1 year old not sleeping through night...HELP!!!!

Vesteen - posted on 12/15/2009

When I felt in my "knower" that my son was developmentally ready at about one and a half (I never advocated the cry-it-out he would've cried for hours, being a very high needs, highly attached baby), we started doing the sleep separation technique by Supernanny (see her webste for more info). It worked! A little short "frustration cry" the first 2 nights, but it subsided. And of course a very predictable bedtime routine is a must. Does your baby breastfeed during the night? That could delay the age at which they are more ready to be independant at nightime. Once my son was old enough to understand (age 2), he started being able to earn cereal bars for breakfast if he had a good bedtime (no whining/tantrums, no uneccessary night waking-sickness and hunger are exceptions). He has been sleeping through the night ever since, in his own bed and LOVES his new BIG BOY BED now! (twin with stepstool and guardrail). Good luck!

Scarlett - posted on 12/15/2009

I found that a bottle (or snack) before bed helped alot. Also, I had to stop giving milk in the middle of the night, and turning lights on so that night time was night time not wake up a make mommy want to scream back at you time. My daughter also started doing better when she learned to climb stairs. She used up so much energy during the day she was tired enough to sleep all night. One thing I did that seemed silly but seemed to work was to have a place for naps and a place for night time sleep. No one in my family has ever screamed it out (and I used to have night terrors, so you can just imagine my parents nights). My daughter now stays up till 9:30 but she finally sleeps till about 8:00, and she is 15 months old.

Shelby - posted on 12/15/2009

Let your older daughter have a special "camping trip" to another room so she won't wake if the little one cries. Then let her cry it out. It's hard, but it works, and everyone will be happier when she sleeps through the night. If you're nervous about it, get your pediatrician's opinion first. He/she will probaly tell you the same thing. Put on headphones or shut the door while she cries - don't torture yourself listening to it.

Gwen - posted on 12/15/2009

My daughter didn't start sleeping through the night, on a consistent basis, until she was about 20 months old. I worried and fretted until finally I just sort of gave up on it. If she woke at night, I gave her a few minutes of crying to see if she'd go back to sleep on her own. If she didn't, we'd rock or look out the window for a couple of minutes, then back in her bed. Then one day, it just magically happened! Now she sleeps all night almost every night! Yay!! :-)

As parents, sometimes we place unrealistic expectations on ourselves and our children. I came to the conclusion that I, a GROWN adult, have nights when I toss and turn or get up 3 times to pee! So, why should I expect my infant to sleep perfectly every night?

(I've never let her sleep in my bed, so can't help you out on that one)

Amy - posted on 12/15/2009

Sorry wish we had the answer for you. Our 11 month old son is the same way - but wakes up 6-8 times a night. We gave up on the crib (after we tried CIO the crib situation only got worse). We finally got a king size bed and all sleep together but he wakes up often, crying and very upset. If I nurse him he'll eventually fall back asleep. If I don't nurse him he will cry for long periods of time. I've talked to everyone, read everything I can get my hands on, and have tried just about everything with no progress. I just hope that when he is into his first year and when we are done nursing things start to get better. I haven't had more than a couple hours of sleep in a row since he was born and it's wearing on me! I'm starting to wonder if the poor child has an actual sleep disorder or if I'm just crazy! Good luck and hope she starts sleeping for you!

Cristina - posted on 12/15/2009

I am having similar problems, and I too won't let my baby cry it out, I refuse, I can't take it. One thing that did work (at least for a short while) was the change from the crib to the toddler bed - my daughter LOVED it.



Inevitably, though, the waking up during the night started again and it continues... and I have many many friends who had the same problem and they tell me that eventually they grow out of it. I'm waiting "im"patiently for that day.



She now sleeps in our bed, and that's actually been the easiest to tolerate.

Jessica - posted on 12/15/2009

Try giving her a filling snack right before bedtime. She is probably waking up hungry every night. You might also have to let her cry it out eventually too. I had the same fear that you had (I have a 1 and 2 1/2 year old) that the younger one would wake the older one up crying. My youngest cried the first two nights and it didn't disturb my 2 yr old one bit! Maybe you'll be lucky and have a good experience like I did. Good luck!

Susie - posted on 12/15/2009

I am a very big fan of shared bedtime. I put my children to bed in their own beds and inevitably they ended up in our bed. So we bought a king size bed. As they got older we got comforters and they brought their pillows and slept on the floor. This went on until they were mid teens. My youngest is 14 she is welcome if she has a nightmare, but she understands its on the floor now fore she is taller than me now, and I want my sleep also.My kids are loved and very well adjusted. My oldest is 27.My middle is 25 and she is getting ready to buy a king bed for her own toddlers.Good luck and God bless your heart.

Nadra - posted on 12/15/2009

how early do you put her down for bed? Also, when she gets up make sure you do not turn on the lights. Keep the lights down...like use a hall light and crack the door only for you to see. My son use to do this in the beginning when he was a infant and this is what I was told to do and it worked every since. Hope this helps.

Amenaghawon - posted on 12/15/2009

have you tried the lavender johnson and johnson bath before bed time. that worked for my 6 month old. also