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18 month sleep regression gone to a new and terrible phase...

4 replies

festivalwidow · 26/10/2011 12:50

DD has never been a good sleeper, and I think we hit the 18 month sleep regression about 6 weeks ago when she went from sleeping through from 8:15 - 6ish to waking up once or twice in the night. She goes to bed without too much trouble (has actually been asking to do so herself) but can't seem to settle herself if she wakes at night.

Up to now we'd been sitting in the room while she went back to sleep- no interaction, just company - since the waking seemed to be linked to nightmares. If we don't go in she screams until hysterical, if there's someone in the room she seems happy enough.

And then.... Last night she woke up when we were about to go to bed and wouldn't settle at all; tried to climb out of the cot and raced around when she eventually succeeded. I ended up bringing her downstairs to try and settle her with a story but she ended up giggling and running around as if she'd eaten a whole pack of Haribos. After a while I gave in, put her to bed and left her with a 'Night night, time to sleep' - which resulted in two solid hours of screaming to wake the dead. Tried PUPD which basically meant contented silence when picked up and bloodcurdling screams when put down. Tried Calpol in case of teeth which didn't work.

Sorry this is so long, just wondered if anyone else had been through this and if it is just a phase? I can't survive on two hours' sleep for much longer, and work FT outside the home so can't sleep when she does either!

OP posts:
bozemum · 26/10/2011 18:39

Am going through something similar with our 2 year old. Was up in the night with him for a few hours the other night watching telly. Then gave him bottle of milk which zonked him out. Can you resort to bottles to calm her down?
I haven't much advice really just sympathy as we are going through similar!

Zeeky · 30/10/2011 08:20

We're going through it the mo too. DS2 always been a good sleeper but whenever teething he goes through a phase of waking multiple times a night - some nights every half hour! Previously the phases have lasted a week or two until the tooth has come through & then he goes back to sleeping from 7pm to 7am. However the latest phase has been going on for weeks! So far 2 molars have come through & a couple of incisors (I think that's what they're called!). As well as the multiple wakings he is also ready to get up at 5am every day - 4am today due to hour change!!! It's horrific! The last two days we have tried letting him cry but he just screams for 2 hours solid until me or DH gets up & he has inevitably woken up poor DS1. Once he's up, he's happy as larry and shows no signs of his teeth bothering him which then makes me doubt that it is teething causing the sleep probs . He was on the cusp of dropping his morning nap before this all started, but now he's getting up so early he is desperate for a nap by 8am & then has another after lunch. Some days if we are out for the day then he doesn't have his afternoon nap but it makes no difference on his night sleep & early waking.

DH starts new job tomorrow & will be away mon-fri which I am dreading as I will have to cope with night shift on my own as well as getting DS1 off to school the next morning :(

Zeeky · 30/10/2011 08:21

Should have said he has just turned 18mthd

mammaaintraisinnofool · 01/11/2011 21:30

You all have my sympathies. my 2yr old was previously a good sleeper in that he slept through from 7:45pm -6:30/7am. Then got virus a few weeks ago so ended up sleeping with us. Now he is well but teething AGAIN - and keeps waking up 3-4 times a night. feels like we have gone backwards with this. Am really bad at letting him cry and end up cuddling him asleep and co-sleeping if all else fails. Please tell me this is just a phase! My brain is not working and really don't feel on the ball when at work :(

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