My Son Won't Sleep Through the Night

We co-sleep and I think the co-sleeping is fine. I think you just have to decide what course of action to take and stick to it. I think the quietest, least disruptive, keeping things night like. I think he wants more of your attention and also may be having night terrors or other nighttime manifestations of being so small in such a big fast world. When my kids wake up at night they get a diaper change and we sit quietly until they are settled, sometimes for a minute sometimes longer. My 3 y/o is rarely up at night after waking lots(2-3/night) in the past and my 11 month old is up twice but goes down easy--we have already been consistant with him about night--sleeping and nursing, no playing. He fought us on the quiet holding but only fights now for a couple seconds. I think it will be hard work for a single person but well worth it when the situation improves. You have to be the one to set the boundaries, especially when something is not working for you(DR. Sears).

honestly, you need to not give into any of his demands. He continues to wake up each night because he is getting what he wants. Tell him it's bed time and put him back in bed and continue to do this. Eventually, he'll realize that he won't get anything and he'll relearn to put himself back to sleep. I imagine this will be difficult for you and it may take a few days but you have to be strong and not give in. Eventually, he will follow suit but if you continue to allow him to get up, scream and demand things it will only get worse.

Good luck!

When he wakes up fitting, put him back to bed like you would normal do at bedtime. Totally ignore the fact that he is throwing a fit. Give him a kiss, hug, say good night, and leave the room. DO NOT GIVE IN! It will only take a few nights to get hm back on track, if he knows you are serious. Do not let him rule the roost; you are the parent. A few nights of hell will pay off.

Most important, make sure you are spending on-eon-one attention with him. Cuddle him, kis, him, watch his favorite cartoon with him, play games....he is looking for attention that can not be diverted. So he is getting it in the middle of the night, when you will do anything to go back to sleep....

Hi D.,

If you haven't learned by now, the more you give in the more he demands and it will only get worse as he gets older. You have to tell hime no and mean it, don't give in to the tantrums, don't turn on the tv either.

What you can try is turn on a very low light and give a book to "read" or play a relaxation tape or something very boring and very quiet on the radio, until he goes back to sleep.

My own son (now 5) still wakes up and comes in my room and sleeps sometimes but I am trying to nip it in the bud by letting him sleep in my room 1 day a week if he stays in his own bed the rest of the week. I told him he cant have this one day if comes in my room the rest of the week.

Maybe this is a way to spend time with you because you work so much. Make time in the day for him and on your days off. Forget the house work sometimes and go to the park, or just for a walk. What he will remember in 20 years is the time you spent with him not that the house was perfect. I know is really hard with 2 jobs, I have 3 kids, go to school and a part time job.

I am assuming because you have 2 jobs you are not independently wealthy, you could try to get a roommate, another single mom and maybe not have to work so much. Sorry about getting too much into other business, but sounds like he needs the attention and this might be a way to go about it. Hope this helps.

I would bite the bullet now, because it will come back to bite you later. If children don't have boundaries they feel out of control. He needs some boundaries. He needs to sleep in his own bed, offer him cuddle time or play a game or read some books before bed, then at whatever time you set as bed time, he goes to his bed. He will throw a fit and it may take a while before he stops. You are the parent, you are in control. You close the door and let him fuss. In the long run, you will be making a happier, more secure child. Just decide when you are going to do it and don't give in. If you give in, you will have to start all over. Same thing at night, offer him some loving, kiss him and then back to bed. He can fuss until he falls asleep. I have 2 strong willed children and I finally decided, my giving in was causing me to lose sleep and be a less patient mother, now my kids are very well behaved in the areas that we have really stood our ground! Best of luck to you, parenting is hard, but remind yourself you are doing it for his best interest, no matter how hard it is!!