and treated that like a nap, because it was pointless for us to try and make her go back to sleep when she clearly wasn't tired again.

Then she turned one year old, and we realized our "time" together was practically nonexistent. We decided she needed a bedtime routine. We stopped taking her out of the room when she woke up, to show her it was seriously bedtime. For a couple weeks, it worked. She went to bed soundly, would sometimes wake up, but we could get her back to sleep easily.

But after those weeks passed, it has been really brutal. We try to put her to bed at 9pm, but it's practically pointless since she wakes up and we take 1/2 hour shifts laying next to her until she falls asleep again.

My question: how do I keep her asleep??

She naps awesomely in the afternoon for about 2 hours.

We feed her well before bedtime, so she's not hungry when she wakes up.

She doesn't need to nurse.

She takes a pacifier.

She doesn't want to play. She acts really sleepy.

We give her a teething remedy, and she doesn't seem to be bothered by her teeth. 

I don't believe that it's "just a phase" because she's been doing this her whole life, minus the two weeks around 1 year old. 

[LadyCatherine185]

what time is her nap in the afternoon? have you tried putting her to bed earlier?

[svs79]

My only thought is maybe a food or digestion issue could be causing her to wake up?  Is she gassy or consipated?  Any other signs of food allergies or intolerance (eczema, etc.)?  I just thought about this since my DD usually has problems sleeping when she is having eczema flare ups and/or consipation problems. 

[elven87]

Her naptime is usually around 12 or 1pm. She sleeps no later than 3pm (except for a rare occasion).

We have tried putting her to bed as early as 7/8, but she still woke up. Maybe I should try this again, and more consistently?

I don't see any food intolerances...she poops frequently and easily...no rashes or gas. I'll keep a closer eye out for these!

[LadyCatherine185]

what time does she wake up in the morning? i wouls try being more consistent with the earlier bedtime and see if that helps. also, the book sleepless in america really helped me a lot. good luck!