10 1/2 Month Old Won't Sleep!

T.,

It's totally normal!! You did make me laugh though...I think we ALL go through this at least at one point in time or another, but it's totally the phase she's in right now. If she isn't crying or upset, I'd say it's just fine.

At this stage, she's becoming more and more aware of her surroundings and this of course includes her sleeping area. If she has toys, dolls or whatever and she wakes then at least she's got company! Let her explore and if she's putting herself back to sleep then she'll grow out of it. I think what was hardest for me was I felt like I had to 'make' sure my son went back to sleep, but in the end I just ended more tire and exhausted than he did.

Try not getting out of bed to tell her night-night, and see what she does. Is she in a crib? If she is then, she should be okay. Just let it play out, if it doesn't stop on it's own she just might need some guidance. What might work is give her some time to play and then go in and remind her it's bedtime and time to sleep. Give her a time frame, like you have 10 minutes and then it's time to go back to sleep. Come back in and remind her it's bedtime. I know she's 10 months, but kids understand SO much more than many give them credit.

I think it's great you have a steady schedule and stick to it. I wouldn't change it, because this WILL pass.

Good Luck and have fun!

Hi T., First of all, I would get rid of the pacifirem it can't be good for her teeth, and you don't want her t get in a habit that she has to have something in her mouth to sleep. You said she wakes up playing, I say let her play, I'm sure eventually she will fall back to sleep, but the surest way to keep a child from sleeping through the nightm is getting up and going in their room, becasue no matter what routine you have, that will also become a routine, also sweetie are babies grow, their sleep patterns change, so evwen though you have had the same routine. it will change as she gets older, my son now 25 used to play in his crib, early in the mornings, I just let him play, It sounds like your daughter is healthy and happy, and that's what is most important. J. L.

why not just let her play??? why not? If she isn't fussy...and seems to be happy....no big deal. I know you are concerned about her sleep needs.......but if she were REALLY tired she wiould sleep. It is probably a phase, and it will probbaly go away soon.32

T.,

If she's not crying, leave her alone. She may have figured out that if she's up and playing you'll come in. Leave her alone and she'll likely get bored with it and go back to sleeping.

:-)T.

It's normal developmental stuff. They have more abilities now, and they do this.

What I would do, is let her be. If she gets up in the middle of the night to "play"... then I'm sure she can fall back asleep. Sometimes, if they are not crying/screaming/in distress or "needing" you... then that's good. She is obviously not screaming, and is entertaining herself. If you let her be, I'm sure she can learn to go back to sleep on her own... at her age.

The thing is, yes it's a phase, yes it means she gets less sleep at night, yes, she's "awake" for hours at a time in the middle of the night... but, it WILL pass.

I would just keep encouraging her to go "night-night" and the same routine you do, already. Keep consistent. Keep to the existing routine you have. It sounds fine to me.

She is waking and it is a phase. BOTH my kids did that too. I just kept to my routine, and then when the phase passed, they DID go back to their normal pattern.

Their brains are just so active when developing... and it's good she is independent and self-motivated.... it will pass. At this age... she CAN lie back down herself. And if she is not ready to, yes, she will keep getting back up. It's repetitive at this age. At some point she will tire out. Main thing she is not crying/screaming, or calling you.

Good luck,
Susan