Sleeping Through the Night - Saint Louis, MO

Updated on September 02, 2008
S.S. asks from Saint Louis, MO
8 answers

Help. I am the mother of a 11 month old baby boy who stopped sleeping through the night about a month ago. There were a few days in a row but then back to waking. It usually occurs around 3 am and it is a struggle until about 6!!! I am at a loss since this just started happening. The pediatrician said it could be separation anxiety so I have tried sitting in the room until he falls asleep but this seems to make things worse at times. I would love any advice from any moms who can understand or have something that has worked for them. I want to teach him to self sooth but it is agonizing listening to his wails.

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A.D.

answers from Washington DC on

We had a similar situation at about 13 months and it was frustrating! She had been sleeping so nicely, then we were back to middle of the night wakings and I was at a loss!
Here's what I did that worked for us (we still have the occasional rough night, but overall, very good!)
Whenever she wakes up (and I listen for a bit to see if she's complaining or dreaming or actually awake and upset), I go to her room. Usually she's standing in her crib crying. I go in, give her a hug and a kiss without taking her out of her crib, give her the binky that she often throws on the floor in frustration, and help her lie back down, tell her "night night, I love you", and leave the room. Early on, she'd stand up immediately and we'd repeat the whole scene, sometimes up to 10 or more times. Yes, it was tiring and frustrating early on, but I tried my best to stay even keel and not show my frustration. Each night/nap it got to be less and less. Within a week, we were in good shape. I never had to make her "cry it out", she always knew I'd come if she called, but she also learned that she was not getting out of the crib (unless there was something that needed tending...a dirty diaper, crying like she was in pain, feverish, etc.)
When she is sick or getting a tooth, all bets are off...she's in my arms in the rocking chair as many times as she needs.
So now, I'd say we have 90% of the nights that she's sleeping through, and occasionally I have to go in once or twice to help her back to reassure her and help her back to bed.
It's what feels right to me. Good luck, I hope this helps to at least give you an idea what you might try.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.G.

answers from Springfield on

Both of my boys went through this. In their case it was because they were hungry. I just started leaving a bottle in bed with them. That seemed to work pretty well. Do you think he's teething? Sorry, that's all I've got for you. Maybe try feeding him some baby cereal right before bed...
Good luck! I promise this is only a phase. You will sleep again...

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M.M.

answers from Kansas City on

Our boy is just over a year now, and the past month has been similar in our lives. During that time two molars have poked through, so I'm convinced that he was just in pain. I think teething pain is worst at night when there is nothing to distract from it. I know he is working on the other two molars, so we are in for more rough nights, but in the meantime he has gone back to sleeping 8 to 10 hours at a stretch. As others have said, I think you should do what seems right to you, but here is what I do. I pick up my son, nurse him, and help him back to sleep every time he wakes up. I know he will be a more independent sleeper as he gets older.

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S.G.

answers from St. Louis on

S., I know how frustrating it can be and when they are too young to speak they can not tell you why this is happening. I am sure you will get a lot of responses and ideas that may or may not be helpful. I can only tell you that every little one is different and every home is different. For some reason his night time routine has been interupted. I am sure there will be those that disagree with what I am about to say but I always followed my heart when mine were this young. If your heart is telling you to pick him up and sooth him it might very well be what he needs. If he is fighting it for 3 hours, he is missing something during that period of time. I know that from time to time my little ones would go through this type of thing. I found that if I took the time to let them know I was there, held them, offered them security and love, they were able to drift off on after a while. This may need to be done several nights in a row but they eventually go back to sleeping through the night again. Sometimes we can think a matter through too much. At times the simplest answer may be the best answer. This is just my thoughts, I know you will get many more.

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A.C.

answers from St. Louis on

I your son teething? Learning to crawl or walk? My son's sleep patterns significantly changed everytime teeth started coming in or he started to do something new. You might want to try laying with your son at night to provide comfort or nursing him in your bed. He may just need you more at night right now than he did in previous months.

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K.G.

answers from St. Louis on

At about that age, my son did the same thing. We would give him some milk (he is always hungry), go through our bedtime song again, and leave. It was hard, but it taught him how to go back to sleep after he wakes up.
I found that one reason he would be more active at that time was because he was so excited about standing/walking that he would wake up and want to practice. If that is the case with yours, too, it could take a while for him to settle back down. But it will happen. I promise.

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V.Y.

answers from Wichita on

I was a new mother and did the same thing. I rocked my baby asleep, held her to be fed, held her while we played, and generally was around her 24 hours. So when it came to putting her to bed it was hard. I found out that putting her to bed at the same time with the same routine was a good way to let her know it was that time. It might take a couple of nights or more. But stick to the routine. And eventually that beautiful baby will know what to do when you say it's bed time. But the way, I had another baby and he would wake up happy, I would let him play awhile, go change him. feed him. play with him and then lay him in his crib. He would play awhile and then sleep. My first has trouble sleeping and my second can sleep anywhere. See the difference?

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J.A.

answers from Kansas City on

I had great success with a video by a pediatrician called the Sleep Tight video. I ordered it one night at 3am in frustration, but it worked well. Basically, you've already begun it b/c you're sitting in the room. Now, gradually move further away from the crib toward the door. After a week or two, stand in the doorway, and then just outside the door. As someone else suggested, I wouldn't pick him up unless you just have to. I know how frustrating this can be--it just makes you nutty. Hang in there.

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