Nightwaking in 19 m olds...suggestions?

[SweetTeach]

Hi all,
My 19 month is going thru SUMTHING! I'm pretty sure it's a language milestone so I'm trying to be patient here.

However, what in the world does one do when he wakes up at 3:45 am and wants to talk and *sign* play? He was up until 6 and at 5:30, I started crying.
DH and I are sooo tired and ds' sleep has been kind of jacked up for a few days/weeks now (waking up after 45 mins and needing to be nursed down, not wanting to go to sleep at night...).

When we woke up this morning I told him that play time was for when it was light outside and nightime is for sleeping. We'll see what happens tonight.

Suggestions? yawn.

[CB73]

I have a 19MO DS who is struggling to stay asleep too. He mostly whimpers and whines...I bet wishing he was asleep...hard to say. We never talk or really engage the kids at night, but sometimes they are simply awake anyhow.

Anyhow...no real words of wisdom. Our DS1, now 3.5YO remains a challenging sleeper and went through various phases of being awake more, or a little less at night -and yes, signing to *play* or even *eat* sometimes. Could your DS be hungry? Keep water or snacks nearby? My boys never did well playing at night by themselves, but some people might suggest keeping quiet toys within reach, if your DS is able to do that.

Each phase our DS1 went through felt like forever, but now, after 3.5 years, we can look back and see that some of the seemingly longest and hardest phases were just a couple weeks at most. Time is weird with kids, esp when you are sleep deprived!

I feel for you, and am spending many nights awake, crying too. (Last night 19MO DS was awake 1:30-4:30....omg, it was awful!)

Hang in there.

[SweetTeach]

Thanks for your thoughts. It helps to know I'm not alone! Last night was much better. He slept for three 3 hour blocks and although he did call out a few words and do a few signs, he never did wake up and do them.

He spends all day babbling and yelling things so hopefully he'll have a breakthrough soon.

Here's hoping for more sleep for all of us...these toddler-folk really are a tiring bunch.