Nearly 1, doesn't sleep through, anyone else??

[JE's Mum]

I just wanted to know if I am the only one who has a one year old who does not sleep through the night. Whenever I chat to other mothers it seems like I am the only one! Like many young babies my DS slept through from around 10 weeks and started to wake again at about 4.5 months when he found the world far too interesting to concentrate on his breastfeeds during the day so I reintroduced the middle of the night feed to make sure he was eating enough. I stopped breastfeeding him at night some time ago now but he has never consistently slept through since 4.5 months.

I have friends who switched to formula when their babies started waking again and their babies continued to sleep soundly, so I have heard all of the "I don't know how you do it" and "I couldn't survive without sleep" comments. At times it makes me feel like I have been a mug continuing with breastfeeding and sleep deprivation but we had so much trouble getting breastfeeding started I haven't wanted to wean until now (I'm going back to work soon).

My DS has always been a healthy happy chappy, very alert and active (he has just taken his first steps), but sleeping has never been one of his strong points. He goes to sleep fairly easily, naps well and has a good routine but he just won't stay asleep at night.

I feel like such a zombie, I don't know how I'm going to cope back at work but I really don't know what to do about it. If I think about it, I know he has been improving (putting together some 5 hour stints) but it always feels like 2 steps forward, 1 step back. Control crying isn't an option because he gets way too distressed.

Is anyone else suffering at this age?

[Tea Lady]

Hmmmmm my 13 month old has been up every night for ages :( . She's getting heaps of teeth though, so I'm hoping she'll sleep longer again when they're through. I really struggle getting through the day too though. Fun isn't it? :)

[Sarie]

I find the boys sleep patterns change when they're teething or having a growth spurt. Though we've been pretty lucky they've both continued to sleep through the night, it's normally day time naps that get thrown out the window. Though my nearly 3 year old was up most of the night after having a nightmare on sunday night.

[jarrahsmumma]

This is not going to be what you want to hear, lol, but it sounds normal to me. Lots of people I know still get up to their babies at one, 18 months, two even. Children who are not sleep trained can do this, as it really is normal for them to do. If he is waking throught he night, he obviously has a need to be met.
Can I ask what time he goes to bed and what time he is up in the morning?

[BJelly]

My bub mostly gets up 2-3 times a night, and sometimes she'll sleep through.

[JE's Mum]

He is usually asleep at about 7:30pm and will wake once or twice before midnight. On a very good night he might do a 5 hour stretch from around 11pm to 4 or 5am when I feed him. But most nights he wakes at around 3am at which point I bring him into bed until I feed him at 5am. He will sleep pretty soundly after the morning feed until around 7-7:30am when we get up for breakfast.

He is definitely worse when he's getting teeth. He will usually add a 1am wake up as well! :eek: I know his molars are bothering him on and off at the moment but I can't blame them for his ongoing sleep habits. I think he just hates being alone! That's fair enough, the really hard part is when he has those nights when he wants to stay awake for a couple of hours! Luckily that doesn't happen too often but I don't know how I'll get up for work when it does!! Urghhhh...

[kimmy]

My lil girl is almost 1 yr & she has never slept thro lol, i can not wait until she does finally sleep thro. ;) :D

[jarrahsmumma]

Aahh! So not even going to bed that early! :banghead: I know I preach this to everyone, but check out Dr Sears website, and Elizabeth Pantleys' book, "The No Cry Sleep Solution". It may offer you some fresh ideas without resorting to CC:devil6: Good luck.

[JE's Mum]

Once he goes to bed at about 7-7:30 he doesn't come back out of his room again so he definitely knows its bedtime. If we wakes during the evening we go in and resettle him which usually takes about 5 mins. I have read most of the Dr Sears website which gave me some solice in knowing that he is 'normal', just at the very wakeful end of the scale. I have Elizabeth Pantly's book too!

I am glad to hear there are others out there.

[Starlet]

I don't think I can help, but DS2 is 2 and still wakes up during the night!! Ugh.

I don't know why, DS1 sleeps soundly. Weird.

[stoked2be-a-ma]

I have the same problem with my bubs. He has been teething so Its probley why he is waking 3 - 4 times a night but he wont settle without a feed. I too am breast feeding and went through hell trying to get it right so I am not going to try a bottle either. He sleeps in our bed which makes it easier but I know its going to be hard to get him out and I still find I have to be alert to feed. He has much the same routine as you mentioned but we sleep an extra hour in the morning sometimes two and it does make a wonderful difference for both of us. My health nurse told me its a habit and it would be easy to get him out of it but trust me I know its hard. I had a sleep specialist over to help out a bit but still no change so I guess he will sleep through when hes good and ready, I hope ypur bubs will surprise you before you go back to work. Good luck

[JE's Mum]

Well I think the molars are definitely on the way. Last night he woke at 10pm and wouldn't go back to sleep until 1:30am! He was beside himself, screaming on and off and couldn't keep his fingers out of his mouth. We're both exhausted today. Thank god Mum is over this morning - I'm going back to bed!!:sleeping:

[lil monkey]

This thread is so me!!!! we get one sleep through per week.

Darn teeth seem to be the cause but then other nights she just wants the comfort of lying between us!

I am hanging out for when it happens consistently again - i have been back at work for several months and am like a zombie.

[Jasper]

My 7 mth old DD still wakes once a night ( although she seems to be teething at the mo and has been waking at 2am and sometimes not re-settling till 4am!) Yes...the sleep deprivation can drive you nuts. I'm so glad to hear from other mums that my DD is not the only one still waking...it makes me feel "normal". Hang in there ;)

[JanetF]

Perfectly normal. My son woke every 2 hours for a breastfeed until he was 10 months and then he would usually sleep about 4 hours then wake twice more for boob before we got up. What saved me? Cosleeping!!!! If he wasn't in the bed with me I'd have died of sleep exhaustion. I've never had to get out of bed to him because he's always been right next to me. Whip out boob, stick baby on boob, both go back to sleep. I barely woke up. A nanna nap in the day when he does is essential while you're catching up, and a sleep in on the days when DP is home is compulsory :) My son is over 2 now and I night weaned him in November when I achieved a pregnancy. He now sleeps all night next to me :) except I have to get up and wee ;) You can feed a baby what they need and stay sane, really you can. I hope it gets better for you.

[MariaO]

My little one slept through for a very brief period between 3 and 6 months. She now wakes at least once a night usually. Hopefully she will sleep through the night before she starts school!

[JE's Mum]

Jack usually starts the night in his own cot in his room but at some stage during the night he ends up in bed with us. It's the only way we have been able to cope. He's always been a very cuddly baby and I guess he never liked sleeping alone. We never intended to have him sleep with us but we're pretty pragmatic about it. You just have to do what you can to get some sleep!:sleeping:

I don't see how it's physically possible to get out of bed every couple of hours, night after night. I find it hard to believe that anyone is capable of doing it. I'm only capable of getting up once in the middle of the night before I say "bugger it, you're coming in with us"!:)

[Jem]

Ahh The joys of motherhood.. :p
DS1 is 2 and he wakes about 3 times during the night (still) for a milk bottle, which is ok for me because DP is the one getting up to him :-)
DS2 wakes a few times a night also, although its a bit easier with him as i co sleep and i am breastfeeding, so he settles easily :)
DD was a bad sleeper too. Im just so used to it now, and it musnt be affecting me too much because TTC number 4 is on my mind :rolleyes:

[mummy22]

dont worry your not on you own!:banghead: