How to get my 19 month old son to sleep through the night?

Cheyenne - posted on 04/09/2009

Hi there,

I've been having serious sleeping issues with my little one. She 22 months and she was sleeping through the night (7:30pm- 7:00am) since she was 2 months old up until about a month ago and then she started waking up 3 or 4 times a night EVERY NIGHT sometimes wanting a bottle, and some times just wanting to be held. It's been KILLING me!  I tried everything, giving a bath, nightlight, playing soft music, motrin, etc...I think part of it is axiety that when they wake up their afriad you wont be there because many times she will go right back to sleep.   I asked her doctor and he said it is just a "phase"...well thanks doc, but thats no help.  What has started working for me is making sure she eats a good amount at dinner time, so the more she eats at night the better she sleeps. I usually feed her dinner at 7:45-8:00 and put her to bed 8:30 - 9  and she will sleep until about 8:30.  I started a later dinner feeding about a week ago and so far so good...

Cheyenne - posted on 04/09/2009

Hi there,

I've been having serious sleeping issues with my little one. She 22 months and she was sleeping through the night (7:30pm- 7:00am) since she was 2 months old up until about a month ago and then she started waking up 3 or 4 times a night EVERY NIGHT sometimes wanting a bottle, and some times just wanting to be held. It's been KILLING me!  I tried everything, giving a bath, nightlight, playing soft music, motrin, etc...I think part of it is axiety that when they wake up their afriad you wont be there because many times she will go right back to sleep.   I asked her doctor and he said it is just a "phase"...well thanks doc, but thats no help.  What has started working for me is making sure she eats a good amount at dinner time, so the more she eats at night the better she sleeps. I usually feed her dinner at 7:45-8:00 and put her to bed 8:30 - 9  and she will sleep until about 8:30.  I started a later dinner feeding about a week ago and so far so good...

Charlotte - posted on 03/10/2009

i think ive been a lucky mum then my little girl sleeps though the night from 7.30 till about 6.30-7 all i did was take away her dummy and just kept goin in her room when she did cry and lay her down i didnt talk 2 her as the heath vistor said it makes her wake up abit more i cover her over and walk out after about a week she started sleeping through the night since she was about 9months

April - posted on 03/09/2009

I'm reading the No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers by Elizabeth Pantley, and although I haven't started my PLAN yet, I would recommend the book, as it has a lot of good ideas, and not just one solution, as all children are different. It's on Amazon or maybe your library will have it.

Jan - posted on 02/19/2009

I am in your boat. My 20 month old wakes several times a night. She is off the bottle except for nights and wants it throughout the night, it is driving me crazy. I tried to put a bottle with water in her crib and she would not go for it. (she even called out for her Daddy since I was not complying) I give her motrin now due to teething but this has always been a problem. I cannot let her scream or her sister wakes up who we are trying to get her to sleep in a big girl bed by herself, she is 4.

Regina - posted on 02/17/2009

Yes I have a nightlight on in his room and have also put a fan on for white noise and face it away from him.  He's not teething at the moment but I'm sure he will be getting his 2 year old molars soon.  I just don't know what to do about getting him to sleep through the night.

Shanna - posted on 02/17/2009

I'm not sure! My son is still in a crib, but he wakes up in the night too! Have you tried leaving a nightlight in his room on and a sippy cup full of water? ( I actually put the floride drops in this cup of water for my son- best way to keep other stuff off his teeth for a while to let that stuff work!)  Is he teething? Maybe giving him some Tylenol before bed will help too?