C.B. asks from Fox Lake, IL on July 03, 2009
12 Month Old Sleeping
My 12 month old goes to sleep around 8-830 every nite and wakes up in the morning around 5am to drink some milk. i have tried watering this down to make her take water. i am wondering if i should let her cry it out. I let her cry it out for naps and sleep a few months ago and she's doing great however I am just wondering what to do about this wake up around 5am each morning.... after giveing her watered down milk, she sleeps for about another 1-1 1/2. also for her naps she usually only sleeps 2 45 min naps, she's never been a fan of napping. should i try to hold her off until the afternoon more maybe?
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P.M. answers from Chicago on July 04, 2009
Hi,
Try letting her cry it out. It worked with the nap and she is probably getting up from habit. It could take a few days or even longer (my 4 mo old just started sleeping through the night and while he sleeps, I still get up at 3:30 am for the last 2 weeks). Also, the 2 short naps may be all the rest she needs. Eventually, she'll go to one nap and hopefully that will be a long one. good luck!
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N.P. answers from Chicago on July 04, 2009
she needs longer naps, don't rescue her at the first peep, leave her for a full 2 hours, make sure the room is DARK and there is a fan or music on continous play. I bet when her naps increase to longer (she should be getting two 2 hour naps a day) then the night time waking will also disappear. I would treat a 5 a.m. waking just like I would a midnight waking, at that age they do not need to drink at 5 a.m.
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P.M. answers from Chicago on July 04, 2009
Hi,
Try letting her cry it out. It worked with the nap and she is probably getting up from habit. It could take a few days or even longer (my 4 mo old just started sleeping through the night and while he sleeps, I still get up at 3:30 am for the last 2 weeks). Also, the 2 short naps may be all the rest she needs. Eventually, she'll go to one nap and hopefully that will be a long one. good luck!
1 mom found this helpful
E.F. answers from Chicago on July 03, 2009
She may just be an early riser. Especially because of the sun coming up at 5. Make sure her room is dark and also make sure the windows are closed. The birds start at 4:45 and wake me up if my windows are open. What time is her first nap? Waking up at five she is ready for a nap earlier and may not make it to the afternoon. Between twelve and 15 months is a transition from one to two naps so she is on her way. I would extend the first nap but do it in increments. Hold her off 15 minutes at a time and see how she does. My youngest had to eat lunch at 11am and go down for a nap by 12pm. she would then sleep until 2-2:30 and go to bed at 7:30-8. Does she drink out of a bottle or sippy cup? With my first I woke up at 5:30 to go running in the morning so before I left I put a sippy cup in his crib with milk in it and he would drink it (husband home just never woke up). this way he got his milk and either played in his crib or fell back asleep. Being a mom is a lot of trial and error. You know your child best, just try out different things that would work for you and her. Good luck!
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J.V. answers from Chicago on July 04, 2009
My daughter woke up to be nursed at 4:30 until I told her "no more milk" and just gave her water. She protested a little, but after a few days, she stopped waking up. She'd fuss for about 5-10 minutes. Mind you, she now usually wakes around 5:45-6:15, but it isn't 5 ;-)
I'd go down to one nap and see what happens. Try feeding her lunch around 11:30 and putting her down at 12:15. She may then only sleep 1.5 hours, but she may decide to sleep 2-3.
L.C. answers from Chicago on July 04, 2009
If I were you, I'd count my blessings that my baby is sleeping 8-9 hours straight! Then, get used to getting up at 5 a.m. to give her some milk. After sleeping that long, she must be hungry. You are so lucky she sleeps through the night. My baby only slept in 45 minute increments all night long for the first year of life. And didn't nap for more than 20 minutes at a time a few times a day, in between the colic screams. Believe me, you are blessed!
M.M. answers from Chicago on July 06, 2009
I would first try putting a sippy of water in her crib with her after she goes down for the night. When she wakes up, she'll find it, and if she's really thirsty, she'll help herself to it. I would also suggest putting her down before 8. Try 7:30. You may find that an earlier bedtime causes her to sleep later by itself.
If thirst does not seem to be the issue (which is probably isn't) I'd let her cry. DH and I have a rule that we don't go in to get DS before 6am. There are days where he cries back to sleep, and also days where he sleeps till 7:30.
Our DS (12 mos) is transitioning to 1 nap. I have found that on the days he only has 1 nap, he sleeps later in the morning. We put him down at 7:15 nightly.
I would not try to force your DD into 1 nap, though, if he's not ready for it. She'll do it when she's ready, and you'll have a much easier time of it.
V.C. answers from Chicago on July 04, 2009
Giv her the milk!she's only 1 put it in a spill resistant cupand let her sleep however make sure the room is dark! They stop drinkn milk after a while when they need it most so give it to her hope it works !!!
S.M. answers from Chicago on July 04, 2009
As for the night time, that's awesome. As for the waking, she may be an early riser. My almost three year old has always been up between 5 and 6. As for naps, I would ditch the morning nap and do one afternoon nap. When both of my kids gave up their morning naps, their afternoon naps became much longer... making me a happy camper!
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