Help! I Need My Sleep Back!

Hi T.,

Wow, I know how you feel. My son finally started to sleep through the night again after about 4 weeks. It started about a week after his first birthday. I couldn't figure out what was going on. He would wake up and be up for 2 hours. I finally gave him a bottle too, I didn't really want to, but I did what I needed to. Plus after they have been awake for 2 hours, they probably are getting hungry. Then I got one of those baby newletters from Pampers and it talked about when babies are learning to walk or do anything developmental everything is thrown off (i.e. naps, how much they eat and sleeping). Just this past week he has even taken better naps at my mother-in-law's (she babysits for us). He isn't walking on his own yet, but he's close. I know it is hard, but it will be over soon. You will get through it.

Hello~ Sounds like me a couple of months back and for my son it was just a phase! As soon as my son learned to pull him self up to standing and walk around on the furniture, he began "practicing" during the middle of the night. He would wake up, then pull himself up and then couldn't figure out how to get himself down or back to sleep. At first because I wasn't sure what to do I would bring him into bed with us because I became so exhausted. I finally began just laying him back down, giving him his NUK, and walking away. Sometimes I would have to do it several times, but I didn't want to start any bad habits. The phase lasted about 2 weeks which seemed to last forever at the time. It sounds like you know, nursing him back to sleep will develop a bad habit that. Good luck, this too shall pass!

Hi- The same thing happened with my son and it is perfectly normal. One thing to stop doing is nursing him back to sleep. I understand you want to get your much needed rest, but the last thing you want to do is get him in the habit of expecting to eat during the middle of the night. Also- is his crib in your room or a separate room? If it's in your room and you are able to, move it out. If he wakes he will go back to sleep better if he can't see you. Another thing I did with my son (even though I didn't want to) was get him a pacifier and attach it to his pj's at night. That way he can find it and soothe himself back to sleep. Good luck!

just have patience, and do what you need to do to get sleep. nursing at night is COMMON and NORMAL. babies have tiny tummies. cant really blame them if they are hungry, they triple their weight and double their height in the first year! also, developmental milestones are interrupting to sleep as well. so his recent mobility could be a cause. also consider teething issues. try to treat teething pain however you want to treat it.

just be patient and responsive. hes not uninterested in sleep, hes having a developmental issue and needs your responsiveness. it doesnt really matter what hes been like in the past, you have to live in the present and deal with things using your intuition for NOW now yesterday. if your heart tells you there is something more he needs, dont feel guilty about doing it. people will tell you hes being manipulative. this is a bunch of bull. babies do NOT manipulate. its not like they are laying in bed going "ok, now if i get up and cry mom will have to come get me and i want her to come get me.. blah blah" they certainly dont wake themselves up thinking they will 'get their way'. kids have needs and every kid is different. the more you can trust yourself and your childs needs.

www.askdrsears.com is a good place to look for help.