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20 mo DS constant night waking

1 reply

juliec26 · 11/09/2012 23:08

MY 20mt DS has never slept through the night - He has always woken around 10pm and then again around 3pm - I used to be able to give him a few oz of water and he would go back to sleep, but in the last 3 weeks, which has coincided with him walking he wakes up to 5 times a night and so far have only been able to settle him with milk. The trouble i have is that he shares with my DD 6 who is at school so controlled crying is not an option as cannot have her sleep disturbed as unfair - I took him to the dc this morning to rule out ears or any other illness and she says he is fine and that perhaps night terrors (i dont think this is the case) I dont think he is teething as i can usually tell - he is a very happy little boy in the day, but I just have no idea what to do as giving him milk every time he wakes is just silly - I feel i have a newborn again, well worse as he throws his bottle at me if i dare give him water :( - any ideas on why he is waking? he has a bedtime routine and bath time is kept to no more than 5 mins - no day time sleep past 3pm and bed at 630pm ... tried putting him to bed later, but made him worse! - I work and both me and DP are shattered!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
BabiesNeedInstructions · 12/09/2012 15:07

I havent been through this but have a ds the same age and thought you needed a response. They really shouldnt need milk or even water at night unless it's really hot etc. Just my view but your options are either carry on giving him what he asks for (doesnt sound very attractive) or go cold turkey. I know you say he shares with your older dc - could you temporarily move him somewhere else and play hardball for a bit until he realises you mean business? At this age they are very quick to try it on so it will probably take a week or more of you refusing to give in, but short of waiting for years for him to grow out of it that might be the only thing that works.

Sorry if that sounds like a harsh reply, but I'm a firm believer in kids benefitting from a proper night's sleep, and presumably you wouldnt give him milk every time he chanced his arm to ask for it in the day.

Good luck!

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