My 10 month old is very restless at night while he sleeps

[jogodan]

My little boy is just over 10 months and has never really slept through the night. He averages 5hrs before waking up for a drink. Lately he starting moving all around his cot and for most of the night. He won't lie in the same position for too long, he lifts his legs and thuds them down on his mattress, throws his arms around and rolls over onto his front. He's asleep all through this and i'm really worried he hurts himself on the bars. I know a cot bumper would help but don't quite understand why this has started happening. My husband and I barely sleep listening to him move around and get out of bed to check on him. Can anyone offer any advice?

It sounds like your son is quite normal.
The phrase 'sleeping like a baby' is completely inaccurate.
Most babies move a lot and wake up quite regularly through the night, even if only for short periods.
The fact that he still wakes for a drink is quite normal too.

Don't worry, he probably isn't hurting himself on the bars, though you can use a cot bumper if it makes you feel better. Just make sure he can't get tangled up in it.

Do you sleep in the same room or are you disturbed by listening to him through a monitor?
If you're in the same room, would it do you all good to try separate rooms? Many babies sleep better when they aren't disturbed by concerned parents checking them and prodding them all night.
Most parents certainly sleep better when they aren't fussing over their babies.
If you have a monitor, he'll certainly let you know when he needs you.

Its very normal - my 9 1/2 month old ends up in all sorts of positions - one of the benefits of a sleeping bag is that at least he doesnt get cold as well.

DS is in a seperate room from us as we started disturbing him when we came up to bed and he disturbed us with his noises, movement, etc. We leave our door open a little so we can hear him - no need for a monitor if the room is close to yours.

Dear RuthChan and Seona1973, thank you for your responses. Very helpful. We are currently in the same room although I think it's time we put him into his own room. It's just nice to know that he's normal and we're not doing anything wrong.

My ds has started this too - he's 8 months.

I use a sleeping bag so he doesn't get cold, and have got cot bumpers that go all the way round the cot ( got 2 cheap off Ebay)

Apart from that, there's not much else I can do, so I leave him to it. He soon yells if he gets really stuck or needs a hand.

He is in his own room though - I can't imagine I'd get much sleep if he wasn't.