Please Share Your Experience Re: One-year-old's Sleep

I rocked my oldest son until hew was 2 and in a big boy bed and he's 6 now and goes to sleep fine on his own.

I have found that there have been several different phases where DD had sleep "issues." They've always passed eventually (few days to a couple weeks). At 21 mos she usually sleeps very well. But a couple weeks ago she was acting like a newborn wanting to nurse every couple hours for over a week. All of a sudden she had a big language leap and went back to sleeping fine. So I wouldn't worry about it. If it doesn't seem to pass and she gets used to (and needs the rocking back to sleep) you may want to check out Pantley's "No Cry Sleep Solution." She has a lot of good gentle ideas for getting babies to go to sleep be able to get themselves back to sleep.

We just went through this EXACT same thing (my son turned one last week). We would rub his back so he'd sleep, or fall back to sleep, etc. He would stand in his crib, even fall asleep on the rail. Finally we did the cry it out method - IT WORKED! I read a book (available at the Cumberland Library) which basically said - give it three nights and you will see major improvement. Our mistake was lettinghim cry for 90 or 120 minutes, then going back in and helping him fall asleep - so he forgot how to sooth himself. We were desparate - so we agreed we would not go in until morning, unless we thought something was wrong (and we had the video monitor to watch). Anyway, the first night he cried for like 2 hours (BROKE MY HEART). But the second night - it was only 30 minutes. By the third night, he was down to ten minutes! It has been about two weeks and now he just goes to sleep without crying, or if he does (like when he wakes during the night), he cries just a minute or two before he sooths himself (usually my touching his hair). :) Good luck with whatever works for you.

We went through this when my 18 month old was about 13 months old. We finally just had to let her scream it out. The first night it took a long, long time. The second night it was less and the third night she barley screamed at all. It almost seemed like she got used to me going in there and holding her or rubbing her back and she liked it. When she figured out that it simply wasn't going to happen she gave up. We still have an occasional night when she wakes up.. and the first time she does it i will go in (becasue this is out of the ordinary behavior) but if she persists for more than one night I let her cry and the behavior stops.

The worst part about this whole thing was that my other 2.5 yr old daughter sleeps in the same room and had to listen to this go on. But she did ok. She slept through most of it!

This topic has been catching my eye because my daughter who just turned one has been doing the same thing. I think that this is very common because I keep reading similar posts like your post. My daughter finally became a "good sleeper" at six months old, so you can imagine how upsetting it was to see her screaming at bedtime (standing in the crib, much like your little one) and waking up in the middle of the night. I did the same as you and I rocked her back to sleep because crying it out wasn't working. Two nights ago, I decided that she'd have to cry it out and that it would have to work. I put her in the crib, she screamed and got up imediately. I placed her on her back, she screamed for a moment, and then slept throughout the whole night. Placing her in the crib is a scramble for two nights now, but she ends up putting herself to sleep. I hope that your little munchkin's phase ends soon. I feel your pain!!!

Hi A.--my one year old son has been doing exactly this for several weeks now. He stands up in his crib and drops his 'snuggle bear' over the side then screams and screams until we get it for him (then he wants to be picked up, which is surely why he threw it over in the first place, eh?). I know that I should return the bear to him, give him a pat/kiss and leave the room without taking him out of his crib--but sometimes I pick him up and rock him for a few minutes if he's super upset. Usually this works but sometimes it takes several times. I have considered taking away his morning nap so he will sleep more soundly in the afternoon and at night...Does your daughter still take 2 naps? That might be something to consider...Am sure it's all normal and we'll both be over this hump in a matter of a week! Good luck.

Hi A.-

I just wanted to say that I feel your pain. My daughter is 13 months and her sleep pattern at night has been "off" for about a month. I was used to a 7p bedtime and wake up b/w 6 and 7am. Now, I don't know what to expect. She is definately getting more teeth and is on the verge off walking (she's gotten a few steps down so far). Some nights she goes down easily, others she fights it and then often wakes up crying during the night. She has also been getting up much earlier. I am sure it is just a phase, but I agree that it is very tiresome. I think we just have to wait it out and remind ourselves about all the exciting new things our babies are learning and doing!

I am the opposite, my son was the worst sleeper until around 11 months. Now he sleeps fine. But I do know that if I don't feed him enough during the day he sleeps badly during the night and wakes up. Also, if he has a really wet diaper in the middle of the night, he will wake up. She could be teething, have you tried giving her a little tylenol or motrin, just to see if that helps. Also, is she napping too much during the day? At one they should be down to one long nap or two naps a day. I would try feeding her a little more during the day and see if that helps. A bottle of formula before bed may help, too. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Hi A.. It does sound like it is related to her learning to walk soon. My daughter is 8.5 months old and for the past month she has been waking more often during the night (usually crying) and wakes very early in the morning. She is very close to crawling and is currently getting three teeth (!). I can only think it has to do with those things. Lately we have been putting her to bed at 6:30 (instead of 7) and it has really helped. I wonder if she poops herself out more during the day and needs the earlier bedtime? Sometimes it feels like such a guessing game. I suppose we just have to hang in there, and try different things. It is tough though! I don't know about anyone else but my eyes sure look tired. Maybe it's finally time to book that spa appointment :) Good luck moms!! K.

Just wondering if it might be time to decrease her napping time during the day, so that she returns to that drowsy state at bedtime.

Hi A.!!My son is 13months,and he did the same thing,I bet shes going to walk very soon,i guess they are excited about what they are going to achive and either want to practice it or are thinking about it....so i bet thats whats going on(how cute,shes so proud!!)She probaly cant wait to show you and thats why shes standing up!!(I love it)!!!!Good Luck,hope she settles down back into her routine for you soon!!

Hi A. - This is my best advice to new parents, never get used to anything that your child does, b/c as soon as you do, they'll change it up on you! My son is almost 3 and has never been a particularly good sleeper. He didn't start sleeping through the night until he was 8 mos old, and that was only b/c I resorted to letting him cry himself to sleep which was awful. Since then we've gone through waves of him sleeping great (7:30/8PM til 7AM!!!), to fighting bedtime to waking up in the middle of the night to getting up at 4 and 5 for the day! I don't have much advice... my husband and I have tried all kinds of different things. With something like sleep, I think it's good to be as consistent as possible (regular bedtime, bedtime routine, etc.), but I really think the ball is in their court. Best of luck, I'm sure this wasn't terribly helpful, but I can tell you I feel your pain! I am exhausted... I have a 3 1/2 month old who is nursing 3x a night right now, plus my son to contend with. Sleep is at a premium in our house! Good luck :)

Okay, first stop the bad habit of rocking her! Bad, bad, bad & what's worse you know better!
What I had to do for my son was re-adjust his nap times. NO LATE NAPS! Also make sure he gets up at the same time every single morning, no matter how much I wanted to sleep in, and put him in bed at 7:30 pm NO LATER, no exceptions (unless it is a holiday/birthday type of thing).
It worked like a charm & only took about 2-3 days. Also I let him lay awake in bed & did not even go into him unless he cried out for me. If I did go in I said "honey it is time for bed now, you need to go to sleep. I love you & see you in the morning". Then I left his room & before I knew it he was asleep. I have had to do this a few times because with new milestones comes poor sleep, or his schedule would get messed up some how (out & about or a holiday out some where).
But there are times my son will not go right down because his room is too hot or something. We just make sure we cool off his room several hours before bed & keep a fan going in his room until he falls asleep.
If you are still un-sure I would recommend the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weisbluth, MD.
It is what worked the best for us he believes in the CIO method but a little different than Ferber's method.