Hello Ladies, my 11 month old daughter used to be such a great sleeper - always sleeping through the night with no issues. My only real issue was that she woke up in the morning too early but I could deal with that as long as she was sleeping through the night. For the past 2 weeks she has been waking up screaming - the first time we rushed in because we got scared as she'd never done that before. We realized nothing was really wrong so I cuddled her a bit and put her back into her crib. The next night she did it again and I waited to see if she'd resettle - which she did and slept thru the rest of the night. An important point to make is that her molers are coming in so I wonder if she's waking from discomfort? Or can she possibly be having a nightmare at this age? And every night though? We've been leaving her alone since that first time and she always goes back to sleep but it can take anywhere from 5 to 45 minutes. I don't want to abandon her but I also don't want to set up a precedent that we'll run in anytime she cries in the middle of the night. Any ideas what could be waking her at this age? I'm thinking it's her teeth but not sure! Thanks so much for any advice!
Is she starting to walk or stand up? Whenever my kids went through a big developmental stage (like rolling over, crawling, standing, walking), we had one terrible week of sleep. Especially when they learn to stand and then can't sit themselves back down. So it could be that... .
Why NOT set the precedent that if she's scared, hungry, or in pain that you'd come running in the middle of the night? If YOU woke up screaming in fear or pain wouldn't you want your husband to come running? Or would you want him to tell you to get over it and deal with it? Also, if you woke up starving, wouldn't you go get something to eat? Did you ever snack at night when preggers? Babies are growing a LOT more than pregnant women... but for some reason it's okay to not feed a baby, but if someone told a pregnant woman she wasn't allowed to eat now... all hail would break out. Ditto, what would you do if you had a blinding headache or an attack of diarrhea? Just stay in bed and be miserable? You are your baby's arms and legs and brain right now. She CAN'T just get out of bed and go take care of the problem. That's what parents are for.
Just sayin' ... if you would eat, take tylenol, or want a hug after a terrifying nightmare (say you dreamed of your baby being stolen/murdered)... why is it unreasonable for your baby to have food, medicine, or comfort?
it could be:
1) Night terrors. Look this up online.
2) teething
3) Hunger.... because the 12 month growth-spurt is approaching.
4) Ear ache?
Night Terrors crops up at about this age...it is developmental based and most all kids go through this. You cannot 'control' it. Look it up online, to learn about it.
My 11 mo is doing the same thing and she is totally teething. It's so much fun being the mommy sometimes! Lol. I got nothing. Just wanted to let you know I'm in your club.
it's the dreaded 11 month age! I have read that at 11 months lots of babies go through separation issues (my first did it really bad). So yeah it could be teeth too but basically she wakes up and wants to see you so she starts crying. I'm all about the CIO method so if I were you I would just let her be and in a week or so she should get over it. But if you would rather take a different approach you could go in and don't say anything to her but just lay her back down if she is standing. If not just rub her tummy for a sec and walk back out. Of course she will start to cry again but you just keep doing this every 5 to 10 min until she finally goes to sleep. Or for my girls I also got them one of those fisher price crib toys. They hang on the crib, light up and play music. There is a big button right on the front so your daughter can even turn it on herself when she wakes at night. that might help to calm her down. It worked for my girls.
Everyone dreams, even infants and animals. Scientists dont know yet why, but they do know we HAVE to dream, when people are deprived of dreaming they hallucinate an develop other issues. Your baby is just now realizing she is dreaming and it scares her. The "experts" like to call it night terrors. I disagree, a dream can be scary or not, but when she wakes up it scares her because its over. Think of how you feel if you are wakened from a dream, you try to remember and if its really nice you want to recapture it. Perhaps shes dreaming of playing with mommy and wakes up..POOF...no mommy.
Leave her alone for a few minutes and see if she settles down. Her teeth might be waking her but I doubt it or she wouldnt go back to sleep.
Just joining with Honeybee in saying that I have the exact same thing with my (big) nearly 11 month old and have had it for the past 5 weeks! It seems to be any time from 3.30am to 5.30am although recently has been more 5.30am. Sometime he will go back to sleep by himself, sometimes he will take a bottle, sometimes he will fall asleep with me and other times he is awake for the morning. He never seems to be in any teething pain though. I think I am inclined to agree with Andrea G around the separation anxiety peak.. I am just not sure what the best approach is... interested to see what you decide.
Teething can definitely do that. We started giving motrin/tylenol before bed, and that really helped. Also, she could be close to walking, and it could be the milestone interruptions that are so fun.
It does NOT sound like night terrors, and as long as she is able to soothe herself, it sounds like you are doing the right thing.
