Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
Patty Maciel
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Yes, another sleep issue...
Patty Maciel
member
Hi Mommies, Looking for some suggestions on what to do about LO's sleeping habits. LO is just turned 12months and for the past several weeks, he will wake up in the night about 6-8 times for attention. Most of the time he is not crying, but as I watch him in the monitor and leave him to self soothe back to sleep, he will pull himself up to stand in the crib. At this point I go in there and lay him back down, let him drink some milk and then he rolls over back to sleep for another hour or so and then we do it all again. Last week, I let him stand in the crib as I watched so see if he would get himself back to sleep and over half an hour later he is still standing. Being so exhausted, and thinking that he also needs his sleep, I go in there and repeat the process. On the occasions that he doesn't stand himself up in the crib and I watch to see him self soothe, again, after 30 minutes or so, he then begins to cry. I believe this started one night where he woke in a night terror and I held him in the rocker back to sleep. At that moment, I loved holding him and watching him sleep and just took in that moment as he is growing so fast. These special moments has happened a few times and I just wonder if I've created a bad habit. But with the sleep, it is becoming exhausting and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. We have the quiet time, bath, massage routine. We've tried the soother which he never did take and still won't. He's beginning to be a bit of a fussy eater, so I'm not sure if he's taking in enough calories or not of if this would even be an issue. We are so close to contacting a sleep consultant and even though she is pricey, I'm afraid that she is just going to reveal something so simple to solve the problem. I've read so many books out there on sleep except for " the sleep lady shuffle" Any mommies out there experience similar? Open to suggestions. TIA
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Re: Yes, another sleep issue...
Is he walking, or just starting to? Sometimes their little brains get so excited about a new skill that they practice in the night. DS2 has learned some new words lately and, sure enough, he's been practicing talking in the middle of the night. Sometimes for a few hours. I don't go in unless he's crying (not just fussing but crying).
He just started STTN last month. We finally got there after I night weaned him. I've never let him cry it out. I suggest the book, The No Cry Sleep Solution. She has good suggestions on how to eliminate "bad habits." For us, it meant only one night feed for a while. Then I made that feed shorter and shorter. Finally, I sent my husband in to soothe and I didn't go at all. He learned there was no more in the night.
I know what you mean about saying goodbye to the night comforting. They do grow fast and really, this time is short lived. So you have to decide if you are ready to make changes and how badly you want more sleep. I still breastfeed morning and before bed and that time is special. I certainly don't miss night feedings. Good luck!