Sleep Issues W/ My 20 Month Old

Congratulations on the new baby! I remember pregnant with one and the other notices changes. It sounds like he is enjoying his one on one Mommy time. My youngest is a muncher, her brothers just never stop eating, she snacks most of the day, so when dinner comes, she eats about 1C of food total. I usually give her a glass of milk at bedtime and IF she wakes up, we keep the lights off, I get her a glass of water and she stays in bed in her room. Lately she has realized that this is making her tired, she is now 6 almost 7, so it's not as much an issue anymore. Like one of the other parents suggested, stand your ground or you be in for very loooong nights once the new baby arrives. It might not be a bad idea now to give your first son some extra mommy time, and make sure that that is in your schedule once the new arrives. My oldest son became very possessive of me once his brother came home, I learned that he just wanted some special time with me. SO we read books, watched TV, went for walk or other things while his brother took naps.

You are probably on track thinking that he is hungry. I would make sure that if he doesn't eat his dinner he gets a good snack and some milk before bed. Make sure it is something healthy that he likes to eat without a lot of caffiene or sugar. A good option is milk, banana and yogurt or some toast with peanut butter, a banana and milk etc. Something you know he likes that he would eat so that he isn't hungry.

I know you may be thinking that you don't want him to get in the habit of skipping dinner knowing he will have his snack later. We did this with my now almost 4 year old when he was around that age because we had the same issue. It was just a stage and he eats his dinner fine now without a bedtime snack. At 20 months you really need to feed your baby 6 times a day. Have him eat small healthy meals/snacks a day instead of expecting them to eat 3 large meals. Remember at this age, every bite counts because they can be picky eaters so stay away from empty calories and limit juice to 4 oz or less a day. You may want to keep milk off the table until 80% of his snack or meal is gone so he isn't filling up on liquids.

Congrats on the new baby!

Ok, somebody's got to be the tough gal, so I'll step up!
Your son is manipulating you and you need to draw the line-- fast. Toddlers are all about trial-and-error to figure out what works to get what they want, which is admirable. But once they find something that works, they will keep at it, over and over, and while it may be okay the first or second time, weeks or months of this is not going to be cool at all.

He needs his rest, you need yours. He needs to eat the healthy food you serve him, not hold out for a better offer. and eating at night after he's brushed isn't good for his teeth, either.

If he's going to bed at 7:30, that can't be too far after dinnertime. If he wakes up at night, give him a chance to calm himself down. if that doesn't work, go in once, make sure he's not in danger, give a hug and say goodnight. Don't turn on lights, pick him up or let him get up, and don't offer him more than a sip of water. He won't starve.

The screaming may be horrible, but it's not "I'm in danger" screaming. It's screaming from not getting something that he wants that happens to be bad for him-- If it was the grocery store and he wanted candy or he wanted to drive the car you wouldn't give in and you wouldn't feel guilty about that-- this is the same deal.

And note that the screaming may get worse before it gets better, because he will try to replicate whatever it was he did that got him treats and TV in the past. Don't fall for it and stay consistent!
Good luck!

You need to settle your selves first make sure he's eaten enough for dinner. If he hasn't eaten all of his food make sure it's enough that makes you sure he's eaten enough and than don't turn back. It all depends on you not changing your mind about weather he's eaten enough dinner.
NOW,
When he wakes up refuse to let him out his room. Don't offer him food or let him out of his room. You need to stand your ground. All that has happened is he woke up once. He didn't eat much for dinner and you let him up to eat (which is ok for some) but apparently your son decided he wanted to try this again and he did. Well when he did you let him up again and he though this was great. He got up and ate and watched tv in the middle of the night which he LOVED. So you need to stand firm about not getting up and eating watching tv.

Hi N.,

I'd say for the sake of your sanity and energy, make sure he has some kind of snack before bedtime. Cheerios, yogurt, popcorn and a cup of milk....something he likes but is still good for him...hope this helps!

J.-mom of 3 :)

Have a cup of water and a bowl of crackers ready for these night time tantrums. My middle girl used to scream too luckily the others slept through it. Not all will. DO NOT turn the lights on. This just makes it harder for everyone to go back to sleep. The snack should help. I have also let her scream herself back to sleep. Hard to do and listen too but she gets very nasty when super tired and unpleasant to be around the next day and this saved us all. TG it didn't happen often. DO your best to fix it before the baby cause it gets way harder when they do wake up the others and you have two in your lap at 3 in the morning.
Good luck!

I would give him a babybottle and then put him down, I wouldn´t go out of the room with him in the middle of the night because it will be harder to go back to sleep for everyone.
Big brothers Know that someone else is comming and that makes them be needier and fushier.
Good luck. patience and congratulations!!

What time does he eat dinner? You may want to give him a cup of milk before he goes to sleep to help him sleep better. Also, he needs to start understanding that nighttime is not the time to eat food. Remind him of this during dinner time after a night he has woken up.

I still give my daughter (3 yrs old) a cup of warm milk before bedtime.

Good luck!