16mo Night Wakings

[bensmuma]

So I feel like my almost 16mo ds has always been a night waker. There seems to be maybe one or two handfulls of time that I recall him not waking at least once a night. Now mind you the majority of time he wakes he cries out then stops and goes back to sleep himself. Rarely has he ever been up any length of time unless  he's sick. However, that being said he's still waking (and recently it's been 3-4 times a night!) crying. Why?? I feel terrible saying this but I'm so over it. I don't remember the last time I had more than a few hours sleep in a row even if he goes back to sleep on his own. More than that I hate that he wakes up so sad. He's still on 2 naps which I've had to shorten to about one hour each in order to get both in and still get to bed at a decent time. i know it's time fo rthe switch but we're off on vacation in 2 weeks and can't start until we get back. Also he has a paci but many a times when he cries where we have to go in, he doesn't want it. So what's the deal?? And yes he's teething.......again! But what can I do if anything and when will it stop??? oh yeah, and he's an early riser...6-630!

[speechie]

Hi hon- hugs - my son was a terrible sleeper till 14 mos, so I know what sleep deprivation is like.
can you post your schedule?
For what it's worth, Nick didn't go to 1 nap solidly until almost 19 mos! Don't rush into it unless you need to.
Tell me more about the NWs. What time of night are they happening, first 1-3 hours of sleep, middle of night, last 2-3 hours of sleep in the AM?
Teething can certainly make for fussy, wakeful nights.
How are you handling the NWs- go in and try to settle? Giving pain meds for teething?
Sorry for all the questions, but I hope to help you sort it out.
Cute baby on your avatar!

[bensmuma]

Here's what a typical day looks like: May vary by 1/2 hr some days

630 - Awake
700 - Breakfast
915 - Sm Snack
945 - Nap
1100 - Awake ( i usually wake here otherwise he'd sleep till 1130)
1200 - Lunch
1430 - Snack
1515 - Nap
1615 - Awake (again I usually wake here or sometimes let him go till 1630, depends on day)
1700 - Supper
1930 -2000 Bed

NW's vary but happens @ 11, 2, 5....not always 3 hrs apart but similar. Of course last night we had none! We have been giving Motrin the last few nights with teething gel because his eye teeth are definitely coming in! When he wakes, sometimes we don't have to go in and he settles quickly. If we do go in we don't say anything, just rub his head. And if that doesn't work, we'll pick him up briefly, let him settle and put him right back down and that works. I am finding now that he takes longer to fall asleep at night but I'm sure it's because he's waking at 1630. But I refuse to put him down after 2000! He does fall asleep completely independantly at bedtime but I have to admit to AP for naps    We hold him and walk him to sleep.....you know what it takes 5 minutes and it works so what can I say. Naps won't be forever but bedtime will! Anyway, hope this helps!! Thanks!

[speechie]

Sounds like you're doing the right things at night- probably just extended teething... we had rough teething, then SA, then more teething, etc etc...seems unending, but it does get better.
I am wondering if maybe he's getting ready to switch from 2-1 naps- sometimes that can disturb night sleep, and definitely will mess with bedtime as that last nap is getting to be late.
Hugs, hope that there are no NWs tonight, and definitely come for support when you drop to one nap.
FWIW- here is typical sleep for 18 mos:
18 months old                                                        1 nap - 2 hrs
                                                                                11.5hrs at night

So a 7:30 bedtime, and 6:30AM wakeup is 11 hours- not too bad. Day sleep could be cutting into night sleep some.

[bensmuma]

Thanks for the support Cathie. Ben of course didn't wake at all last night! It was marvelous!! Of course I woke up for no reason..... Most nights he's only getting about 10hours total of sleep. Do you think i should cut the last nap shorter and put him to bed earlier until we go to one nap? Today I tested a theory of mine about the fan in his room. It was never intended to be 'white noise' because we were using it for heat and cooling but I realized we have it on ALL the time. So I turned it off for his first nap and guess what? 45min! His second nap today (for whatever reason) 45min!! I put him to bed early tonight so we'll see    I suspect he'll wake at 6 or earlier unfortunatley. And you can be sure I'll be back for the 2-1 transition! I'll need all the support I can get so I hear! Thanks again!
Holly

[speechie]

Hugs Holly- glad for the STTN for Ben, but sigh- I hate it when Nick STTN, and I'm awake for some odd reason.
We've got a fan too- I'm so torn as to whether or not to run it- doesn't seem to make a difference, I think, and then I'm not sure! LOL.
Nick's teething too- 5:40AM wakeup- you are not alone- repeat that to yourself whenever you need to...also, ...this will pass...it's just a phase...LOL.
Hoping to get my guy to bed early only had a 1 hour nap.
Fingers crossed for us both, eh?

[bensmuma]

Hope you had a good night considering the poor sleep day  Ben too was awake at 0530 this am. Just couldn't fall back into a deep sleep though seemed like he wanted to  But at least he didn't wake until then! So the fan thing.....we're going home to Canada next week and I think I'm going to have to buy a little fan! Can't risk it  Oh well, we do what we have to! Another repeat phrase for you......(my sister's claim!) "Nothing lasts more than 6 weeks!!" Sounds like an eternity doesn't it?? Hope you have a better nap day today!
Holly

[speechie]

Hi HOlly- thinking of you- how are things going?