Ever Heard of the Boy Who Never Sleeps..... My 17 Month Old Daughter Is Same Way

Updated on February 21, 2011
A.W. asks from Phoenix, AZ
9 answers

She is 17 months old and i put her to bed at 10 pm but she wont go to sleep if i am in there because she wants to play so i go to bed at about 11pm or midnight depends when she stops screaming. And when i go in there she is still up and wont go to sleep till about 6 am and wakes up at 8 am and is up for the rest of the day and even sometimes wont take naps!!!!!!!!!!!1

i have a 8-12 hr job and am so tired of not getting any sleep.

So you think she could have the rare sleeping disorder where they never sleep or could she just not be wanting to sleep? Should i be worried? Doctor said its nothing, its normal, she just wants to be up playing and going through a phase. ?????? Could the doctor be right or should i be worried and switched doctors and get her tested?

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G.A.

answers from Phoenix on

My sister always would be afraid to fall asleep because she was afraid she was missing something.

So even when we put her in the car and actually got her to sleep.... when the car would shut off she was awake again.

More Answers

I.D.

answers from Miami on

I hope she doesnt have a sleep disorder.....i have one and it makes my life hell....
my body doesnt produce melatonin, and on top of it i suffer of an anxiety disorder that decides to drive me crazy mostly at nights....i use to take a lot of meds in order to sleep,and to help me with my anxiety... but i stop during pregnancy, and i really dont want to go back.....but beign sleep deprived is awful, so lets hope that your child is only going through a phase or have bad sleeping habits...

I appreciate sleep so much that im a sleep nazy with my son, he sleeps from 7:30 to 6:30 since he was 4 months.....i do the same routine for him every day a the same hour and it works.....if he wakes in the middle of the night i let him cio....doesnt matter the date even on christmas....he was in his crib at the same time.....people think im crazy, but i dont want him to have the same problems i have...and had for my entire life....and if he doesnt have anything medical, he will not have them, because i created a stable habit for him....

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J.R.

answers from Miami on

dear babygirl,

2 of my friends have had similar issues. before thinking they have a sleep challenge, however, i would first double check to see how is their pre-bed routine, as well as the conditions for sleep.

-- do you start to wind down/slow down about 2 hours before bedtime.
-- is there a predictable routine? dinner, bath, book, cuddle, sleep???
-- is there a good nap?
-- is your LO getting enuf physical activity and intellectual stimulation...

-- are pj's comfy?
-- is room temp ok
-- is tummy full?

try as well to get a copy of Pantley's "No Cry Sleep Solution".

Hope this helps/
Jilly

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D.H.

answers from Phoenix on

I would get a 2nd opinion.

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R.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

Your child does not have a sleep disorder. She has not learned how to fall asleep on her own or how to soothe herself and now she is severely sleep deprived.
When a child is overtired they produce cortisol which actually stimulates them and they end up having a harder time falling asleep. This is when your little one gets "hyper". Your child sounds extremely overtired.
You need to look at your schedule and routine. Does she have a consistent schedule because children are creatures of habit. It makes them feel secure. Do things happen at approximately the same time every day?
Also you need to look at her sleep routine. Does she have one? Do you have a consistent series of events that happens every day (brush teeth, change diaper, read 2 stories, close the drapes, bedtime...) so that she knows to expect a nap/ night-night time?? Is the room dark enough (room darkening drapes are available at Walmart and are very helpful)? Is the room quiet enough (a fan for white noise to block noises from the house is a good idea)?
And 10 pm??? That is really, really late for a little one to be heading to bed. You are going to need to adjust her bedtime by a couple of hours! Best to start by adjusting it back by 1/2 hour increments until you hit 7:30-8:00. Sleep begets sleep and your little one is so overtired that she can't fall asleep and stay asleep so she can get the proper amount of rest she needs (which should be 13-15 hours of sleep a day!!! including a 1/12-3 hour nap).
My best advice is for you to get The Sleepeasy Solution by Jennifer Waldburger. It is a step-by-step sleep guide and sleep training manual. It is a great resourse to have and if you follow the program consistently then your little one could be sleeping beautifully in just a few days.
Good luck! No sleep is no fun for her- or you.

R.M.

answers from Seattle on

I would get a second opinion.

I don't think it's through lack of routine that she's not falling asleep. Exhaustion would eventually set in and she would sleep for longer than 2 hrs.

I don't think you're doing anything wrong, it may be something more, go check it out.

R. M. - Parenting Consultant & Children's Sleep Specialist.

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J.V.

answers from Chicago on

Sleep is a habit. It seems your daughter is lacking one right now if your Dr says she looks good.

My daughter stopped napping at 18 months. She preferred to play through nap-time, so I let her just have quiet time. I gave her rules, and it worked out nicely.

Does your daughter have bed-time rules? It sounds to me like you need to move her bedtime earlier. She shouldn't 'be going to bed past 8pm. She should still be getting 11-12 hours a night, so put her to bed 12 hours before she needs to get up. Get a new routine going, and explain to her the rules of bedtime: you are not allowed out of the bed unless you have to use the bathroom! Bed-time is for sleeping, sleep is necessary to go into a healthy big girl, etc. Then leave the room.

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V.S.

answers from Flagstaff on

She may actually need more sleep. Put her to bed earlier and turn out the light. If she gets up put her back without talking to her. nothing to play with in the bed. After a few nights of being put back, she should get the idea. She is probably getting more sleep than you realize. If you are working how do you know she isn't napping while you are gone? Also, if you go to bed after she stops screaming, she is probably sleeping some of the time.

P.M.

answers from Honolulu on

Wow, this is definitely something you should take to her pediatrician as soon as possible. Lack of sleep can be so damaging to little bodies and minds. Two hours sleep for a child that age is not normal. I would see another doctor. Good luck!

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