Toddler stops sleeping through night?

Good morning. I was wondering if anyone has gone through this with their toddler...

DS is 18 months old. He has always been a great sleeper. Since he was about 5 - 6 months old he has SSTN from about 6:30 pm to 5:30 am. We've always had a good night time routine, and he goes down awake and gets himself to sleep.

A few weeks ago, he started waking up in the night either crying or calling me. DH or I would go in and re-cover him and pat him a little, but not take him out. He would fall back to sleep and that would be the end of it.

WELL, fast forward to this week, and he is waking up about every 2 hours calling my name endlessly!! Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy... AHG! I keep going in (which may be my mistake - funny how things can be clearer when you write them out!) and he falls back to sleep but wakes up an hour or 2 later.

What can be going on here?! Teething or illness has never effected his sleep too much, so I don't think it's that. Any advice? Should I just ignore him or do you think it's something else with the age?

HELP PLEASE -we are all so exhausted. It's like the newborn stage all over!!!!!

Re: Toddler stops sleeping through night?

I am going to say its habit, and the desire to have you come into his room.

DS STTN at 7 weeks until 9 months. Then from 9-12 months it was a nightmare, he was never a bad NB but those 3 months totally made up for it. At 12 months I let him CIO and poof problem gone within 3 nights.

If you dont think its from teething/illness, I think its probably habit/control maybe some separation anxiety. Do you have a nightlight in DC's room? I think it was about that age we put a nightlight in our sons room because he would wake and cry like crazy (we wouldnt go in & a few minutes later he would pass out again). I think he might have gotten scared from the darkness.

I also sometimes call to DS from my room, just say Hi honey mommy's here go back night night etc.

Re: Toddler stops sleeping through night?

I think you are right, it has just become a habit. I'm going to have to start ignoring him and re-learn how to fall back to sleep on his own.

Re: Toddler stops sleeping through night?

I agree with the other ladies! He wants mommy's attention!