14 month-old awake for over 2 hours in the night- HELP!

[AlbertaWildRose]

Advice needed, because I seriously think I am going to lose my mind if I don't get some more sleep soon. DS has never been one of those sleep-through-the-night type babies- he typically wakes up once or twice, and after a quick bf he is straight back to sleep. Over the last 3-4 weeks, however, he is waking up and just WILL NOT go back to sleep, despite bf, nappy changes, teething medicine, anything else we can think of. He is teething like mad just now, with 3 molars and 3 canines coming through, but I don't know if it's just down to that. He sometimes will go back to sleep, but then is awake again 5 minutes later. Last night it was 2 and a half hours before we all got back to sleep, and DH and I are absolutely shattered. Does anyone have any experience of this? Thanks.

Probably is the teeth. They hurt! My seven month old has been awake for an hour or more teething/having a growth spurt the last few nights and dh is away and the older ones need to go back to school etc. It can be debilitating.

I expect it will settle when his teeth come through. Can you cut back on daytime commitments while you get through it?

Yes, I already have cut back on daytime things, just because I'm too knackered to do anything! I do work part-time though, and I'm trying to write my Master's thesis, which obviously is not going very well at the moment.

Co-sleeping to get through it? Ds is always very clingy when he is teething - seems to get four at a time - and settles better if he is in with us. We then reinstate him sleeping in his own bed once we get through the patch.

Agree with MrsCarrot - definitely sounds like teething. I was very fond of Medised as not only does it ease the pain and discomfort of teething but also has anti-histimine (?spelling) so used to help my DS sleep. He always used to get cold like symptoms with teething so helped with snotty nose,etc..

We used to co-sleep when DS was younger, but now he just thinks it's playtime whenever we bring him into our bed. We tried that last night with disastrous results!

We've been having the exact same thing and there is no doubt about it teeth have been the culprit. The last of this "set" is half through and the last two nights have been fine so all I can say is ride it out. But it's the pits isn't it?! Can you take shifts with your DP?

It's just so soul-destroying, I thought his sleep would be getting better by now, not worse! Do other babies do this when they're teething? DH is convinced that everyone else's child is sleeping through the night, and it is just our DS who is awake!

Calpol works brilliant for my DD. I gave it to her at bedtime and she sleep thru.

Oh, thanks Weegle, I'm glad to know that it's not just us! DH and I have been doing shifts, but as he works full-time and I can have a nap when DS sleeps, I do feel a bit guilty if he's up for a long time.

Thanks for all your responses. DS is desperate for his nap now and so am I, so I have to go. Will be back later!

LOL, assure your DH that there are a LOT of awake parents out there. Think of them all sitting up bleary eyed. It's faintly comforting.

Mine has started playing in the bed too. Real PITA, he grabs my hair, blows raspberries, tries to crawl off etc. I put him back in his cot if he's playing rather than crying with teeth iyswim.

I finished my masters this time last year so I know how you feel, though I was pregnant then with older dc's I wasn't sleeping. You're doing brilliantly, keep telling yourself that. It WILL pass.

You are definitely not the only ones who have sleepless nights - mine is 2.2 and still has the odd 'wakeful' night and my DH thinks the same as yours...that we're the only one's awake!

I agree - ds is almost 19 months and on a good night wakes once - usually 'cos he's let go of his teddy. More usual to wake twice though. Am waiting for the day when he sleeps through, but am expecting no. 2 on 1 October so that will be another 18 months of so of broken sleep for me!