18 month old waking nightly
I'm at a loss with what to do. My 18m old wakes at around 2-3 am every night lately and it's killing me all of the interrupted sleep. My partner says to turn the monitor off but it gives me anxiety at the thought of not being there for him. What do we do at this stage.. let him cry it out? I've done sleep school with him in the past and he got better now he's being silly and wants cuddles..yes it could be teething but he isn't in pain during the day or anything.. it's draining to say the least. I'm not paying for a sleep consultant they are ridiculously expensive!! There must be a wayyyyyy.. help
10 Replies
All of my kids went through a stage of waking around this age. What is your bedtime routine and what are you currently doing when he wakes? For my kids I basically did the nighttime routine all over again - offered a drink, made sure they had their teddy/dummy, remind them it’s sleep time, kisses and cuddles and goodnight.
My kids are teens and still don’t sleep the whole way through the night!
Broken sleep is normal but you need to help your baby, he’s not “being silly” for wanting cuddles!
It’s a baby, you need to smooth him, love him and help him settle.
Please don’t turn of the monitor he’s asking for you- you can’t spoil a baby.
My daughter woke nightly until she was 5, my son 8. Every single night without fail. I think for them it had become a habit but also wanting assurance someone was still in the house. My son still wants to be able to hear the tv whilst falling asleep, needs a dull light in his room (we went through a few before we found the right one). My daughter, up until only recently had to have a specific blanket every night.
It deffinently does become a habit, I remember my son waking one night, and I said "come on buddy, mums really tired, your 8yrs old now, you should be sleeping right through" his response was "I only do it because I know you will come!"
Ride it out and give yourself a break. I know it's hard, but you've done nothing wrong. It's common at this age. Maybe take turns to get up to him, or put a portacot in your room so he's next to you? We coslept from 6m on and still had this problem
Sounds like a normal baby! That’s parenting
Could be teeth, 2 year molars can start around that age. They seem to go up and down before actually breaking through. My son did the same and he was actually in pain from his teeth , Doesn’t last long ! Happens again when they’re 5-6ish too . Worth a look at his gums . X
Please don't let him cry it out. He want's you. Before you know it he will grow up and be sleeping in his own bed through out the whole night. Stay strong
I actually get anxious when i wake up at night and not find my partner next to me if his gone toilet. Can you imagine a baby. Xx
I'll say it since no one else will.
There are all these parents saying its fine, co-sleep, comfort etc and yet their 10 year olds are STILL sleeping with them or waking.
Sleep sometimes needs to be taught, its an important skill to learn.
There are gentle sleep training methods that don't include cry it out, although crying it out is a completely valid and safe form of sleep training if done properly. There is a Facebook group that has evidence based tools to help you help you child to sleep. Please get help.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SafeInfantSleep/?ref=share
I'll say it since no one else will.
There are all these parents saying its fine, co-sleep, comfort etc and yet their 10 year olds are STILL sleeping with them or waking.
Sleep sometimes needs to be taught, its an important skill to learn.
There are gentle sleep training methods that don't include cry it out, although crying it out is a completely valid and safe form of sleep training if done properly. There is a Facebook group that has evidence based tools to help you help you child to sleep. Please get help.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SafeInfantSleep/?ref=share