19 month old with sleeping problems and NEED suggestions!!!!

Jessie - posted on 11/08/2010

He was sleeping good actually, then we went to stay with his dad for a month- 1000 miles from home. Once we came back he never slept good. I never linked the two together until now but it makes sense! Thanks everyone, I just miss my sleep too :)

Itsa - posted on 11/08/2010

I've said this many times, no one listens.......

Babies are physiologically made to sleep in REM throught the night in order for brain reparation. All day long they are bombarded with a million new sensations, pictures, words, motions, sounds, movements, etc etc etc etc. During naps they are so PHYSICALLY exhausted so they sleep in DEEP sleep. At night though, their brain puts their body in REM or light sleep. That is the only sleep in which their brains can repair, sort out new information and build new cells. Any noise, even their own breathing, can wake them from this. It's unfortunate but it is how they develop!

Also, babies are more comfortable with mom and or dad because during the day you give them comfort and reassurance. At night, alone in their crib, they don't get that which is why it is so difficult for them to get back to sleep after the innevitable waking. My husband and our son share a bed at night, it's their time to bond, snuggle etc as I am home all day with him. This way, I get a good nights sleep and daddy and baby spend much needed time together (even if they're just sleeping!).

I'm not just talking out of my butt here, Ask your Doc to get a copy of the Scandinavian Medical Journal featuring baby and toddler sleep studies, they've done LOADS. The problem is that baby sleep tools is such a huge business, no one wants to tell you that none of these methods actually works!

Just enjoy the cuddles and snuggles, eventually they won't need us at ALL!!!!

Carly - posted on 11/08/2010

My son was doing the same thing, waking up screaming, not wanting to go back to sleep. Then one night he had a banana close to bedtime and he slept and I finally figured out that he was having leg cramps from all the running around he did all day.

So now I give him either some banana or some orange juice (both are packed with potassium) near bedtime and he went right back to sleeping like a log. I know it was that for sure because the nights I didn't give him something, he woke up again. It can't hurt to try!

Ashley - posted on 11/08/2010

My son is almost 2 and still doesn't always sleep through the night. But I did run into that same problem off and on for several months. From birth up til about 6 months he slept through the night. Then daddy left for Iraq and everything changed because he sensed a change in the house. But eventually that passed. Then he started teething really bad and that had changed his sleep pattern completely. Eventually things got better... For a little bit anyways. Then daddy came home and that threw everything for a loop. Anyways long story short if there are any changes such as stress/depsression/sick/teething and anything else then he's probably sensing that and is acting out. Another thing is he could be trying to overcome a really big milestone (so I've read). Other than that I don't really know. I guess it wouldn't hurt to take him to a doctor again to see if there's any underlying issues that aren't noticable. I'm sorry I couldn't have been much more of a help. But I have been there and it was very exhausting. It is a phase and will pass with time. But until then hang in there. =/