16 Month Old Sleep Issues.....

Updated on December 19, 2008
M.C. asks from Union City, CA
10 answers

Need some insight... my almost 16 month old has never been a good sleeper, and still wakes up about once a night. That's only the beginning of my problems... she recently had a bad cold, so a couple nights that she was sick, she slept with me in my bed (I did this to help keep her elevated and she was just so miserable.) Now my problem is that not only is she still waking up at night, but now she gets more upset when I try to put her back in her crib, and I think it is because she wants me to either hold her till she's asleep, or take her to bed with me. I really need to get a grasp of this because I really don't want to make a habit of her sleeping in my bed. I've always been good about this with both of my children, but I know I've been losing the battle because I am so exhausted and frustrated myself every night.

I should mention that we have absolutely NO problems whatsoever at nap and bedtimes. Naptime comes around, I hand her a binky and blanky and she goes right now, no fussing. Same thing with bedtime... bath, milk, blankey/binky, and good night! So the problem is not going to sleep, but staying asleep or getting back to sleep without my help.

I will say that I am not a fan of any types of "cry-it-out" methods... I've tried this and it does not work for my child, nor for myself. I don't immediately jump at the first little peep my daughter makes, but I definitely don't ignore her cries either. Any other advice or experiences is GREATLY appreciated!!

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M.K.

answers from Chico on

Maybe you could try transitioning her to a toddler or twin sized bed? A baby gate on her door would keep her in her room and allow you to hear her. My son never liked sleeping in his crib, but when we moved him to a big boy bed he slept much better.

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C.F.

answers from San Francisco on

hi M., how long has this been going on since the cold? i would go back to your old routine before she got sick and just stick to it until she remembers and adjusts. we recently went to visit family and our 14 month old daughter slept with us for 10 days. i really thought we would have trouble when we got home but she adjusted in a few days to our usual routine. the first few nights were tough, some crying, but i wouldn't let her sleep with us. i also couldn't do the CIO although before i had kids i totally thought i would. it turned out it wasn't for me. good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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N.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi M.,

They say that 1 out of 3 children have sleep deprevation. I was one of them myself. I started sleeping on a magnetic pad 10 years ago and find myself sleeping better then I have ever. I put my granddaughter on a pad at 2 days old and she has no problems sleeping. It really helps to relax the body.

Your baby could be lacking in nutrients also.

I have my granddaughter and my testimony on this site www.nikken.com/ninamarie If you are interested in learning more email or call me and I can answer any questions you may
have.

Have a happy and safe holiday.

N. Marie
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N.C.

answers from Sacramento on

Hi M.- couple of suggestions. First, the cry it out method did not work for me either and I am not a fan, it is cruel. I would just keep going in there and reassuring her. My son went through this and we transitioned him to a toddler bed and that was the ticket. At 16 months she should be okay. My husband and I, at night, would put him to bed, put a gate at his door so if he woke up he wouldn't leave his room if he got out of bed, it also assurred us he would not wander if we didn't hear him right away. The freedom to get up and not be trapped helped. When he did get out of bed we put him back over and over and over again. Eventually he stayed in bed, but he had the freedom to move around if he wanted to. The crib, at some point, becomes like a little cage for an active toddler who wants mommy. In a toddler bed, you can sit on the bed and hug her without pulling her out of bed, you can get closer to her, which is what she wants. Try it, you might be surprised. Good luck

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M.L.

answers from Redding on

She may be a little young yet to get this concept, but with my son (3)when he wants to sleep in my bed I tell him he can for a few minutes then he needs to go back to his bed. "A few minutes" is usually somewhere between 5- 15 minutes, unless I fall asleep. Your daughter is a a little young, but with some practice she will learn that she can still have some cuddle time with mommy and mommy can have her bed.

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N.C.

answers from Sacramento on

I don't really consider waking once at night a problem. Many toddlers do. My 19 month old is in a trundle bed, so I have the option of laying down next to her in the middle of the night. It is hard to be tired, but sometimes if we just say, "You are OK to wake up once a night" It is not so hard on us emotionally. I hope that you find a sollution soon. N. Mom of 3

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C.A.

answers from San Francisco on

My daughter was much younger when this same thing happened to me, but you could still try what I did. I picked a Thursday (so I would only have to work one day exhausted and Friday is better then Monday) that I was ready to be TIRED! and started. I would go in her room when she was crying, pick her up until she was quite and I thought she was ready to go back in the crib and put her down. I did this for 2 days and by Saturday night she wasn't waking up as much any more.
Does she have a stuffed animal or a blanket she sleeps with? My daughters stuffed bunny has been a life saver.
What time does she go to bed? My daughter didn't sleep through the night until she was 11 months and I moved her bedtime up from 8:30 (or 8, I don't remember) to 7:30. It turned out she was getting over tired and waking at night. She doesn't sleep through every night, but 90% of them. Now we start her night time routine at 7 and she's in bed by 7:20 and she sleeps most morning until any where between 7 and 8.
I hope this works! Best of luck!
C.

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K.M.

answers from San Francisco on

The only thing I could ad is this: Dont give in. Do whatever you have to do to get her calm, sleepy/sleeping, but dont put her in you bed. Just make sleeping happy and comfy in her own bed. I have heard that you should never let them into your bed, but, if they are sick, you should find a neutral place to sleep with them. too late for that. I have a 4 year old and an 8 month old who both sleep with me about 50% of the time so 'I should talk'.

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M.D.

answers from San Francisco on

I hear you! I have ended up with my 2 year old son in a twin bed with a rail. He wakes up and wants a warm body next to him. The problem is I am half asleep and fall back asleep with him if I lie down. He is a very touchy child (all of mine are, actually). Can you try doing the exact same routine as bedtime when she wakes up (blanky, binky, good night)? Good luck and remember that this too will pass!

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G.R.

answers from Sacramento on

In similar situations, I find sending daddy really stops this behavior. The first night, he wakes up more to see if I will come. But the second and third nights, he doesn't wake up. The first night, he does cry, but he isn't crying alone in his crib.

I'm not sure this applies since you didn't say whether the daddy is in the picture or helpful. So if it doesn't, I apologize. I don't know how single moms manage to keep it together. They have my utmost respect.

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