16 Month Old Having Sleep Issues

We have been having the same issue with my 18 mo old son. He use to sleep fine in his crib until he learned how to climb out. Now he sleeps in a bed. He began waking up several times a night at around 15 months and this has gone on for about 3 months. Turned out, he was getting about 7 teeth in all at once. Now, he is doing much better. The two things that helped him were motrin and hylands teething tablets. Still, we had to ride it out and now for the last 3 nights he has slept all night! Hopefully this is the light at the end of the tunnel. I would try motrin and the hylands and then see if sleeping in bed with you for a while until this passes. Of course, you may have an issue with getting him back in his crib after that. Also, you can buy a crib tent to keep him in his crib. I wanted to get one, but my husband was against it so we have just decided to put him into a bed earlier than we had planned on. Good luck and hang in there. It will pass soon.
S.

Dear E.:
It sounds like your 16 month old is just growing and probably practicing all his motor skills he is learning during the day in his sleep. They constantly change and adapt. I wouldn't worry about it, and just gently try to help him go back to sleep. Eventually he will return to sleeping through the night...
sincerely,

Andrea (mother of a 2 1/2 little girl)

He's not hungry or probably not even in much teething pain. Let him cry it out if you're comfortable with that, shouldn't take long to break the pattern.

Hi E., I would definetely stop giving him milk when he wakes up in the night. Just go in and tell him it's still night time and go back to sleep, then leave and don't go back in. It is a habit, and one that will get worse over time if you don't break it now. Motrin works best for teething pain if you are worried about that, but I wouldn't put any cups or bottles in his crib, or take him into your bed. You can get a crib tent for his crib or put a gate at his door so at least he can't roam the house. Be firm but loving and very consistant and this will pass, good luck,
K. Smith
Sleep Consultant and Parenting Coach
www.theindependentchild.com

Hi E.,

I could be a combination of things. Teething, dreams, and from what I hear, this is the age where most babies will try and switch back to bad sleeping habits. LOL I cant imagine how tired you are, but what I have been doing is going into my children's room and comforting them for about 30 seconds. I am not giving them a bottle because I do not want them to expect that bottle in the middle of the night. I am so past that stage. Maybe try letting your baby sleep with you one night and see if he wakes up with being right next to him. If this works, its a comfort thing. I hope I was of a little help. Don't worry though another baby stage that we all or are going through. GOOD LUCK!

Hi E., I think you are right when you say it is probably more habit than something wrong. Babies/children thrive on routine, and as long as you continue to get up and give him milk or what ever he will continue to wake up, so here's what you can do, put a sippy cup of water in the corner of his crib, if you have a night light in his room he will have no problem seeing it if he does wake up, chances are he will take a drink and go back to sleep. I'm not sure if the one night a week with grandma is affecting his sleep schdule or not, you can test it by not having him go for a coupl of weks and see if he still wakes up, right now i would say he is waking up out of habit. J. L.