1 year old not settling and waking at night

[Madallie]

dd used to be bad sleeper, got better although has periods of not being so good. However last couple of weeks have been worse. Sometimes sleeping through but taking ages to settle at night. Soemtimes waking in the night and some nights waking and not settling for 2 or more hours.

I know it could be teething, although can't see/feel teeth. Don't think it's separation anxiety as she doesn't mind going to others and doesn't cry when I leave her.

Last night was not good bed 6.45, cried 8.30 and 9.30 although re settled quickly be herself, 10.30- 1am - she was awake with a mix of crying, chatting, moaning, banging her legs, sitting up occassionaly, I gave Calpol about 10.45pm in case of teeth but didn't seem to work. Woke, cried and sat up again at 2.30pm, I went in laid her down and she resettled herslef quickly then up for the day at 6.30am. I am shattered!

Could it be a phase? Anyone had experience of this. She chats and babbles a lot, says hello, mumumum, dadadad and is very strong willed (knows what she wants/doesn't want). She cannot easily be persuaded! She has started move around more (her own version of a bit of crwaling, commando style moves and rolling!) Could these things be related?

[beela]

Everything is a phase!

Is she warm enough? Nights have got colder recently.

How many naps is she having in the daytime? My DS was having 2 per day, but dropped down to one at around 12-13 months.

Or it could be that she is learning lots of new things and her brain is working overtime.

Or any combination of all or none of the above!

Hope you get it resolved soon.

[Madallie]

You're right beela it probably is all/none of the above depending in the day or night she's having. Guess I'm just looking for reassurance that I will be able to sleep at night again soon.

Hopefully we'll be back on track soon.

She has 2 naps per day. Usually approx an hour each at 10 and 2.30, although she is not great at going down in pm, even though she is tired. I've even tried earlier nap in case she in OT but doesn't seem to help.

Think I'll put this phase down to teething and her mind be so active right now. It certainly is when she's up and about. She doesn't stop for a second or sit still. I guess that burns some kids out so they crash out and sleep well but for others their minds cannot switch off.

Thanks for reply.

[IceBergJam]

Am watching. DD same age exactly the same. For a month she slept really well but its just gone back to what she was.

I go back to work in January so starting to panic.

[Madallie]

IceBerg, it's frustrating isn't it. Are you back to work FT. I feel like I spend so long trying to organise nap times, bed times, wodering whether I've put her down too late, too early, she's slept too long, too short because I've read so much stuff about the perils of a baby/toddle being OT. Hers sleep is running my life at the moment, in terms of how much I worry about it.

We still do lots of fun stuff and she is very happy, smiley etc (when not ill/teething). It's just me that feels rubbish about it. I hear all these other mum's who have brilliant routines like 7am wake, 9.30-10.30 - nap 1-3 nap 7 bed and I can't get where I keep going 'wrong'.

What's a typical day like for you? If you don't mind me asking!

[nickelbabylyinginamanger]

at her having 2 1hour naps!
DD has spent her entire first year surviving on little or no sleep - she hardly ever naps and when she does, it's 20 mins maximum!

[nickelbabylyinginamanger]

anyway, to your problem.

DD has also shortened sleep at night - she seems to be awake from 10 ish until gone midnight and very lively indeed (like playtime)

it's just growing - apparently life is too exciting for sleep..

[Madallie]

True nickel I should be grateful for those, although they can be shorter too! 20mins is not good I agree!

I guess like you say, there's too much going on to sleep. I guess it's just easy to feel like you're not doing something right when you hear about other babies who seemingly sleep perfectly every night (big pinch of salt needed I think!)

Is DD your only child or do you have others too?

[IceBergJam]

I struggle to get DD to nap.

Around 0530-0600 milk.
Lay in till 0730-0800.
Breakfast 0830
Then playing / walk / visiting. She may or may not nap . If does on morning then its about 40 mins and no more that day.
Lunch 1230
Afternoon actvity. If been fighting nap then gets tired around 1530 and she may just crash out. Maybe walk dog in rucksac.
Dinner 1730-180
Play with dad and older brothers (my DSSs)
Bath 1900
Bed anywhere between 1930-2100 depending on whethed she will go down !
Milk around 2200 - 2300.
Awakes generally every one and a half to two hours till morning milk. Sometimes unseattled for a few hours.

I have no energy. Sometimes im resorting to the TV!

I go back to condenced hours. 40 hours in four days.

She doesnt eat much either.

No idea what to do either.

[IceBergJam]

Ignore the mistakes!

[IceBergJam]

And all my real life friends babies sleep through.

[nickelbabylyinginamanger]

she's my only child.
thankfully.
i don't think i could function on this little sleep with others too!

we don't have a proper structure to our day. we get up at 1/4 to 9 (but for DD this depends how much she slept - if she is still asleep i let her sleep)
we go to work at 1/4 to 10 and that's the day then.
snack
she'll feed at 11ish and that's nap 1.
then we'll do stuff or she'll entertain herself. nap 2 should be now, after another feed, but sometimes she wakes up straight afterwards (so far so good - she's still feeding though)
we have lunch between 2 and 3, followed by the feed.
then home at 5:30ish.
dinner and play then feeding till bedtime.
she comes to bed with us, so 10o'clock ish (although she's been dreamfeeding for about 2 hours before then)

i suppose most people put babies to bed at 7ish and then feed upon waking in the night, buit DD sleeps later in the morning so it evens out.