10 Mo Old No Longer Sleeping Thru the Night

That's actually the typical pattern. Between 3-6 months, babies tend to sleep for longer stretches, and then between 6-12 months, more of them tend to wake up in the middle of the night.

See "A longitudinal study of night waking in the first year."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1934318?dopt=Abstract

It's important to get solid information on what "normal infant sleep" really is, because many new moms are given unrealistic expectations. See
http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/sleep/sleep.html#normal

So the good news is that your baby is normal, don't worry. Bad news is (also) that your baby is normal, so there's not *too* much you can do about it, and you'll probably be getting woken up in the middle of the night for a while. But you can try to go to bed earlier yourself, maybe trying to catch naps during the day (or on weekends if you're employed). Many people have their baby sleep closer to them (crib in their room, co-sleeper, or even crib mattress next to their bed) so that you don't have to wake all the way up and stumble down the hall to soothe the baby. The quicker you can get to them, the quicker both you and baby can get back to sleep. (PLEASE look into the long-term effects of sleep-training or "Ferberizing" before you go down that route. There are better ways.)

I won't even TELL you how long it took my kids to consistently sleep through the night, because I don't want you to jump off a cliff. Figure out a few ways that EVERYONE in the family can get at least semi-adequate sleep that also respects the baby's nighttime needs for security, comfort and hunger. Prepare for it to be a long-term pattern and find ways to cope, and maybe you'll get a pleasant surprise.
Sweet dreams!

My son started doing the same thing around 9-10 months. I ran the gammit of possibilities and after going through the checklist (teeth, ears, diaper, hunger) I spoke to my pediatrician. She told me growth spurts and separation anxiety start around that time. Sure enough he was starting to cry when I left the room during the day. I'm a true believer in the "Ferber Sleep Method" which teaches your child to self soothe and sleep through the night. The more I went in to tend to him the more he woke up and needed me to do so. He was definitely old enough to go without feedings so I refered back to the Ferber method and he was sleeping through the night again in less than a week.
Good luck!

Hi K., my son suffered of ear-infections for the longest time when he was your son's age. Check if it's gone undiagnosed in his case, sometimes it happens. I do remember those sleepless nights, it is, infact, exhausting, but it shall go away when he gets better (no matter if it's teething or ear infections or whatever). I would NOT apply the self-soothing method. In Europe it is considered cruel and damaging to the child, who needs his mother/caregiver in many different ways, even when it's not because of physical pain. You don't want to make him feel alone and hopeless with his issue, whatever it is - physical or emotional, so if he cries, yes, pick him up, comfort him, make him feel that you are there for him, so he won't feel desperation, a very scarring, deep emotion that will stay with him forever.
At his age he is too young to use his crying for "tricking" you, and you know what I think? Even if a child tries to trick you (that happens anyway when he's older), it means that he has some kind of need anyway and it's up to us adults figuring out how to handle his demands. But IGNORING a crying child (I read sometimes that some moms let them cry until they throw up so they can "soothe themselves" - how horribly wrong!) is NEVER a good thing and I am sure that, even though a mother can decide to ignore that feeling inside that tells her to run to her child for the sake of some kind of "practice", there is no mother out there that, deep down, doesn't think it is wrong. I say, if it doesn't feel right, it is wrong, no matter what Ferber, Gerber or Verber (just making up names) say in their money making books.Be strong and take naps...this time shall pass!

What else is new in the house? Is it time to adjust the bedtime: He is getting older and doesn't need as much sleep as an infant. What does he do when he wakes up and how long is he up? Doy ou bring him out of his room and allow him to spend time w/you and the family? When he wakes up, do the normal diaper check, etc, but leave him in his room. Have a night light or 25 watt bulb so there is dim lighting when you go in there. Give the sense that it is still time for sleep, be very task oriented. But think about other changes that may have taken place. If he feels he is not getting as much of your time as he used to, he may be appreciating those moment in the night when he has your undivided atention. Just don't allow it to be play time or give him the sense that you are still up. So what is new in the house, and is he being put down too early or having too many naps are things to consider? An Essential Practical Guide to Family Living is a good book that addresses many issues to child rearing and relationship issues. It can be ordered at www.destroyingyokes.com

If he is teething, it could just be really bad right now.

He could also be growing; my son did that to me several times, and he was just hungry all the time! There was also a week period where he would wake up crying and not want to eat; he would start awake, like something scared him. Tada! It was his first nightmare.

If he seems really hungry, try upping the amount he eats at supper, and before bed. He may still get up in the night, but hopefully only once, and then you can just stuff him silly again. :-)

If he seems to be in pain, try giving him Infant Tylenol (call your doctor or speak to his nurse and ask how much to give him; it's based on their weight). Give it to him twenty minutes before bed, and then again after 6 hours (if he wakes up and seems to need it).

Hope this helps! God bless!
M. D

Is he getting enough intake?
How is his ears? Have you had them checked by the Doctor? You mentioned he "was" sick. Sometimes they can have an ear infection or lingering things from being sick.

9 months old was a growth-spurt time. Has his intake increased? At growth-spurts, their intake needs increases and they get hungrier and more frequently. I am not one who believes that a baby "should not" nurse/feed during the night, but rather that at least for the 1st year of life, they need to be still fed on-demand. Per our Pediatrician as well. Otherwise, their intake levels will not be keeping pace with their growth and development.

I would, perhaps make sure he does not have an ear infection or anything.

All the best,
Susan

We were in the same boat with our ten-month-old. I started increasing her formula and solids at each meal by small amounts. She was hungry when she went to bed and now she is sleeping better.

Did he just learn to stand up in his crib? We had sleep disturbances around that time too because of all the new things he was doing. It still could be teething, some teeth are much worse than others. Unless he is screaming like he is in pain, just don't go in there and see how quickly he settles back down. If he gets used to you going in or feeding him, he will keep doing it.

Well,
K..... I hate to tell you, but my two kids didnt sleep thru the night until they were both 2 yrs old. I know it's hard, but your baby will grow out of it. It may take time, but you will also learn to wake up with your baby and go right back to sleep. You said your baby was sleeping thru the night at 3 months! Consider yourself lucky! Most moms do not have it this way. Have you tried giving your baby water or juice at night? This idea is a very touchy one, some say it works and they dont worry about the "bad habbits" some say you are setting your kids up for (which is what, a drink of water at night?) but others are against it. We have given our kids water and/ or watered down juice at night and we have not had any problems with bed wetting with our 3 yr old.

Also, something to think about is growing pains. My daughter used to wake up screaming in pain and all she needed was some arnica for muscle sorness and a back rub and she went righ back to sleep... but we didnt give the arnica till she was at least 18 months.

Dealing with kids waking up at night is just how it is for moms :) Such is the life of a mommy!

My daughter did the same thing and it turned out to be she couldn't take a nap anymore. If she slept any at all during the day she wouldn't sleep at night...just something to consider.