Sleep at 12 months - frequent waking, turning off the monitor?

pillowass · November 2013

We did CIO starting around 5 months, and aside from having to re-up on it a few times, it has worked really well. Recently though, DS has been waking up several times a night though. He cries hysterically for 5 minutes or less, and then goes back to sleep. DD sleeps through it, and I have no problem still letting him CIO since he's not awake for very long, but it's still incredibly disruptive to our sleep. I am wondering if anyone else has gone through something similar - I am hoping this is just a phase and not our life for the next year! He has been walking for a couple of months now so I don't think it's related to major motor milestones.

The other question I have is if anyone else turns off their baby monitor sometimes when they really need to sleep (assuming your baby's needs are met obviously)? I have started doing this for the first 5 hours of the night on occasion just so that DH and I can get a good chunk of sleep, but I have this nagging fear. They are right next door to us so we would hear if something loud was happening, but I find I can sleep through the crying if the monitor is turned off. I usually will turn it back on around 3 and we occasionally will give them some milk in a bottle if they wake between 3-5am. Maybe this is the problem?

Ugh, any advice appreciated!

somewhereincali · November 2013

We have never used a monitor since we hear them the moment they cry without it but I wouldn't feel comfortable doing something where I didn't hear them as soon as they were crying.
If it's about not hearing a little talking or every tiny noise sure, but any cry I want to hear

At night my kids have woken up with fevers or vomiting among other things, with no sign of being sick before they went to sleep.
I know the lack of sleep sucks (my kids didn't sstn till 14 months and even then it's far from always) but it feel like its just part of the deal with babies.

shaunah816 · November 2013

I've never turned the monitor off, but I've gradually dialed the volume down to a 1. If someone wakes and cries I hear it, and I want to hear it because I wouldn't hear it for a while given where their nursery is, but I don't wake with every stirring because the volume is so low.

My opinion is that it's just a phase, and as long as he goes back to sleep on his own within 5 minutes it's nothing to worry about. Could be teeth, could be other developmental stuff. A LOT happens around the year mark, they're changing and developing so much, so I would bet on that having a lot to do with it. If it was me, I wouldn't give any milk when they wake. If you know they're getting enough food during the day, and there's no weight gain issues or any other outstanding medical problems, I wouldn't feed at night. It can lead to them not eating as well during the day, and then needing/expecting that milk at night, creating a vicious cycle.

kgs0505 · November 2013

I still have a monitor on even in my 2yo son's room, so no, I've never turned it off, but I keep the volume fairly low now. 1-2 out of 5. If I do turn it off entirely, I can still have the video part with a visual sound light, turns red if someone is making lots of noise, green when it's quiet, yellow for in between. There is no harm in keeping the monitor turned down super low, or off. If you can hear then anyway if there is a problem, then I think you are okay. I think you sleep thru your son's hysterical crying because it is only a few minutes and you are expecting it. But it's not blaring in your ear like it would be if you have the volume up and next to your head. I'd bet if he cried longer, you'd be woken up.

pillowass · November 2013

Thanks all. I think I will take your advice and just turn down the monitor and not turn it off. Crossing my fingers that it's just a phase!

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