23 month old night waking

[Shannon14]

Hi! I'm new here in hopes of finding help! I have the world's most stubborn toddler when it comes to night waking.  He is a dream to put to sleep at night time and nap time.  So I know he's capable of putting himself back to sleep. Theoretically this is supposed to mean that they sleep through the night because when they wake up they know how to put themselves back to sleep. You would think this would be the case.  However, our toddler either needs milks or snuggling to settle him.  He has never been good with putting himself back to sleep when he wakes up and he's an absolute inconsolable miserable boy on many nights.  After almost two years of not getting a full night's sleep and working full time I'm at my wits end.  This is the reason we have not started planning for baby number 2. I can't imagine having a newborn in addition to this. Any advice?   

[<Catherine>]

Hi Welcome to the forum.

I will get this post moved over to the Sleeping for Toddlers board so you will get more help for your LOs age.

Can you post his routine please? Wake up time, nap time and length, and bedtime.

Are there any other factors? Could he be teething (2yr molars can cause a lot of havoc before they even begin to come though)?

It may be a routine issue, but the milk may also have become a prop so you may have to work at getting rid of that.

[Shannon14]

Thanks for your help, Catherine. 

His sleep routine is nap around 12:30 -3:00. bedtime around 7:30/8 waking anywhere from 6:30-7:30 (usually with 2-3 wakings in between). Some nights it's only once, some nights it's more than 3. The night I posted this, he slept through the night, but he has only done that about 8 times since birth.  We do give him a bottle or snuggle with him to get him back to sleep just because it's easiest at the time and we both work full time.  Need our sleep! I'm sure the milk has become a prop, but I'm confused as to why he doesn't always need or want it.  Could it possibly be that he IS indeed thirsty and not just relying on it for comfort? We've managed to do a great job with pretty much everything else, except sleeping! This spirited child of ours can be most spirited in the wee hours of the morning.

Yes, his molars are coming in and his night waking has always been worse when he's teething, but he's never been a good sleeper.  Goes to sleep on his own at nap time and bedtime without a problem. He's a happy camper and gives hugs, kisses and says "nu-night mommy!" Can't figure out when he can't put himself back to sleep in the middle of the night.

[<Catherine>]

Ok. It could well be teeth - do you medicate? Perhaps try a meds DF (although I've never had success with this).

I do think the nap is too long, although if he's falling asleep easily at BT then he doesn't sound *too* OT. Have you tried capping it at all? Perhaps try cutting it down to 2 hours for a few days and see how things go? If you do do this though, keep an eye out for OT at BT - it may need bringing forward a touch but I'd possibly leave it at 7.30pm to start with as he's clearly not OT at BT as things stand.

[Shannon14]

Thanks for the advice! We might try this and see what happens.