15 month baby not sleeping??

[justhebus]

Hi

I have read lots of interesting threads about 10 and 12 month babies that are not sleeping and am getting a bit worried.

Our 15 year old little daughter had a great routine up until around 13 months - slept from 2130 til 0800. Then she was teething and waking so we put her on the bed as she would go straight back to sleep and so could we.

However...4 months on she is no longer teething. But she is waking every night in her cot (and most afternoons) and wont go back to sleep accept on our bed. She is often sitting up, crying, rubbing her eyes - poor thing.

Sometimes she wakes after an hour, sometimes after 3 or 4 - but she always wakes. More recently she has been waking on the bed.

Is this 'normal' for a 15 month old. I know we have really made a rod for our own backs but has anyone got any suggestions?

Would love to turn the clock back to before she was teething!

Help...befo re one of us expires!

Justin

[zgma]

Hi Justin.  First of all, YES, it's entirely normal.  I have a 2-year-old, and he still alternates between sleeping wonderfully, and waking up several times a night.  He goes through phases. 

Second of all, she may still be teething... my son would start teething behavior long before we ever saw a tooth or knew it was coming.  In fact, usually we'd start looking for teeth if he started waking up at night or acting cranky.  Right now my son's in a waking-up-at-night phase, and has been for a month or so, and after a couple of weeks we realized he was getting his last set of baby teeth in the back.

Do you always bring her into bed when she wakes up?  It may be worth a few sleepless nights to experiment with other things if bringing her into bed isn't working for you.  Like rocking her in a rocking chair, keeping her in the cot and singing to her, etc.  She's getting old enough that you could try gently suggesting to her that she lie down and go back to sleep.

Our system is that since I am the one that wakes up in the morning with our son as well as puts him to sleep at night, my husband is responsible for him when he wakes up in the middle of the night.  We used to bring him to bed with us, but what we do now is my husband sets out blankets and a pillow on the  floor of my son's room and sleeps in there when our son wakes up.  Our son just goes right back to sleep in his crib if he knows his daddy is right there next to him.

Good luck!!

[porkypaul]

HI, I would say that if you know that she is not ill or teething, she is protesting because she wants to sleep with you.I do not think sleeping next to the cot is the answer. Every body needs a good night sleep not just baby.

  With my second baby I had this problem and my health viviter suggested 'Controlled Crying'. It may take up to a week and it is not easy, but it will be worth it when your baby learns to go back to sleep on her own.

When baby wakes. Go in to her and lay her down with soothing words. Leave the room. If she does not settle after 5 minutes go back in and repeat the proccess.This time leave her to cry a few minutes longer. Keep repeating this proccess until she falls back to sleep.Be strong because you may have to do it SEVERAL times!

My last two children were twin girls and we had the same problem with them, now they sleep really well and know they will not get into bed with us. If  baby is unwell, give her pain relief and soothe, but try not to take her out of her room.It is tough but well worth it and you may feel bad about leaving her to cry but it is the only way she will learn.

If you are still in doubt please seek advice from your health visitor.

Good luck. Sleep well.

[porkypaul]

HI, I would say that if you know that she is not ill or teething, she is protesting because she wants to sleep with you.I do not think sleeping next to the cot is the answer. Every body needs a good night sleep not just baby.

  With my second baby I had this problem and my health viviter suggested 'Controlled Crying'. It may take up to a week and it is not easy, but it will be worth it when your baby learns to go back to sleep on her own.

When baby wakes. Go in to her and lay her down with soothing words. Leave the room. If she does not settle after 5 minutes go back in and repeat the proccess.This time leave her to cry a few minutes longer. Keep repeating this proccess until she falls back to sleep.Be strong because you may have to do it SEVERAL times!

My last two children were twin girls and we had the same problem with them, now they sleep really well and know they will not get into bed with us. If  baby is unwell, give her pain relief and soothe, but try not to take her out of her room.It is tough but well worth it and you may feel bad about leaving her to cry but it is the only way she will learn.

If you are still in doubt please seek advice from your health visitor.

Good luck. Sleep well.

[justhebus]

Thanks everyone - appreciate your suggestions.

I am relieved that we are not alone...but equally sympathise too.

Will discuss with my wife in morning....or midway through the night and work out a strategy.

Thanks again