My Son Waking up Early in the Morning and Taking 2-3 Hours to Fall Back Asleep

That sounds exactly like what we went through with our daughter. She was also 18 months old, we thought it was teething, but we found out she was having night terrors (different from nightmares, because they can't "shake them off" like nightmares). Sophia would stay awake after a night terror for hours and would want us to stay with her. We took turns sleeping on the floor next to her bed. I know it's hard but it's just a stage and it will pass.

Same thing happened to my son a few months ago, for a few nights. I think he was having night terrors, as I do not believe he was awake (not sure). I did pick him up, later to find out you aren't supposed to do that during a night terror. I would comfort him, but he would cry going back to bed. I did bring him in my bed for a few nights until he fell asleep, then I'd bring him back to his crib. I know people don't think that's ok, but he didn't get used to being in my bed and it would get him to go back to sleep. It passed for me, so I'm sure it'll pass soon for you. Good luck.
-C.

Hi I have three children and have gone through this with two of them. When it first happened I was terrified. Then I wondered if he didn't have an earache. My son would sometimes seem like he was out of it or still asleep and occassionally start shaking especially if I tried to put him back to bed. My pediatrician said it is normal at about the age of two to get 'night terrors' and basically wake up screaming and bawling and unconsolable. She said to hang in there and above all do not yell or lose your temper and make the situation worse (hard to do after nights of broken sleep). Any way he should feel comforted and safe when you come to him, and it does pass, but be careful of his movies. Mine was scared of some Disney movies. Any way good luck. C.

Hello J. -

Sorry to hear that your son is having a difficult time sleeping. If he's holding his mouth and crying chances are that he's in pain. Have you called his doctor? I remember when my son was teething and his pain occurred during the day and he was not happy. There was nothing I could do but hold him and give him very cold fruit to munch on. This numbs the pain.

I also read someone else's advice to turn the TV on or give him movies to watch. This will only worsen the situation. Night time is just that. If you resort to TV watching your son won't go back to sleep because now he'll think it's play time and okay to stay up.

When my son wakes up early - I tell him it's still dark and everyone is sleeping so he needs to go back to bed. Sometimes I would sing him a lullaby or just rub his back.

Good luck.

Although I do believe that you son is having teething pain, it seems over the top. My son has dealt with night terrors too, but I would wake him up. I have seen some of the other posts that says not to hold him or anything, but I found that if I woke my son up, he went back to sleep sooner and stayed asleep the rest of the night. The longest it ever took me to wake him up was half an hour. Usually it's only 15 minutes. I never found the teething stuff to work -- any of it. I used the pain reliever. That always worked.

I can't explain the staying up for hours. My other son does that without having night terrors. I just make sure that there is something out in his room that is quiet and he likes to play with. He plays and goes back to sleep on his own. I usually wake up (mommy ears and all) but I don't have to get up and sit with him. I go back to sleep. I do tend to wake up every half hour or so to hear what he is doing because that's just how us moms are but I do get to sleep some.

been there. try giving him a frozen towel. You need to be careful because yes this can be start of a pattern. You mentioned you have roommates and let you are addressing the situation in respect of them. well in all honesty you can tell them sorry and and explain that it will only take a night or two maybe three to address the situation or it will before the next two years. Address it now or you will be sorry and yes it does get harder as they get older. You did the right thing by going into his room and not taking him into yours but you must leave. try soft music if you think that will help. Don't worry it will pass and stay strong! Best Wishes to you and your family.

Give him orajel it works wonders, all you do is put a little bit on his gums, it works better than teething tablets, I never found those very effective. It sounds like his teeth are hurting him.

I think it's more then likly his teeth. My son went through that stage about that age, and I talked to the doctor and they said there are teeth poking through. He is now going to be 3 in Feb and wakes up about once or twice a week screaming and swinging his hands, and the doctor said they are night terrors. It's so hard to wake him, but once he knows mommy and daddy are there he is fine. I'm having another baby in Feb in which I will have to go through all of that again. Oh well. Good luck with your little one

Hi J.,

You don't say what time he is waking up, or how long he is sleeping. If he is sleeping eight hours at night than that would be consider normal (you can't put him to bed at eight and sleep all the way to seven in the morning). If you want him to sleep longer in the morning put him to bed an hour later at night. Also try cutting back to one nap during the day (after lunch/afternoon usually works best). At this age he is probably not going to sleep more than 12 hours total (8-9 at night and 2-3 for nap) unless he is sick or really worn out. Some kids are giving up the naps at 2 or 2 1/2. The only way I could get my kids to nap at that age was to put a video on and sometimes they would fall asleep and sometimes just veg out for awhile. Just something to keep in mind when that happens. As far as teething, that could be a possibility, but by 18 months he should have most of his teeth. The nightmare are also a possibililty. You could try a lullaby tape or relaxation tape (water running,gentle breeze whatever) to help him get back to sleep if its 3 am.

How early are you talking about? I know that my kids get up with the sun (which is not fun, since I am not a morning person). In the summer, they're up at 5:30 AM or so, and even in the winter they don't last past 7:00. It pretty much started when my oldest was about 18 months (and I was pregnant with her sister) When I hear them get up, I'll let them pick out a movie and put it on for them. They get juice cups, and cereal in plastic bags to eat while they watch the movie. It buys me an extra hour or more of sleep on the weekends. Usually they'll play well together for even longer than that. When they were younger, I'd put the movie on the TV in my bedroom, and they watched from the floor while we slept.