My son was a very good sleeper. Until about 2 weeks ago. Now all of a sudden, he's waking up at 9-10 at night for a drink of water. Then we added another one in the middle of the night. So now, he's up 2-3 times a night for a drink. And it's not a so-so drink, it's more like sit and glup for 30 seconds. We tried giving him a good drink before he goes down but he doesn't seem all that interested. He's got some teeth coming in, too. We pick him up from daycare at 5:00 and from then until bedtime, he always has access to drinks. I don't want to ignore his request, especially since he is actually drinking the water and then lays down as soon as he's done. But why all of a sudden is he needing so much to drink? Could it be he isn't getting enough during the day? Maybe a humidifier will help? Any ideas?
In this heat it is hard to drink enough during the day. Everyone in this household has been drinking more at night than normal. My son also had a sippy cup of water with him for nighttime at that age and used it extensively until he was 3yo. Now we keep a cup in his room and he gets up to fill it in the middle of the night a few times a week.
I hate to say this but have you talked to your doctor about this? I thought that excessive thirst was a sign of a diabetic problem. Hopefully that is not the case. Try giving him his own fun water bottle that can be filled before bed so that if wakes up thirsty, that he get a drink himself. If he really is thirsty that should help, but if he is really looking for some middle-of-the-night attention, he will find something else that he needs..............
Is he an open mouth sleeper? My daughter is, and though she is 9 she goes to bed with a water bottle. If you give him a sippy cup to drink from when he wakes up, he won't wake you, AND there is no harm in giving him water at night.
I also sleep with my mouth open and wake 1-2 times a night to drink water, depending on the level of humidity in the bedroom.
My oldest did this around 2, and I just put a cup of water in his bed with him. A sippy cup, of course, about 1/2 full with water. That way he could just grab it, get a drink, and go back to sleep. He did this for about am onth before he 'outgrew' it.....
Hi, It's funny, my daughter (19 months) is doing the EXACT same thing! I am actually having to change her diaper in the middle of the night when she wakes up otherwise she will have soaked through by morning. She always has a sippy of water available, but lately has been drinking it all and then getting up wanting more during the night. I was up with her on and off from 1-3:30 last night. With Zoey, it seems to coincide with teething.
She is not a fan of water during the day and will often have a fit if she doesn't get milk instead (her favorite). But, at night the girl drinks like a camel.
I guess I don't have any real advice, but wanted you to know you aren't alone. I'm looking forward to finding out if anyone else has any ideas...
A few things have come to mind.
It's been super duper hot and everyone's needed more water.
He's eating salty foods and becoming thirsty in his sleep which I dealt with babysitting a little boy years ago he did that.
He may have diabetes
Hopefully it's just been hot and humid and the problem goes away. I will say I had gestational diabetes and would wake up and gulp down the water nothing helped I couldn't get rid of the thirsty feeling.
I have my daughter tested for diabetes every year or so because were both at risk of developing it now and it's very easy and quick. You could bring him into the doctor. Usually just a simple blood test. It relieves my mind everytime we do it and she's fine.
I always need a drink of water in the middle of the night so I wasn't surprised when my son needed one too. We let him sleep with a sippy cup of water and he gets a drink whenever he needs one without waking us. We may have to take it away when he starts potty training but we'll wait and see. It's almost always full in the morning so I do think he's just drinking a few sips in the night.
