To ask you about 18 month sleep regression

[miggeldysthepres]

Hello. Out of my mind through lack of sleep. Please tell me your stories of 18 month sleep regression and how you got through it. Did anyone do sleep training and did it work? Dd at 17 months started to refuse naps at home , nursery fine. Sleep progressively becoming worse, started waking several times a night (breast fed) and now taking an hour to get to sleep at bedtime, and waking around 1 and refusing to go back to sleep. Sometimes crying, sometimes chatting. Screaming as we speak. Normally sleeps in own room
. Co sleeping not working as gallops round bed beating us up. Some success with travel cot beside our bed where she can see us. Doesn't work more often than not. Tried sleep training at 7 months which was a major success. Don't know if can do same again? Seems to be a different reason behind it this time, as at 7 months had got too used to being rocked then couldn't get herself back asleep without it. Please help.

Anyone, please?

We are still trying to regain normality 2 months later. My son was sleeping through most nights but now wakes every night. We bring him into bed with us and he sleeps happily for the rest of the night but we can't get him to stay in his cot all night anymore. He isn't giving us too much grief when he comes in with us so we are kinda just riding it out. Can't really advise on sleep training as I would personally not consider it until he is a bit older and knows whats going on.

Hang in there!

Thank you so.much for replying. I gasped at first as I misread it as 2 years later

sympathies, similar here at 16 months when dd started crying and refusing to go to sleep at bedtime and waking up stupidly early.

lots of hugs and reassurance in the daytime and longer bedtime with stories and more cuddles, also introduced gro clock (from big sis) and v firm bedtime is bedtime. crying and asking for more cuddles for about a week but fine now

Early mornings are killing me though. waking any time from 5 instead of 6.30 and shouting get down. leaving for up to 30 mins depending on winge level and taking downstairs but keeping everything boring and quiet til 'morning' 6.15 atm 😴

No advice from me sorry, but could have written this myself so I'm hoping someone with experience will come along soon!

I really sympathise! We are (hopefully) just coming out of it. Like you, co-sleeping didn't work for us, at this age it is all to do with testing boundaries, so taking her into our bed made her feel like she's 'won' and got her over excited!

It's a phase, it will pass. What seemed to help for us

• a simple, very consistent bedtime routine - not engaging too much in the night (not picking her up unless hysterical, patting her mattress, encouraging her to lie down herself, patting/stroking her to calm her down but not to sleep
• lots of cuddles at bedtime, telling her we love her even when we're not in the room etc
• comforters/soft toys

But honestly, she's just started being tired again at bedtime and wanting her bed again, like she did before. I would say just try not to get into any habits you don't want to become permanent and grab sleep when you can.

It's so, so hard but you can and will get through it!

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply, even those just sympathizing it helps to think it's not just us struggling through it xx