[alisoncooks]

Hi all. My DD is 10 months old and has slept alone in a crib since she was 2 months old (she has preferred and slept better apart from me--unlike her sister who was a snuggler

).

I've always nursed her at bedtime and laid her down asleep or awake--both have worked. She's a good self-comforter (finger-sucker). Until recently, she awoke for one night feeding (anywhere from 4 to 6 a.m....and even some nights of sleeping straight until 7 a.m.) Whenever I fed her at night, she would go right back to sleep (no crying at all). I know...I've had it easy!

All this week, however, she has been waking up MULTIPLE times and crying hysterically if I try to lay her back down. I've been doing a lot of rocking and walking and the past 3 nights resorted to bringing her back to bed w/ me. This is a habit I REALLY don't wanna get her used to, especially after the good thing we had going! When she comes to bed w/ me, she doesn't sleep...she wants to play, pull hair, poke me in my nose, etc. (This morning this began at 4:30...yesterday it was 3:30). I'm not used to being up this early!

Do you think this is a stage? She's just started pulling up in the last few weeks...maybe this could contribute (when she wakes at night, she is standing...and I know she can't get down by herself. But when I try and lay her down, she freaks!)

Any suggestions? I don't remember if my older daughter did this. I'm afraid that she's gonna wake my 3 yo up w/ her hysterics (even when I stay and rub her back she cries).

 

[alisoncooks]

Oh, a note about her day time sleep, in case that helps.

She takes a morning nap 10-12 and afternoon nap 2-4:30 (used to be 5).

I've wondered if she was sleeping too much, had reached a stage where she needed less sleep. Today I cut her morning nap down (10-11)--probably should've cut only be 30 minutes to begin w/

.

Her afternoon nap I cut to 2 hours (2-4).

She is also acting like she's hungry at night when she wakes...should I somehow supplement her bedtime feeding? cereal?

Anyway, a little extra info...

 

[JessicaS]

She could be going through a growth spurt which could entail her being hungrier than normal.

My baby is just a few weeks younger than your dd. Even though he eats well he has been nursing a LOT more than normal.

Growth spurts can also make them a little more clingy right before they GO GO GO GO. She just needs some extra mama love.

 

[bishopnikki]

I wish I had answers for you! I can offer sympathy and the news that you are not alone! My 10 mo old has been experiencing difficulty at night time as well! She used to sleep away the night, waking up a couple of times to nurse and going easily back to sleep.

Recently, she goes to bed, then is up an hour later and ready to play! It takes me several tries to get her back to bed. Last night she didn't go back to sleep until after 1a!!! She was very upset. My sense was not that she was crying in pain (rule out teething or ear infection) but rather she wanted to play! However she was also very tired ... a hard combination.

She is starting to walk (assisted) and I am wondering if the sleep problems is part of a developmental milestone. I can't remember if her sister did the same.

I am anxious to see some replies to this thread!

 

[EzzysMom]

People told me that this is fairly developmental, with some separation anxiety being the problem. Plus it sounds like the new skill is keeping her excited! DD's sleep is finally starting to get better again lately, not great, but better.

 

[tinyblackdot]

Teething?

Put your fingers in there and feel around and see if you feel any tooth bumps.

 

[Thing1Thing2]

My ds just turned 10 months and he is going through the same thing! Im shocked that other people have posted describing exactly what I have been going through for the past 2 weeks.

My lo used to nurse 2x a night - now he is up every hour wanting to eat. He does not sleep like he used to anymore and constantly gets up and starts crawling around if I don't feed him right away. We co-sleep, but its the same thing your lo is doing in her crib.

I thought it was because I started him on solids and he wasn't getting enough breastmilk, but I guess it's just the age they are at....

It would be nice to get some sleep...

 

[rzberrymom]

With my DD, her sleep preferences changed over time, and I did my best to go with the flow. Sometimes she preferred to sleep alone, but then a few months later she'd go through some phase of separation anxiety and want me to be close by. In other words, even though your DD may have done well in a separate sleeping space, it sounds like she may need something different now. And it will change again (many times, most likely!)

I would try not to worry about starting "bad habits" and go ahead and bring her into your bed if it gives her comfort. Things will change again sometime soon, and she might need something different.

Good luck mama!

 

[rzberrymom]

Oh, and I forgot to say that it sounds like she's practicing her new skills, which does make them wake in the middle of the night. Whenever my DD did this, I played dead--if I didn't move a muscle, she'd practice roaming around in bed and would then usually resettle herself within 15 minutes or so--if I engaged her at all, tried to get her to lie down, tried to resettle her, tried to nurse her back to sleep, we'd be up for 2-3 hours. If she's in your bed and practicing her new exciting skills, I would just try to lie as still as possible and it will pass.