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20 months started night waking

2 replies

Marsaday · 15/09/2015 07:52

Hi all, my boy is 20 months and for the last 7 weeks has been waking at night crying and needs us to resettle him. Sometimes takes an hour, but often up to two. If left, he cries. Sometimes this happens just twice in a week, sometimes every night.
He has had canines coming through, but could this really be responsible for 7 weeks of wakings? He wakes even if he's had calpol / ibuprofen / teething powder. Could it be yet another sleep regression?
I am 20 weeks pregnant and struggling to sleep as it is between back pain and insomnia so this is really not great timing.

I'm wondering if we will have to do controlled crying again. I don't think he goes back to sleep any quicker for us being there, in fact I think it's probably slower because he wants to interact and play. I don't think there is anything actually wrong with him as he stops crying the second we open the door, so it does seem to be just "hello I'm awake and I want someone to play with".

Background: He has slept through since 11 months. His sleep was awful prior to that, we tried all the gentle methods, but total fail. We ended up doing controlled crying in desperation as I was existing on about 3 hours sleep per night and back to work 2 weeks later. It worked like a charm, slept through after 2 nights and has done ever since unless ill. I still feel horrible that i had to do it though.

Any advice anyone? Last night was particularly awful, I've been up since 2.15 am on 3 hours sleep and rather at my wits end this morning.

OP posts:
BeeBee86 · 15/09/2015 08:38

Being up at the crack of dawn, or at 2 hourly intervals and unable to think about anything other than sleep - yes l've been there and really empathise with what you've written.
My daughter was 20 months old when she suddenly started to wake up at night. I had just had another baby so assumed it was the baby waking her up. It took me quite a while to realise it was because l had put her into a cot bed (so the baby could have the cot) and had given her a duvet which was coming off during the night and she was cold. My mother in law bought her a dog toddler Snuggle Sac which she loved. It even has a tail so she can drag it with her when she goes to stay with her. It is like a grown up sleeping bag (she hates baby sleeping bags now) and solved all our waking up at night problems. I have no idea if this will help or not - but anything is worth a try. I think they have lots of designs and the small ones are specially for toddlers from 1 - 3 years. She told me they are recommended by a sleep expert too. I'm not surprised as they do work!

Marsaday · 15/09/2015 11:12

I'm pretty sure he's not cold - his room is the warmest in the house and stays above 20 overnight, plus he's in a onesie and a sleeping bag so not coming uncovered.
If only it were that simple!

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