my son is almost 21 months old,and wakes up during the night?

Meghan - posted on 01/01/2011

I really think it is a stage, a lot of other moms I know are going through or have been through it. We seem to be moving out of it at my house, and it only lasted a few weeks. I hope your LO's get over it soon!

Katherine - posted on 12/31/2010

So let's assume it's the age....we all have 21mo's, what else could it be??

Mary - posted on 12/31/2010

I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.

Meghan - posted on 12/26/2010

I wanted to update you on what is going on in our house. My son was doing the same thing, waking up and we would have to go in and comfort him. It seemed like nothing would help. But it got to a point one night when my husband wasn't home and I was feeding a baby so I couldn't go in and comfort him. He cried for a while and eventually feel back asleep. The next night, when he woke up he cried for just a few minutes and soothed himself. Now its been 4 or 5 nights of him waking but not full on crying/waking up. He just kind of whimpers, moves around and goes back to sleep on his own.

So, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. They will eventually figure out how to soothe them self back to sleep. At least I hope this is the end of the phase for us.

I also agree with the above post about having an animal. Our son has his "bed time pals" which he has slept with for a while. Its something familiar and they can snuggle up to them if they wake it.

Jen - posted on 12/25/2010

Our daughter is the same age and was doing the same thing, we gave her a nite time animal... one only for bed time, it soothes her, and if she starts to wake up she just feels for it now and when she finds it she goes right back to sleep.

Kelly - posted on 12/25/2010

Ha ha. Yes mine did that for a little bit. I think all kids go through that. It's a new thing to be in a bed and it's a novelty to be able to get in and out of it. It will pass as they soon realise that bed is more comfortable. Just remember to stick to your guns. If you back down they will get worse. It will be fine before you know it and you'll be glad you were a bit tough. Good lock!! :-)

Meghan - posted on 12/24/2010

Alicia, this may sound bad but we lock my son's door. Its really more for safety, since he can open the door and I don't want him wandering. You could try that, or putting a baby gate at her door so she can't get out. That way if she wakes up, she knows she has to stay in her room and sooth herself. Just an option...

Alicia - posted on 12/23/2010

I have the same problem but my daughter can open her door so she will only sleep if i sleep with her and i am not starting that habit. We just got her bed for her and I hope that we have a bit of success

Meghan - posted on 12/22/2010

Kelly, I like what you said about letting them cry a bit. We have done that, and it seems to work. But he ends up sleeping on the floor by his door. Did your kids do that? Is that normal? I mean, he seems to sleep on the floor more then his bed.

Kelly - posted on 12/22/2010

I also agree with Kristen Connor. Bed time is bed time. Not TV time. Your the mum therefore the boss and u need to make the routine for him to follow. Be tough and have a set bedtime and routine. All 3 of mine did and i had no problems with sleep. I just didn't take any nonsence at bed time. They catch on pretty quickly when they realise you are making excuses for them and they are getting away with their naughty behavour.......

Kelly - posted on 12/22/2010

I reckon if he was a good sleeper in his cot he's prob just missing it. My 21 month old is still in her cot and i won't put her in a bed till a bit later when she understands a bit more. If he wasn't a good sleeper in his cot and now also not in his bed i would be doing controlled crying. Shut the door and let him go. He will fall asleep at the door but it will break the habbit?? Saves him being in your bed till he's 5?

Meghan - posted on 12/21/2010

I have the same issue. He wakes in the night between 12-2 ish. We tried to let him cry it out, because the cry is not a pain or need something cry, its a tired whimper. But that isn't working. We are also having trouble getting him to go to bed at all, I just posted a long post about bed time battles. I am interested to see what others are doing about this.

Kristen - posted on 12/19/2010

Having him fall asleep in front of the tv probably doesn't help him develop good sleeping habits. My daughter goes to bed pretty strictly at 8pm and sleeps through the night in her toddler bed. Getting to sleep just requires the same routine and the parents to be strict with it. The first time you let him sleep in your bed set the example for him.

Charlie - posted on 12/19/2010

I have the same problem. My daughter is also 21 months old and no matter where she sleeps she wakes up several times during the night. She thinks she needs a sippy cup when she wakes up and won't go back to sleep with out it. I can't wait till she is done with this stage.

Stephanie - posted on 12/18/2010

ok,i will try this...he only wakes up once during the night,he plays all day and he take 1-2 naps depends what time he takes his first nap useley its only after he has his lunch,and his bedtime is between 8-10 pm the latest,and when hes sleeping he sometimes snores and sometimes breaths throught his mouth.when we get him ready for bed we give him a nice warm bedtime bath and lay him in his bed and we put Mickey mouse clubhouse on and he useley falls asleep with that on.

Katherine - posted on 12/18/2010

It sounds so easy, I know but try these tactics.





Sleep Interruption:

Why it happens

Your toddler's night waking could be rooted in poor sleep habits or a health problem. Sometimes perfectly normal, healthy toddlers will wake during the night as they go through different stages of development or experience separation anxiety.



Night waking can be caused by not napping, changes in routines, or being overstimulated during the day. Nightmares and night-time fears can result in disrupted sleep. Toddlers who snore or breathe through their mouths when asleep (both symptoms of sleep apneoa), or have inconsistent sleep schedules - going to bed too late or napping at the wrong times - are more likely to wake up in the middle of the night than their peers. In addition, discomfort caused by fever or an ear infection can keep your toddler from sleeping soundly.

What you can do about it

Start by establishing a regular bedtime and a consistent bedtime routine. Make bedtime early, as later bedtimes will result in sleep deprivation, making your toddler wake more frequently at night rather than less frequently. Develop a consistent bedtime routine that includes three to four soothing activities and ends with your toddler falling asleep on her own.



With a consistent bedtime routine in which your toddler falls asleep on her own, night waking should diminish in a few weeks. If this doesn't work, try this checking routine: stay in your toddler's room for a brief time, keep contact neutral (patting her on the back a few times is fine), and don't pick her up. Leave and return at five-minute intervals, gradually increasing the time you're gone. Some toddlers are temperamentally tougher to get to sleep, so don't despair if yours takes a little longer to learn how to sleep through the night.



Work on establishing a consistent nap schedule so your toddler is getting plenty of daytime sleep. Napping well during the day is an important component of sleeping well at night, since sleep-deprived toddlers wake more often at night.



Btw my 21mo wakes about 5 times a night and I have NO idea what to do with her.