22 Mo. Old Wakes Frequently at Night

Does your child have frequent ear infections or respitory (sp?) symptoms (i.e. snoring, congestion, etc.)? In my son's second year of life, he began to wake up several times at night and getting him back to sleep was a bear! He also snored all the time! After a bout with two severe ear infections we took him to an ENT, he ended up having tubes put in, as well as adenoids and tonsils removed. Once this was done, it was like night and day! He slept soundly all night long and no longer snoared.

Another possibility could be (as you suggested) she wants the attention. Maybe you can try giving her more of your time before bed. Read her an extra book, play a game, and assure her that she is loved and important! I have four children as well, finding equal time for all of them if very difficult. So, GOOD LUCK!

Is she doing this because she gets attention, or is something wrong, such as teething? Both of my kids, after they turned one, were left in their cribs, with dry diapers and their tummys full, with a few loveys and the Fisher Price Aquarium. They both cried at first, but I did not go into their rooms because they wanted me to rock them to sleep and I REFUSED to do so. Now, they are great sleepers, and if they wake up and start crying or screaming, I've learned to distinguish the "I just want to play with you cry" over "My teeth hurt, mom, Tylenol please cry".

I have an 18 mo. old and 4 year old. My 4 year old - typically, the only times she wouldn't sleep soundly is when she had an ear infection, or if it was gas. As she got older, she'd wake up in the night hungry.

With the 22 mo. old, I'm wondering if it isn't that she's waking up hungry. Easy thing to try would be to give her some cereal before going to bed.

The other thing I wondered was if all of her teeth are in yet - this probably isn't it, but just "thinking out loud." My 4 year old's teeth seemed to take forever to come in.

It could also just be a phase. Last night, our 18 mo. woke up and sat up and fussed. DH went over, "plugged her up" with the nuk, and she fell over in the crib and went right back to sleep. (yes, we quietly cheered!)

Good luck!

I don't have advice as to why your daughter is not sleeping. Mine didn't sleep through the night as a constant routine until I stopped nursing her completely. (at the age of 3)
So, really I'm just here to give you KUDOS for the nursing of your children.
Just rock her & hold her before she's going to college. ;o)
All phases will pass.
You're a great mom!

Just want to lend my support of tandem nursing and child-led weaning. Mine are 2 and almost 4. The 3yo only nurses for a couple of minutes at bedtime and the 2 yo is night-weaned, but nurses during the day. They are currently away with their daddy for 4 nights for the 1st ever. Can't wait to see who continutes to nurse when they get back.

As to night-waking, my almost 4 didn't sleep through until she was in the 2's range and my 2 yo is on and off about sleeping through the night. He goes to bed between 8 and 9 and wakes around 5:30 (ugh!), nurses and sometimes goes back to sleep, but not always. Sometimes he wakes several times during the night but is not fully awake and just needs to hear from me.

Is your daughter night-weaned? Is she throwing a tantrum because she wants to nurse or get up or is it more like an unconsolable sad/scared cry? I found night-nursing two kids very uncomfortable and it interfered with my sleep too much for me to function during the day. I had to night-wean my daughter. If you choose to do this, try to stick to your decision and be loving but firm about it. Talk to her about it during the day and tell her about the "nursies going night-night". My mantra was "nursies go nigh-nigh, daddy go nigh-nigh, mommy go nigh-nigh, daughter go nigh-nigh". Anyway, that's all I'll say since I don't really know the whole situation.
Feel free to pm me if you want more input.
Laura

If she hasn't always been a restless sleeper, maybe it is just growing up. Maybe she is getting some teeth? Like her 2 year molars? If she has always been nursing through the night, maybe she is going through a little growth spurt and needs more milk. Or, if she has been sick, maybe she has a little ear infection. It is so hard to tell!

My little girl just did that to me, too. She is 24 months. She ended up having an ear infection - that is why I bring it up.

I have been having the same thing with my 20 month old lil' girl. She wakes up about 2 sometimes 3 times a night. There are times where she justs wants to play and other times she just wants to cuddle. But, last night was a tearful night. She was upset and I had not a clue why. I got her a sippy cup of milk and we went into the living room and I turned on the music really low and rocked her back to sleep. She was not running a fever or teething that I know of. I think she just wanted some mommy time because she would not go to daddy when he tried to take her. Both my other girls went through this stage also. Heck My 6 year old had woke up at 3 am earlier this week and just wanted to cuddle in the rocking chair. I take this time to just enjoy them and the special moments that we share. I just hope that my girls will always remember that they are always loved and wanted no matter what time of the day it is. They all know that they can come into mommy and daddy's bedroom if they need anything. (Yes they knock before entering)

We all as parents have such a busy life and sometimes the children can see that. They know when mom and dad are not busy so that is the time that they want for themselves.

This to will pass, as the child gets older. My oldest does not do it hardly ever anymore. (I miss it very much)

Have a wonderful day!

Waking in the middle of the night is normal for that age, unfortunately, both of my kids were like that when they were that age too. I think it starts to get a little better after they turn 3, but it is ok to not give her attention when she is awake, as long as she is happy and playing, I would let her be, she will eventually go back to sleep, but if you give her attention, it will just encourage her NOT to go back to sleep.