My 16 Month Old Is Not Sleeping

The sleeping thing is so complicated, because everyone does it differently, and several different things work for different families. I personally never had my daughter sleep in bed with us because I didn't want to have to go back and fix the situation later on. But even then, I had to let her "cry it out" a few times before she slept through the night.I know it's a bummer to do at 4 am, but the easiest solution isn't always the right one.In the long run, it's better that you do this now instead of having a nursing seven year old sleeping in your bed. Is your baby on solid foods yet? I know a lot of women nurse for extended period of time and don't like to do solids so I don't know how you feel about this, but sometimes a full tummy is all it takes to sleep through the night. rice cereal can help your baby feel full longer. Also, his getting up may just be habit, and its one you're going to have to help him break if you ever want to get any sleep! good luck with this!

I nursed my first child for two and a half years and she slept with us until she was five. Even her pediatrician at the time was urging us to get her into her own crib. I couldn't do it. If I put her in a crib, she would get hysterical to the point where she would hyperventilate. So she stayed in our bed. If my daughter would wake up to nurse I would roll over, rub her head and stick my boob in her mouth. She would nurse for 10 minutes and pass out again.

I think you're doing fine. I remember reading a book on parenting that talked about how the U.S. is the only westernized country that puts its children in separate bedrooms by themselves. I now have a two year old and she sleeps in our bed too and LOVES it. My kids are both happy, well adjusted, sensitive, smart children and I think the safety of being close to us in those early days is why!

Hey M.,
I give you a lot of credit for still being able to nurse at 16 months,, I only made it 7 months with my now 15 month old son. And I have the same problem that my son still sleeps in the bed with my husband and I sometimes and then we move him over to his crib later in the night.

What we use to get out son to bed some nights is still give him a bottle of milk, or when I used to nurse.. I would nurse him to sleep sometimes.. I know that the doctors dont recommend it but but it has worked so far,, when i need him to fall asleep and nothing else is working..

I hope this helps.

M.

I have found out that my children wake up often when they are nursing and sleep longer when on the bottle. I dont know if you are interested in trying formula in a bottle at night time or even if the child will take the bottle. It seems the formula fills the child up more and they sleep thru the night or at least 5 to 6 hours nightly. I hope that this helps you.
L. M. mother of 4

Hello my daughter was waking up often to nurse at about 14mos like sometimes more often than every 4 hours! I asked the docotr and they said its just a comfort thing so we actually transitioned her to her own bed because if I was next to her it would be harder for her to not nurse. I would nurse her 1 time in the night for comfort for 15 minutes. And yes she had to cry it out but 3 days is all it took and her nursing at night did not seem to affect her. I thought that would be pretty hard. But I have 2 kids and I needed SLEEP! But she now is almost 2 and sleeps better than my 3 yr old son cause she knows how to put herself to sleep. I know its hard so I wish you luck in whatever you do>

My ped told me by 9 months they don't need to nurse during the night. If you want sleep and peace, I recommend the cry out method. Just like the other lady said, by the 3rd night they learn to put themselves back to sleep on their own. It's hard...I did it with 2 (My boys are 3 and 17 months.) I now have wonderful dreams and wake up refreshed and HAPPY which is also good for your kids! Good luck!