Post 18 month regression problems

[roxannesmum]

Our youngest is 19 months now, he had a terrible regression from Christmas where he began having problems settling to sleep and frequent night wakings. We moved his bedtime back half an hour which helped a bit I think we are over the worst of it but we are still left with a problem. He will wake 3-5 times a night and cry until one of is goes to him all we do is lay him back down and usually that's it he will go back to sleep til til the next nw when the samething happens. I realise this could be worse but being woken up to six times a night takes it's till even if it's for a short time. I have two other children and work full time and it's getting a bit much. Don't know what to do as essentially we are doing putdown now and he still keeps waking.  This is consistent sometimes a cold or teeth can make things worse.

06.50-0700 wake up
12.30/13.00 nap 1.5-2 hrs
1930 bed

[Joulesy]

I feel your pain.  I don't have any answers but just wanted you to know I'm in a similar boat.  20 mnth old daughter wakes up crying couple of times a night but is awake for at least an hour each time - won't settle unless one of us lies down on the floor beside the cot or sits in the room beside her cot - as long as she thinks we are there in the room with her - she'll sleep.  Both of us work.  Soooooooooooooooo tired.  I have also posted so lets both hope for some good advice.  What's your little ones routine?

[*Becky*]

His routine looks pretty good to me. Have you ruled out pain?

[roxannesmum]

It's every night so I don't think I can be teeth every night. Other possibility is he had milk protein intolerance which we have been gradually reintroducing dairy to his diet over the last six months most recently uht milk and uncooked cheese I guess it could be that

[*Becky*]

It def could be. Does he have any other signs of discomfort in the day?

[roxannesmum]

Not really he's just v clingy, the way it affected him when he was small was terrible sleep. It's so hard to restrict his diet now that he can beg me for cheese though! I guess it's worth a try. Asides from that any idea on how to handle the nw?

[*Becky*]

Does he have a lovey? I fidn them really helpful when my lo's are going through a SA phase.
Apart from that I would do as you are doing but only go to him if he really needs you so that he does not forget how to resettle himself yk?

[roxannesmum]

Yeah he has cwtchy zebras and he's very attached to them he sucks the labels. We have taken the baby monitor out of our room so we don't go straight into him but he just cries until we go to him, he also started crying 5-10 mins after we out him down at night for us to go in which he Never used to do same with naps.

[*Becky*]

hmm, sounds like SA to me or SA as a result of discomfort. I guess it might be something you have to ride out for now, not much help I know but SA comes and goes and the only way I have found is to roll with it, extra cuddles etc.

If it were me i would def eliminate foods you think might be a problem and see. You could also try some meds (not at the same time or you won't know which has worked iykwim) to rule out pain from teeth/ears etc.

[roxannesmum]

pretty much give him mess every night before bed anyway. Will try cutting back the unprocessed dairy and see. The bw book recommends putting a mattress on the floor of his room for a couple of nights in a very simulate situation to this so  he knows I'm around but that seems like a backwards step to me?

[*Becky*]

that's what we did when DD was about 18 months - she had blocked ears while teething a molar and it was awful.