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18 Mo Old No Longer Sleeping Thru Night
Up until about 3 weeks ago, our 18 mo old daughter would go to bed no later than 9pm and wake up between 7:30am and 9am. Now she is waking up about every few hours crying/screaming and seldmonly unable to get herself back to sleep. We've tried everything from soothing her back to sleep in her own bed, propped up the head of her bed (she had a cold/teething at the beginning), orajel/tylenol, laying with her until she fell asleep, putting a heater in her room, trying a nightlight, and finally last night at 4am she came in and crawled in our bed - which is not a normal occurance in our home. We even tried to switch her to a toddler bed for various reasons, and it seemed to work for few nights - her waking kept decreasing until we were down until just once. And then it was back to every few hours. We are EXHAUSTED and so frustrated because nothing seems to be working. Normally if she would get off of her normal sleep schedule, she would always get back to it within a few days - a wk tops. If anyone has any suggestions I'd really appreciate. I am looking for ideas, other than CIO - it's just not for our family. We've tried it and it just does not work and honestly it's too difficult/heart breaking to hear your child cry for you because they are tired/scared/etc.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jen, Mom365 Host on -
It could be a phase. My daughter is around that age and her sleep is awful right now because she is just about to have her canines cut through. Is your daughter teething?
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Permalink Reply by lindsmcnierney on -
Her last canine has been coming in for awhile now. The other 3 were pretty basic - sore, but not horrible. She's not getting her 2 yr molars that I can see...or feel, and when I put a decent amount if pressure on her gums she doesn't even flinch...
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Permalink Reply by Ashli Rae on -
Wish I could help you or give you magical advice. I just want to say, we are going through something similar. Our son has been sleeping wonderfully for over a year. He just turned two. He is now crying every time we lay him down and don't stay in the room with him ): We too are exhausted and frustrated. Thus, I'm just giving you *hugs* and hoping it passes for the both of us, quickly!
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Permalink Reply by lindsmcnierney on
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Thank you Ashli - *hugs* to you guys, as well. I made her a dr appt for tomorrow morning in hopes that they can give me some direction, because I have no idea what else to try. Ear infections have been going around in her daycare that she is at part time during the wk, so maybe since her appt a few wks ago she's gotten that on top of teething and a cold. We shall see. I've been bringing her into our bed these last 3 nights, just so we can all get some sleep. I didn't really want to do it, but it was a few nights of sleep or becoming a complete zombie. I even bought myself a growler of coffee from a local coffee house, so I can make my own iced lattes. At least something goods come out of this! =) Hopefully we will all be getting some good, quality sleep in the very near future!
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Permalink Reply by susie willey on -
I would bet it's teething. Wait until that last canine breaks through and she will probably start sleeping better. Both my girls had a hard time with the canines and they do take a while. Also, try Googling 18 month sleep regression and you will probably find a whole slew of things because it's so common at this age.
She will probably go through another phase of sleep issues around 24 months. Hang in there. It will pass just as soon as it started and she will be back to sleeping again.
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Permalink Reply by jimladeana on -
My two older children had a bout with night terrors (baby nightmares). It was a phase. I know that this doesn't help you with what you are going through now, but know that there is an end. If nothing is medically wrong, and your LO isn't teething... just hang in there. Quietly put them back in bed and give loves to calm and sooth them. Hold thier hand until they fall back to sleep and quietly slip out. Good luck and I hope all is well at her Dr. appt.
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Permalink Reply by lindsmcnierney on
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Everything at her appt was completely normal. Even though tonight marks 4 wks of really crappy sleep, I've come to the conclusion that I need to stop beating myself up over this. I'm chalking it up to the ruthless 18 mo sleep regression. And with that, try to remind myself that this too shall pass...and we will all survive. Even if it is purely off of caffeine, going to bed much earlier than normal and taking naps when she does. :D
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Permalink Reply by mrsjrussell804 on -
My husband and I started dealing with the same issue around 18 months as well. Our son is 21 months old now and it still happens. He has been cutting his canines and two of them are almost completely grown in so he wakes less often now. But it's still every night. The bottom canines look like they may be on there way through because the gums look a little swollen/bruised. God bless you and I pray this ends soon for you and me both. :-)
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Permalink Reply by mrsjrussell804 on
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Well, we started thinking that he was scared of the crib, maybe feeling tightly enclosed because he's over 3 feet tall. So we tested him out on an air mattress. The middle of the night cry-outs decreased to about twice a night instead of 3 or 4 times a night. After 2 weeks of the air mattress, we bought him a twin bed and put up bedrails. Last night was the 2nd night in his twin and he has not cried out. Maybe a little talking in his sleep and some whining but nothing worth me getting out of my bed for. Praise God!
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Permalink Reply by lindsmcnierney on
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That is awesome! I'm so happy you are finally getting some sleep - it's definitely needed by everyone I am sure! We are currently on a rollercoaster of good sleeping and bad sleeping nights in our home. We also switched our daughter to a toddler bed and she absolutely loves it. I think part of her problem is that she suddenly has gotten very picky on how wet her diaper can be. She used to be able to sleep through the night and then get up and just go, go, go without having her diaper bother her. Please know I did not let her run around with a wet diaper, I'm just saying that wet/dirty diapers never used to bother her. But now she is coming in our room at about 5am almost every morning, so we can change her diaper and then she'll usually go back to bed for awhile. So a blessing in disguise maybe? We're also on day 3 of no pacifier, so I know that that is not helping - but I figured I may as well get that done and over with, while we are used to the no sleeping, right!? Either way, I'm truly happy that things in your home are progressing in the right direction...and until we are back to sleeping completely through the night in our house...enjoy the extra sleep for me please!
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Permalink Reply by mrsjrussell804 on
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I am definitely enjoying the extra sleep. I hope it gets better for you soon. My son loves sleeping in his big boy (twin) bed with his Thomas & Friends sheets and pjs. Try using her favorite character sheets. As soon as he sees his bed he wants to get in and lay down.
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Permalink Reply by Jane on -
Just reading all this because I have a 21mo. old who uses a pacifier and has been a bad sleeper lately..Not sure about her teething, doesn't seem like that is a problem, but I'm curious as to whether anyone has suggestions for me regarding her attachment issues. When she doesn't want to fall asleep or wakes up in the middle of the night, it isn't even that she needs me to hold her, she just wants me to sit on the floor or lay down on the floor near her bed and it is KILLING ME.
Also--- any tips on breaking the pacifier habit??
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