Did anyone have a toddler who was a bad sleeper? If so how did you help him/her

1. 61

   loneparentgigglesposted 12 years ago

   Did anyone have a toddler who was a bad sleeper? If so how did you help him/her to sleep through?
   
   My son is 17 months old and won't sleep through. He goes to bed at 8pm and wakes up at 1am every single night, almost on the dot, he's like an alarm clock. Last night he did his usual 1am wake up for a drink, then did it again at 3am, and again at 5am. How can I stop this? I've tried bedtime routines, giving him lots to drink throughout the day, heavy food, light food. I've tried laying in bed and letting him scream it out, going in and hugging him and leaving him a bottle of water by his bed with a light next to it... he won't pick it up and drink it. It has to be handed to him. I'm so tired.

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2. 61

   Kathryn Plasenciaposted 12 years ago

   Have you started potty training? If not, does he have a wet diaper when he wakes up? It sounds like he might be on a pee schedule, and you might want to consider starting a potty routine.
   
   If that's not it, then it may just be that he's having night terrors or bad dreams, which is perfectly normal for his age.
   
   When my kids wake up during the night, I'll hug them, take them to the bathroom or change their diaper, then tuck them in again. I usually leave a sippy cup with water in a toddler's room.
   
   Key Tactics:
   1. Stay Calm - even when you're so frustrated and tired you want to scream
   
   2. Be Consistent - children thrive on routine, especially when something has them spooked or unsettled.
   
   Each of my 6 kids (with the exception of my 3 month old) has gone through a night-waking phase. It WILL pass!

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3. 60

   twilanelsonposted 12 years ago

   One of my daughters woke up every two hours, like a new born baby, for 5 years, then every three hours for the next couple of years.  She is much older now and she still seldom sleeps through the night.  I even had to rub her back gently to get her to take naps (also, not very often, she would just lay there quietly).  I had never heard of this before, and also tried everything.  I was a very tired mom, and now I know we are not the only family to go through this night after night.
   
   Sorry I can't add a solution for you,  good luck.

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4. 61

   duffsmomposted 12 years ago

   I just brought her to my bed. She was warm, felt secure and grew out of the need to sleep with me after a while.
   
   It is interesting as married people, we dread sleeping alone, and love the warmth and security having a partner provides (I'm talking strictly about sleeping) but we expect small children to sleep in a room alone and feel safe.
   
   My daughter now has two children; the first was a restless, light sleeper, the second one sleeps like a rock.  Everyone is different.

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5. 59

   productivitycoachposted 12 years ago

   My second child didn't sleep through the night until he was almost 30 months old.  Don't despair - it will end at some point.
   
   Like your son, mine went to sleep just fine, he didn't STAY asleep. 
   
   He's likely waking up for company, not just the bottle.  What worked a little for me was letting him stay in his bed, but lying down next to his cot on a pull out bed, and patting him through the cot rails when he woke up.
   
   As for the bottle, I decreased the amount in it gradually until it was practically a couple of sips, and he stopped grabbing for it.
   
   I think having a light might be counterproductive as it could signal to him that it's time to wake up.
   
   All the best - and hang tight.  Moms were built to withstand long periods of sleep deprivation!

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6. 61

   Monisajdaposted 12 years ago

   Both of my daughters didn't sleep through the night until they were respectively 3 and 4.5. Even now they sometimes wake up and need me just to reassure them everything is OK. It apparently doesn't matter that they don't nurse/take bottle at night anymore, they still wake up. As they mature they sleep better. My older one sleeps like a log now.
   I agree with a previous poster about child's need for comfort in the middle of the night, we adults sleep with our spouses and yet expect little ones to be sleeping independently in their own bedroom. I co-slept with my children and it was a great experience for them and much more sleep and rest for me.

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