15 month old-waking at night. Any insight ladies?

Okay does any have any insight into my child because I certainly don’t.

As some might remember, I was going to go from 2 naps a day to 1 nap. I tried it 2 months ago and it was a disaster. But recently jacen has been fighting his afternoon nap consistently, so 9 days ago we went to 1 nap.

It’s been great. He takes a 2 ½-3 hour nap. For the most part, he doesn’t fight bedtime either. He’s been sleeping from 7pm-6:45am most days.

However the past few nights (probably a week now), he’s been waking up at night. Some nights it’s once a night, some nights it’s 4. Saturday night I got 3 hours of sleep. I don’t think it’s the 1 nap transition that’s the problem either.

Now he is getting another tooth, but he’s never been a problem with teething. It’s not bothering him at night and giving him motrin before bed makes no difference so I know it’s not that.

For the most part, we let him CIO, although now that he’s older (15 months) it’s getting harder to listen to. But the thing is, he can go on and on forever. Add in the windows open and I’d rather not have CPS at my door. I’ve tried going in and rocking him but as soon as I put him down, he’s up and crying again. Once you pick him up, he’s fine.

I’m really thinking its major separation anxiety. Ever since the Labor Day long weekend, he’s had major separation issues from me (since i work FT). I can’t even walk away from him without him crying/running towards me, which makes going to the bathroom delightful!

What do you girls think? Anyone else going through this right now? Anyone want to tell me what to do to resolve this (please don't say it's a phase and he'll eventually get over it. That answer is just not acceptable )?

Re: 15 month old-waking at night. Any insight ladies?

Frankie has been doing the same thing on and off for about 2 months now.

Some nights he's up at 1AM, some nights again at 3AM, 5AM, etc. It usually happens for 3-4 nights in a row and then stops for a couple of weeks and then starts up again.

I completely agree that it is separation anxiety. What I usually do is let him CIO for roughly 30 minutes. Sometimes he goes back down, sometimes he doesn't. If it does not sound like he is going to calm down, I will go in and pick him up, give him his binky and let him sleep on me in his room in the rocker, or if I am super tired, he comes into bed with me, and as soon as he is in a deep enough sleep, I transfer him back into his crib.

It stinks, but I know it's separation anxiety because 1) he leans his head against mine for a kiss as soon as I pick him up, 2) he clings to me and 3) he stops crying immediately.

It's annoying but I guess at this age I feel bad because he is old enough to be aware of his surroundings and I see how sad he is when we leave when he is awake, I can only imagine how he feels when he wakes from a nightmare or something and is all alone in his crib!

It's not so bad for me when he does it bc he really just wants a snuggle and then he's back down.

Sorry, I realize I gave you no advice whatsoever!

Re: 15 month old-waking at night. Any insight ladies?

Posted by jambalady

Sorry, I realize I gave you no advice whatsoever!

Re: 15 month old-waking at night. Any insight ladies?

DS went through that around 12 months maybe 13.

It was part separation, part seeing if I would respond, and part just being a PITA

Anyway, we put a nightlight in his room (DH was convinced he was afraid of the dark)
And at night when I would go in I would hug him rub his back but NOT pick him up. I would then tell him to lay down, rub his head, tell him I loved him and that mommy was going to sit in the chair. I woudl then sit in his glider and generally within 5 minutes he would be out and I would sneak out. Sometimes I didnt even have to enter the room I would just talk to him from outside a closed door tell him it was okay mommy was right here etc and he would lay down and be off!

Now if he wakes up and he is just out of sorts he will say mommy sit in chair, and then I leave after 5 minutes if he is awake still I tell him I will be right back and generally he is asleep in a few minutes!

GL!

Re: 15 month old-waking at night. Any insight ladies?

Is he feeling OK? Ryan's usually good at night - STTN no problem. But lately, he had been getting up here and there and just babbling/playing for like 20-minutes twice a night
Then 2 nights ago, the 2nd time he woke up he just yelled MOMMMMAAAAA, DADDDDDDAAAA and was wide awake when I went in. Since he seemed distressed, I asked him if he wanted to come to bed with me, to which he replied YES, of course.

Once he got in he said, "play, touch ceiling, book", etc. He was all over the place - so I took him back to his room and rocked him (not pleasant to cradle and rock an 18-month old at 4AM when 8 months pregnant while standing)

Anyway, I assumed it was teeth (he's getting another molar) but he was out of sorts yesterday too so DH took him to the MD and he has an ear infection.

Point being, I find (at least with Ryan) if he's been good with sleep and all the sudden isn't - he might be sick. Ailments tend to bother them more at night.

Re: 15 month old-waking at night. Any insight ladies?

Posted by aliwnec10

Is he giving you a tough time going down for bedtime too? Jacen really hasn't for me lately, but he did for my husband last night.

Re: 15 month old-waking at night. Any insight ladies?

Posted by SweetCaroline

Point being, I find (at least with Ryan) if he's been good with sleep and all the sudden isn't - he might be sick. Ailments tend to bother them more at night.

Re: 15 month old-waking at night. Any insight ladies?

Posted by jambalady

Posted by aliwnec10

Is he giving you a tough time going down for bedtime too? Jacen really hasn't for me lately, but he did for my husband last night.

No, he is still going down fine but if DH and I are both home and we say "it's time to go to bed", he will cry if I am not the one bringing him up. He also cried for 30 minutes when my mom babysit last Sat. night. With me, he only whimpers for a second.

I totally understand about the starting bad habits in bed thing but sometimes I don't know what else to do. When I go to hand him his binky he grabs onto me like a little monkey and clenches on with all his might. I would literally have to pry him off, and I feel like instigating a wrestling match in the middle of the night and getting him more riled up.

Re: 15 month old-waking at night. Any insight ladies?

My DS is 14 months and is such a mama's boy and clingy as well. I call him my little monkey because that is how he latches onto me. He still sleeps through the night though. But his naps have been iffy. Same as yours. One really long one or a normal morning nap and barely a nap in the afternoon waking SCREAMING.

I know he is getting a bunch of molars right now so with us, I think it's def teething because the molars are painful and it can also affect their ears...which is more likely to happen while they are laying down, sleeping.