I Need Sleep!!

Has this always been the case? Do you try ignoring him in the middle of the night. Some kids cry out in their sleep but resettle and go back to sleep on their own. I used to rush right in at every sound my son made in the middle of the night to comfort him but at 11 months old, I said no more and let him cry himself back to sleep. Of course this took about a week, but it was well worth it. He learned that the middle of the night was for sleeping. Is he gassy? is he teething? 10 to 15 times a night on a bad night isn't even normal. Have you tried to figure out his discomfort? Is he fed enough during the evening hours so that he isn't hungry in the middle of the night. What time is his last meal and what time does he go to bed? What does he eat? Sometimes the middle of the night wakings are a habit that will need to be broken. My son was the worst sleeper until he he was 11 months old and no longer in my bed and no longer breastfed. He was put on a better schedule and slept during the night in his crib, but I had to turn off the monitor and not listen to every little peep he made. Now I just check on him 2x a night to fix his blankets because it is cold, but he doesn't wake up.

I was there with my son at that age too. It is very tough and very tiring for the mother! But, it will improve. I think that most wait until around 6 months to start night weaning/sleep training because the baby is just too small before that. Before I could stop feeding my baby at night, I would often sleep next to him for some of the night to cut down on how much he woke up. It is hard to believe, but it will get better and he will sleep through the night when he is older. It is just very tiring right now, and you should be proud of yourself for all of the hard work you are puting into your baby. I highly recommend reading "The Happiest Baby on the Block" as it is about this very intense time in your baby's life.

J., I've been in your shoes!!! seems like you will never get a good nights sleep again dosent it?? Well, this too will pass -- I promise!! sounds like others have given some good advise, my personal is to let him settle himself. I am a firm believer at putting kids in their own beds -- awake. If you get into a groove of rocking, nursing, laying down with or co-sleeping they are all lovey habits, but all very difficult to break!! my sister still ends up each morning with her 5 and 8 year old in bed with her (no wonder her husband has permenently taken to the couch) she has commented in the past that i am a "Mean Mama" for not letting my kids sleep with me (all said in loving tones of course), but I gotta tell ya, I'm the one with my kids sleeping soundly in their own rooms, in their own beds and my husband beside me in bed. Don't get me wrong, there have been several occasions where my 3 year old has come to my room and asked to get in bed with us and of course I let her, (made for a miserable nights sleep none the less) but we have never made a habit of it and bedtime and nights are typically restful in my house. I wish you the best of luck!! L. C.

Hi J. I dont really have any advice but I will tell you you are not alone. My son hasn't slept well since he was old enough to kick out of being swaddled. He is doing a little better now that he has a blanket that is big enough to tuck in tight in the crib but still doesn't sleep all night. When I am desperate for a break I will cosleep with him he goes down fine but he never stays asleep unless I lay with him even then he wakes generally twice. I tried the cry it out but he will cry the entire night if you let him. If cosleeping will allow you both to get a full night sleep or more sleep than what you get now I suggest you try it some people are against it but he won't go off to college needing you to sleep with him so whatever you can find that works for you do it.

You poor thing! I don't know if there is any rhyme or reason to young children's sleeping habits, or one right answer either...

my sister was having problems w/ her 7 mo. old waking that often and she eventually gave him a "lovey" - a stuffed animal, or little fleece blanket, etc. some sort of security token. It seemed to help for him. Our daughter has these little fleece blankets one w/ a lamb head and one w/ a duck- she doesn't sleep without them- you can buy them at the Paper Store...

We gave our daughter a sippy cup of water in her crib. She was always thirtsy. he would take it and and sip it. It took a few days for her to get familiar wit it. We also gave er a special blanket and baby. She did really well. Good luck.

my daugther was a very difficult sleeper up even after her first year. At about 14 months when I weaned her we realized that she had a milk allergy which caused her stomach problems..looking back now it could have been the foods I was eating she was having a reaction too and might have had stomach pains or aches. You might want to keep a journal of foods your baby is eating and how the sleeping is in relation to that and see if you can see if there are any patterns there and if the restlessness might be linked to a food allergy.

J. what do you mean you've tried everything? My little was like this too until I let him cry it out...EVERYTIME he wakes up. The first night each time was about 25 minutes give or take of loud wailing. I never went in the room. It took about 3 nights each night got easier and now he sleeps every night. I hope you get some sleep soon I know how it is then you start losing patience with them and you go a little nutty. Good luck
E.