My 15 month old son moves around all night long. This has been going on for 3 weeks or more, although he has always been a light sleeper. I have a video monitor, so I watch him. Literally every minute he is changing positions - rolling over, moving his legs, etc. It's not like twitches or movements in his sleep - it looks like someone who is restless and just can't sleep. He's usually quiet during all of this (I've only had to go in once because of fussing), and sometimes his eyes are open. Whenever I wake up during the night (not related to him), I look at the video monitor, and he is always doing this!
Let me mention that this doesn't bother me at all; I'm just worried about his lack of sleep. He is very tired during the day, and he takes two naps each for about an hour and fifteen minutes.
I thought maybe he's teething, although I don't see anything coming in. He already has 12 teeth - is it time for more already?? I gave him Tylenol the last 2 nights before bed, and he slept pretty soundly for the first 3-4 hours, but then he started his constant moving again.
It is warm in his room (77-78 degrees), but no matter how high we turn up the AC, his room does not cool off. Too hot to open windows (and too noisy), and he can't sleep at all with the fan on.
He also just learned to walk. I know developmental changes can affect sleep, but this seems pretty drastic!
I've tried giving him a little milk, and it doesn't seem to help, so I don't think he's thirsty or hungry.
Do you have any ideas as to what could be keeping him up? Does anyone else's child move this much?? TIA!
Turn off the monitor. As long as he's waking up well rested (whether he seems to be slumbering peacefully or not) and takes at least 1 nap a day, he's fine!! Bring it up at his next pediatrician's visit, but I've never known a kid who wasn't a total wiggle worm at night ;)
My son at 23 month is still like this, however it was ten times worse when he was teething. And he started cutting his 2 yr molars and eye teeth right around 16 months too! I put the bumper pads back up and it took care of the loud banging and then screaming that incurred from his wild antics. He did go through a phase during that time period where we had to be with him to fall asleep and I remember sitting there on the bed and watching him literally crawl around in circles for 45 minutes--it was insane.
We just went camping this past week and I thought I could skip the pack n play and have him sleep with me! Boy was I wrong the kid doesn't stop moving, he's always scooting everywhere---I'm just praying he doesn't figure out how to climb out of his crib any time soon or we'll be in for it.
Good Luck I plan on bringing it up at his 2 yr check up, but really I don't find any problems during the day so I'm thinking he's just not a good sleeper :)
That does seem a little extreme, based on your description. Could definitely be teething. My son slept in our room until he was 20 months old and when he was really teething there were nights I was aware of him moving around all night long. And yes, he woke up tired and cranky.
Just a thought, but if he's growing a lot maybe he has discomfort from that or growing pains? I've heard that Magnesium supplements can help children sleep better. I take Magnesium at night before bed and it definitely helps me. Without it I get restless legs and kick all night. You have to be careful to give a small dose, though, or he'll get the runs. You will probably want to ask your Ped.
I think 15-months-old is one of the touch points. I wouldn't worry about it too much. As a matter of fact, if he isn't fussing then you might be more worried about it than he is. 2 naps at this age isn't unheard of, my little girl is 20-months old, sleeps through the night (12 hours) and takes two 1.5-2 hour naps per day. They are just so active and that is probably the need for his naps during the day. It could be a coincidence that he happens to be moving each time you wake up. He could just be happening to wake between sleep cycles at the moments you wake up.
Can you give him a massage before he goes to bed? Maybe his growth spurt is causing him discomfort during the night. Kids grow when they sleep. I would rub and gently massage his feet/legs/arms and back before he sleeps. Hopefully he gets a restful sleep that way.
my son is 2 1/2 and he is crazy in bed at night we started potty training so i put him in a big boy bed with the gaurd so he dont fall off the bed. and his movements actually slowed a lil bit but not much. He wakes in the middle of the night early mornings and crawls in bed with my husband and i and thats a mess i need to find a way to stop that cuz he kicks and smacks and tosses and turns the rest of the night. so ur not alone alot of toddlers toss and turn at night. I don't think its anything to worry about but if you are ask his doc the next time you go.
Don't worry.
15 months is also a growth-spurt period and other developmental changes occurs.
My son... moves a lot when sleeping.
My daughter.... talks in her sleep.
No kid, or adult, sleeps still as a statue, nor all night.
Does he sleep late at night?
What is his bedtime?
AND, bear in mind, that a kid this age... starts to have, DREAMS too, or night-mares. Or Night Terrors.
At this age, it is their cognition that is changing too.
And cognition, is not just something that happens during the daytime.
My kids at that age, had Night Terrors and dreaming. And they grew a ton and hit milestones at that age.
And yes, it can be teething too.
