DS goes to sleep on his own for naps and bedtime but still wakes constantly at night- Why?

[kbaby]

Help please!

DS is 7 months next week and ive managed to get him to go in hsi cot for nap time and bedtime awake and then I just stand theres sshing etc until hes asleep(takes 5 mins)

The problem is he will wake at 11pm or 2am and not want to go back to sleep. Ive traied feeding him but hes not hungry so I just left him in his cot and did all the same things I do at bedtime ie shhing but after 40 mins he still doesnt settle. The minute I pick him up then he will go to sleep(well mostly sometimes he wants to play) If I get him to sleep and lay him down he will then wake up approx 15 mins later. In the end I get so fed up with being awake that he comes to bed with me and sleeps.

I cant work out why he is waking at night and why he wont settle as he can do it at bedtime.

Any ideas or cures?

[cruisemum1]

kbaby - your lo knows what he wants!

[Laurenypops]

Hi Kbaby! My dd is also nearly 7 months and has slept through the night for a long time, but the last couple of nights has done as you've described. Is your ds teething? Dd got her first tooth through last weekend, and the second one is visible under the skin, and so I'm assuming that's what's waking her, and the reason she settles in my arms is just comfort and distraction. Has he always done this, and does he cry when he wakes?

[cruisemum1]

my ds has recently started waking up for 2 hrs+ at night. no help for you i know but i will watch this thread for help!

[kbaby]

Cruisemum- We both follow each other on the sleep threads

I wish it was teething as then there may be an end in sight but I cant see any teeth. He cries when he wakes up and really screams the place down, I cant even settle him in his cot.

Hes always been a funny sleeper but all the books say that nightime wakers wake because they expect certain conditions to be the same as when they fall asleep which was why ive perservered so much with getting him down on his own. The books are lying though as hes still waking even though he sleeps on his own!

[Laurenypops]

Well that's my ideas exhausted! If he sleeps when put in your bed, and when you pick him up, presumably it's a comfort thing. Could you put something that smells of you in the cot? Or is it a lot darker in his room at night, and so when he's stirring he's very aware of being alone? Not sure what to suggest, it's like the blind leading the blind.

[funnypeculiar]

don't know the answer, but just to completely put the feear of god into you, ds was like this, and didn't sleep through til 18mths. And still (at 3) often wakes in the night.

Dd (11mths) has always settled like an angel (from 6 weeks) but wakes up at 4/4.30 desparate for cuddles - she comes into bed with me and goes straight to sleep (much less hassle than our approach with ds which was to keep him in his cot and ssshhh' him (exactly as you're doing !) - ds could easily stay awake for 1-2 hours with us collapsing by the side of his cot - twas hellish - you have my sympathy!

[liquidclocks]

kbaby - I wish there was a magic answer for you! (Id make a fortune! )

There are a few things that've worked with my boys. Both DS1 and DS2 have had something to snuggle at night - for both of them it's been as simple as tying a muslin to the shoulder of their gro-bags. It took 3-4 nights for them to settle with it but I'd spent the week previous giving it to them when they grizzled and at nap times too.

Also with DS2 we noticed that he didn't like pitch balack as certain books advocate, so we leave the landing light on and his door ajar, he sleeps much better like that.

Is there anything else that could be waking him? Loose covers, eczema, a neighbour setting off for a night shift? - DS1 always used to wake in the night more at the weekends, we eventually figured out it was the students next door making noise.

[cruisemum1]

my ds did sleep thru by 12 weeks (8 - 10 hrs)but not since apart from rare night here and there

[fizzbuzz]

My dd is being a pain at night. Wakes up all the time from 3.30am onwards.

Taking her in with us doesn't help, as she spent 20 minutes trying to pull my eyes out giggling hysterically all the time.

She seems to just want to play........

Calpol seems to help, but not enough. So I also would like to know why they wake up at night for no visible reason.

[kbaby]

Laurenpops- Thanks Ill have to try that. I did start doing it but had forgotten about it lately.
Funny- He used to wake at 2 for a feed but settle straight down and then wake at 4 which at that point I used to bring him into bed as by then I got fed up of being up and just wanted some sleep but now he wakes at 1/2am and just wont settle so he comes into bed, it seems to be getting earlier and earlier. I wouldnt mind so much if I could sleep while hes there but im so petrified of sqashing him and making sure the covers arent on him I just doze.

Oh and btw if my mum minds him he sleeps through or wakes ones for a feed and goes back down WTF!! Ive even made her keep a record of the room temp and everything to see why he sleeps.

[ruth2007]

Hi guys Have you considered separation axiety could be setting in at 7 months? My DD is not quite as old so have not been through it yet but have just been reading about it. This might not help solve the problem but if that is the cause at least you know why - I find it easier to cope with sleepless nights if I know why she is unsettled (teething, a cold, mad Grandfather winding her up before bed etc .
HTH

[deaconblue]

Has he got his top teeth yet? Ds was in pain for about 6 weeks and woke up most nights at least once and would take ages to go back to sleep. When the teeth finally broke through he almost instantly started sleeping through again. ~so although there's no sign of teeth, they might be giving him trouble