10 month old up for 1-2 hours in middle of night

[User24689]

Hi all, DS has never been a great sleeper but recently (past 2 weeks or so) has developed an exhausting new habit of waking at about 2am (varies between about 1.30 and 2.30) and remaining awake for up to 2 hours. This is every night. He is happy during this time, I feed him and he will not go back to sleep. He just wants to get up and play. I have been keeping the lights off and cuddling him, rocking him, breastfeeding him again - trying anything until he eventually drops off . I have taken the approach of keeping bedroom light off and not speaking to him, just comforting him so that he gets the message it's night time but part of me wonders if it would be easier to just accept it and get him up for a couple of hours to play.

He will then sleep until about 6.30 - he would probably sleep longer but my 3yo wakes up at 6.30 and always wakes him up!

He also wakes at midnight for a feed but goes straight back to sleep so although we only have the 2 wake ups this is way more tiring than when we were doing 4-5 wake ups because I'm awake for this portion of the night when I've just got into a proper sleep.

We are in the middle of wonder week leap 7, not sure if that has any bearing on this or whether wonder weeks really mean anything!!

Does anyone have any tips on how to deal with this or is this something to just ride out? He is close to walking, so wondering if it is maybe developmental?

Also, I've just read that 10 month Olds sleep an average of 14hrs in 24 with 11-12 at night. DS does 11, very occasionally 12 in 24hrs. He usually only naps for 2 half hour naps and if he sleeps for an hour in the morning he will not go down again in the afternoon.

He is really clingy at the moment, just wants the boob all the time. I'm wondering if he's overtired but HOW can I get him to sleep more 😞

Feel like I must be getting something really wrong

Hi, I’m sorry I don’t have any answers but just wanted to say you’re not alone as I could have written this post! My 10 month old has just got over a terrible cold which came at the same time as her learning to stand up in the cot... now the minute she wakes she is on her feet and stands screaming until I go to her. It’s every couple of hours sometimes for two hours as every time she goes back to sleep and I lower her in to the cot her eyes spring open and we repeat the last half an hour 😫 also 3 year old wakes at half six, sometimes I have only just got baby back down... I’m exhausted as have the cold myself now but don’t know how you’re coping being pregnant too, that’s hard enough in itself xx

What’s wonder week 7 by the way? Excuse the naivety x

Also, is your little one able to self settle or do they feed to sleep? I have to feed mine to a deep sleep every time, I’m sure I have created a negative sleep association but I’m too tired to tackle it just now...🙈

Mine did that for a bit. I had a nest of as many blankets and old duvets i could find in the house, and would doze on his floor, with my fingers through the cot bars. It stopped (eventually). He still sleeps less than the average for his age.

Thanks for your replies guys. SSRainbow solidarity! Good to know I'm not alone at least. Yes, often it feels like I've just closed my eyes and the 3 yr old is crawling into bed with me! I'm actually not pregnant, you might be mixing me up with someone else or I might have misled you in my sleep deprived ramble!

I feed to sleep - he has to go into the cot asleep. I've tried drowsy but awake but he won't have it, never has. My DD always went down awake, I never 'trained' her and I'm inclined to think some babies just don't develop that ability until they are much older, and others develop it early (like crawling, walking etc? Just a theory!) He will now self settle during the night on some wakeups, so I give him a minute and he either rolls over and goes back to sleep or just escalates.

I like the pillow nest idea but DS really cries to get out of the cot. I might try putting toys in there though and see if that makes a difference!

Oh wonder weeks is a book - the theory is that all babies go through cognitive 'leaps' at similar times and it affects behaviour. There is an app that you can download and it tells you when the 'wonder weeks' are coming and what they might be learning. I have actually found it surprisingly accurate.

I'd be interested to hear what happened @upthewolves and if anything was helpful. We are in the same boat, feed to sleep, leap 7, 2 hour middle of the night wake ups. Thanks so much.

Hi @babumonkey! Yes, we did get through it and I can't say it was as a result of anything we did. He is just 11 months this week and we are out of that leap. Now we are back to just 2 feeds and back to sleep most nights. So much easier!