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18 MO sleep troubles

Smh619Smh619 member
in Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
Our son has always been a pretty good sleeper but lately he's been waking up around 5 and screaming for me. A friend suggested putting him in bed with us since it was almost time to get up anyway. He'd doze in bed with us for a bit & then we'd get up. The past week or so he's starting to get up even earlier (3AM today). He wants to get into bed with us. I don't want him to think he's going to do this all the time. I had him lay in his crib & I'd rub his back but it took awhile for him to get back to sleep & he didn't sleep for more than 45 minutes. I finally caved at 5 and took him to bed with me & he slept til 8! He hasn't wanted to nap in his crib either. Right now he's sleeping on the floor of  his room with a pillow and a blanket & the other day he did the same thing on the living room floor.Could he be out growing his crib? He sleeps on a cot at daycare. I don't know if it's too early to switch him to a big boy bed???  Any suggestions??
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Re: 18 MO sleep troubles

  • ashcart01ashcart01 member
    I just logged on to post about the same thing. Our LO doesn't ask to get in bed with us, but she wakes up several times extremely upset that my husband or I aren't in her room. She has always been a good sleeper and we have always let her CIO, but she is crying so hard that she is gagging. This has NEVER happened and I have no idea what to do. Last night, she woke up three different times. She has already woken up twice during today's nap doing this. 
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  • Smh619Smh619 member
    Listening to him gag CIO right now :(
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  • emberlee3emberlee3 member
    I don't think 18 months is too young for a toddler bed, but I think there are other options.  DD seems to wake up early when her teeth are really bothering her.  You could try giving tylenol or motrin.  DS had a big problem with early waking his whole life.  I did the Sleep Lady Shuffle at 14 months.  The key is to treat any wake up before 6 a.m. (or whatever time you decide) as a night waking.  Be 100% consistent.  It took about 2 weeks to do the whole shuffle with DS.  Definitely helped.  Also, putting DS to bed earlier actually helps him sleep later, although this does not really work with DD.
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  • singingirl96singingirl96 member
    I think you're making a huge mistake bringing him to bed with you.  That is a road you shouldn't go down.  All the sudden that is all he's gonna want to do and you'll have a hell of a time breaking him of that habit.  Trust me, I have friends who want their bed back and can't do it.

    I would go in, soothe him back to sleep.  Or just let him CIO.  You can go in and try to talk him down and kiss and snuggle for a little while, but he needs to know night time is for sleeping. 

    Once he knows he's not getting anywhere by being up and crying, he'll be bored and go back to sleep.
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  • vrj0522vrj0522 member
    This happened to DS about a month or so ago. It was some sort of separation anxiety phase. It has now passed but in order for it to pass with your son, you need to be consistent in sleep training. Taking him to bed and using different methods to get him to sleep will confuse him. You need consistency. If CIO doesn't work, then hold him. If holding him or rubbing his back doesn't work, then CIO, or whatever else. If you are consistent and help him get through this, he'll probably go back to sleeping well, otherwise you might create a bigger problem and it will no longer be a passing phase. Good luck! Sleeping issues are definitely tough.

    Also as far as switching to a toddler bed, I think that you could do it now but you also have to think about the fact that you will no longer be able to keep him in his bed easily and at this age, it might be worse simply because if he doesn't want to nap, he'll just leave his bed. And he might get up in the middle of the night and go find you. 


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  • Smh619Smh619 member
    It's weird though. Last night we let him CIO (45 MINUTES!) at bedtime & he slept fine all night til about 6:15. Tonight he went down & didn't cry much at all. Hoping he sleeps well. I think he might be having some separation anxiety. I'm a teacher & have been spending alot of time with him over Christmas break. I'm hoping getting back to our normal schedule will help. I think I'm going to hold off on the toddler bed for a while :)

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  • michelle615michelle615 member
    We also went through a big sleep regression between 17 and 18 months.  It lasted for weeks where he would wake up really early and refuse to go back to sleep.  Like 4am, 5am early waking.  We were so exhausted.  Tweaking his bedtime to be earlier didn't seem to matter, where in the past it had always helped.  Then, he suddenly broke out of that pattern and has been sleeping until at least 6 or 7 again.  Sounds like your LO might be ready to break the pattern too.  Good luck! 
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  • Smh619Smh619 member
    Yeah It was a little phase. He's back to normal :)
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