19 month old NW...HELP!!!

[katiemgarvin]

Hello!  My 19 month old has gotten us into a really bad pattern.  For the past 4-6 weeks he has been waking up in the night at least once and needs help calming down and going  back to sleep.  This happens probably 6 out of 7 nights a week.  We went through something similar a few months ago when we were dropping his morning nap and moving his bedtime earlier.  Things got better after that transition, but now he's waking almost every night again.  He's a Textbook baby with a touch of Spirited, and he has a very strong will.  So, he is never satsified with a gentle pat and calming words.  He usually needs/wants to be rocked or get some milk.  I do know he is cutting is molars, so I try not to get too frustrated, but I am exhausted!  Recently, it's gotten so bad that my husband takes him in the guest room to sleep just so we can get some sleep.  Last night we went round and round for 2 hours before we broke down and did that (1:30am-3:30am).  I know we are falling into AP and bad habits and want to do something about it ASAP!!  We have #2 on the way at the end of this year and I really want to get it under control.  Thanks!!

Oh here's his routine:
Wake up: usually by 7:30
Nap: 12:30 to 3:30
Bedtime: start winding down with brushing teeth and story at 7:30 (by this time he already has his pjs on and has had milk)

[Tweakster]

Hi there hon, it looks like perhaps he could be UT?  He doesn't have a lot of A time in the day, that's a really long nap and his nights are long, even with NW.  Is he high sleep needs?  He's teething too so that will be a huge factor.  Are you medicating?

[~inbalance~]

I am thinking UT too and you should start cutting his nap.  I also agree that teething probably has something to do with it.

The best way not to fall into the AP trap is to avoid it!  So I would definitely not bring him to the guest room to sleep.  If he is thirsty offer water but not milk.  Toddlers don't forget these things and you'll hear all about it if you give in! 

Don't worry about having it sorted before the new baby comes, a lot can and will change with his sleep long before the time comes! 

[katiemgarvin]

Thanks, ladies!  He doesn't always sleep for three hours during the afternoon...he usually max does three hours (more likely it's 2-2.5).

I usually try to give him motrin and oragel before bed, but my husband does not like giving it to him regularly or eveyday for extended periods. 

We were puttin him to bed at 8, but when we moved his bedtime to 7:30, the NW got better.  Thanks for your input!

[~inbalance~]

I know what you mean about wanting to medicate sparingly, teething goes on for so long it's just not reasonable to medicate that much.    At least it's there for when you hit the really bad spots.

I'd limit his nap to 2hrs and only do longer if you feel he needs to get caught up after really bad nights. 

We hit some sleep regression around 18/19mos with DS1 as well, I do remember feeling really stressed because we had a new baby coming within a month.  I remember though letting him sleep with us one night and that just fueled the fire because after that he put up such a fight, he knew it was what he wanted.  So that was the last time I ever let him sleep with me!

Hope things smooth out soon, keep us posted.