My son is 15 months old and his sleep patterns have completely changed within the last two months. He started sleeping through the night at two months old and he slept twelve hours and would nap for two hours almost exactly during the day. Recently, however, he's been taking longer and longer naps in the afternoon, some as long as 4 1/2 hours. He's also been waking up several times throughout the night. I've tried cutting back his naptime during the day, but it doesn't help him at night and he just ends up miserable in the afternoon. He wakes up 3 or 4 times at night screaming and crying, but it only lasts for a minute or two and then he's out again. I only ever go in and get him if it lasts for more than 5 or 10 mins and that's pretty rare. Not only is he losing sleep, but I wake up with him every time. Is there anything I can do to help him get through the night again or is this just a phase that he'll grow out of?
You're doing the right thing. Most of his sleep should be at night. An hour in the afternoon always worked good for my son. Then he would sleep all night from about 7pm to 7 am. Just keep waking him if he sleeps too long in the day. He will get used to sleeping at night again.
Probably a phase, could be nightterrors. Is he teething? Does he happen to have growing pains. My daughter is 4 and has had them for a while now.
My question would be does he have all his teeth in? My daughters sleep patern changes similar to what you described when she was teething & when she got her molars. We found that giving a dose of Tylenol before bed was very helpful. You may still have to get up once or twice, but not as much or as often and the naps will shorten because they are getting better nights sleep.
Hi J.,
He may be getting his molars. My son didn't sleep through the night for about 2 months when his first set of molars came in and the same thing happened when his second set came in. They take forever to break through the skin and it is pretty painful. I would say hang in there and it will get better soon.
J.
A Mother's Boutique
www.mothersboutique.com
Hi J.,
I don't exactly have advice except to say it sounds like what you are doing is probably the best thing for now. I don't really think there is a lot more you can do for now except pray he figures it out again on his own soon. I think it really depends on your personal parenting style what is best for you all. I would probably pick a Friday night and let him cry longer each time. Good luck!
Could he be teething? My son got his eye teeth around that time and he was miserable for quite a while. How about an ear infection?
