1 Year Old Breast Fed Baby Having Sleep Issues

It is so hard when you are not getting enough sleep! I think the biggest challenge right now is that your little guy isn't getting any sleep, either, and is probably over-tired. Try to not look at the clock and not think about big changes (tv, night light). Just think about how to help him reWlax so that he can fall asleep.

I used to rock my oldest to sleep. I think i did that until he was 2. I would sit in the rocking chair in the living room and watch tv until he fell into a deep sleep. Then I would carry him to bed. My youngest didn't like the rocking chair, but we did snuggle on the couch and watch tv until he fell into a deep sleep.

We co-slept, also, and I completely understand you wanting your bed back, especially with another one of the way. But there are many ways you can help him fall asleep. It's totally normal for 1 year olds to need help falling asleep. Sounds like your little guy could really use some sleep right now. Try not to worry about where he sleeps or how he gets to sleep. He doesn't have to fall asleep on his own or in his own bed. If he's used to co-sleeping, you could always try having him fall asleep in your bed and then carrying him to his. How can you help him feel comfortable and safe so that he can fall asleep?

Sounds like he's got something going on - teething, earache, reflux, growth spurt making him more hungry more quickly, etc.
At 1 yr old, solid foods are starting to take over more from the breast feeding.
Have a doctor check him out.
As for you catching up on sleep, many parents tag team on this.
One night Dad will stay up with baby while Mom sleeps - next night Mom stays up with baby while Dad sleeps - that way everyone gets one good night of sleep every other day.
Or have grandma or a baby sitter watch him for a few hours while you nap.
This isn't going to get any easier when you've got 2 kids - they'll both be small and they can have sleep issues for quite awhile.
I don't think CIO kills brain cells.
Although at 2 am with a sobbing baby I've often thought MY brain cells must be dying.

Couple of thoughts ..

He doesn't have an ear infection or tooth coming in does he? Recently had a cold? Mine were miserable and up all night prior to getting ear infections. Laying down put pressure on their eardrums. Just a thought if it's more a cry from pain (upset) than just whimpering and tired. They will wake over and over if it's from pain. And CIO will not work.

I agree with Amy about making sure he has enough to eat during the day and top him up right before bed. As well, make sure he's adequately warm. If he slept with you and was all toasty, be sure his room is warm enough - I used to put mine in sleep sacks so they couldn't kick covers off. I had one who would wake all through the night if he got chilled.
better. Sounds like what you are doing is not working so I wouldn't keep trying it.

As for breastfeeding him - and he's still crying afterwards, how's your milk supply? When he's at grandma's, does he have a bottle? Mine had to have a big bottle before bed. That helped.

Good luck :)

Could be a tooth or an ear infection.
Once you're sure it's not, remember that sleep begets sleep. An overly-tired child will never sleep well or soothe himself well.
Get a solid nighttime routine going. Bath,food, book.
Play some soft musicin his room.
Ferberize, don't "give him 20 minutes of CIO."
Make sure his belly is full full full before bedtime!

I read your question and also the response you put below (usually posters put it as a "so what happened" so you may find that some responders miss your added info. Keep that in mind).

Anyway, you are probably trying too many things in rapid succession. I get that you are pregnant and exhausted, and yes you both need sleep. I don't think most one year olds can (or should) go without a nap. Sometimes when they are overtired (as he was when he skipped a nap), they are also harder to calm at night. You say below that you are getting a toddler bed? Is that because you need the crib for the new baby? I don't know how people keep a 1 year old in a toddler bed, just saying.

There is, as Suz says, a big difference between cry-it-out and Ferberizing/sleep training. The latter is a graduated approach with systematic, timed checking in without picking up or excessive back patting. It's definitely a few tough nights but it works. Our pediatrician advised us to do it at 6 months. She said a 6 month old did not need to eat/nurse during the night, so I don't think your one year old does either. I assume he is on solid foods and finger foods as well, not just breast milk? Perhaps your mother can help for a few nights, but in your home? That would let you sleep but give the baby the consistency of Ferberizing. But your mom has to be on the exact same page as you and your husband - that's key. So get the book or talk to the pediatrician, then make a plan and stick to it.

And as others have said, you do need to rule out things like teething and ear infections, also maybe reflux. That could also be why he skipped a nap, maybe? But if your baby is using nursing as a way to calm down and be soothed, he is lacking the skills to self-soothe. He needs those.

No, CIO doesn't cause brain cell death. You can debate whether it's traumatizing. But that's not what sleep training or Ferberizing is - you actually give the child a chance to learn to self-soothe, which is beneficial immediately and long term.But lack of sleep is really detrimental to brain development, and you just cannot have a baby who needs to co-sleep or go to the breast - particularly with another baby coming.

my daughter started having sleep issues when she was about a year, that is also when i fully weaned her. i used a pacifier (only at bedtime) to help her sooth herself and get to sleep. if you know your child is not hungry then see if they just want to suck for comfort.
and if you have to you could try sleeping wiht you child for a few nights to get the sleep back then transition back to his own room. a nightmare may have him spooked about his room.
you should also lay down where your child sleeps and have the room as you have it for him sleeping. look at what he sees, a shadow on the wall may be terrifying to him and you will see it once you lay in his spot.

I appreciate the feed back! It is very possible that he isn't eating enough, he's also having issues with that right now. And figuring out how to make him feel safe and comfy for bed is a problem too. He's a light sleeper, for naps I let him sleep on the couch where, we too, cuddle until he falls asleep. But if he falls asleep in another room and I carry him to bed he wakes up even more upset. He has a toddler bed coming for Christmas this year and I think that will really help him be more comfortable in his room. Thankfully he fell asleep without much drama tonight during CIO.

CIO does not traumatize kids if done correctly, because there is not that much crying involved. It's much more difficult after a year of co-sleeping of course because habit is mixed into the picture, but the MAIN issue for sleeping for babies is hunger. If your baby is not able to sleep it's a sure thing that he needs to eat more. Not just right before bed, but you need to increase his snacks and feedings all day long even he he isn't acting hungry. Offer him food constantly. Then after about 3 days of eating more his body will register the change, and he'll be able to sleep. My daughter needed feeding a few times at night until she was one and then my aunt (mother of 10) taught me that trick. As soon as I fed her more, she started sleeping like a stone straight through the night. It worked for my younger two as well, and my son ate A LOT. Whenever I slacked off on feedings, they'd start to wake during the night...

So get him fed more, and then work your bed time routine out. Stick with the night routine you want to keep, and this will pass.

Dear M.,

If your son is healthy (no ear infections, sinus, etc.), and getting enough to eat, than my guess is that he is overtired. A one year old needs 14-15 hours of sleep per day and they also need a routine as they get older. Most one year olds drop from two naps to one around 18 months although many in daycare are forced to go to one nap at 12 months old. When babies are overtired, they have a harder time sleeping. I don't know if your son is in daycare or home with you but he is going to bed too late, and waking too early. If he is underweight and you still need to feed him at night, than when he gets up at 3-4am, you nurse him, change him and put him back to bed. It is still night time. With another baby on the way, you are going to need to become a bit more systematic in your routines. Here is a very good article with schedule advice:

http://www.babysleepsite.com/schedules/toddler-schedule/

I say this and yet my first baby didn't sleep through until 20 months and my second didn't sleep through until he was almost three. The first slept all the way through as soon as he could handle hunger (7pm to 6am) and the second toilet trained!! He would wake and cry every time he wet! Hang in there!

UPDATE: Although I see you are in Jacksonville, I learned with my second baby that he did not like a transfer to a "cold" bed. Putting him down on a cool sheet would startle him awake and then we would be up for hours. I would use a heating pad to warm his bed for him so that if he transferred (from my arms or car seat, stroller, etc) to bed, it was warm to warm. And we live in Fort Lauderdale!!!!
C.

Let grandma take him for a few nights. Just so you can get some rest.

Babies are very sensitive, I am sure he had some problem during night like he wants to turn during sleeping, he wants to change his place for sleep, or may he was hungry, if he not comfortable there are so many reasons for that behavior. I suggest you like first try to understand him I am sure he will sleep longer lasting.

How did you answer your own question? Is that something new?