18 month old wakening in the night, PLEASE HELP🥹

[Missy1457]

hi I really need some advice as I feel like I’ve tried everything and nothing is working🙁 my 18 month old is usally a very good sleeper, he’s started to waken in the middle of the night. For about 1.5 weeks now. He goes to bed no problem and will sleep for a couple of hours before wakening between the times of (12-3) I usually let him cry for a bit before going in to see if he will settle but he doesn’t he just get louder. Once I go into him, I try and lay him back down In the cot and then he starts to scream murder, freaking out. He stands up, throws everything out of his cot ( teddy’s, blanket, dummy). Once he gets very hysterical I lift him and try to rock him until he’s calm and sleeping, although once I put him back down he eventually wakes and does the same thing. I’ve tried taking him downstairs and giving a bottle, doesn’t work. I’ve tried laying beside his cot, I’ve tried the cry it out method, he cried for an hour last night and then I eventually caved and brought him into our bed and he did settle, he went to straight to sleep. I don’t want to start doing this tho as I’m 23 weeks pregnant and already very uncomfortable in bed…. Not to mention the lack of sleep is killing me especially if I have to work the next day and some nights he can be awake for a couple hours 😔

sorry for waffling, but I’m completely lost in what to do. Has anyone experienced this or any recommendations?

I feel your pain! Do you have a night light in his room? Have you tried white noise? It's a miracle worker. What does your son go to sleep in? He may be too hot or cold. Also, make sure he hasn't got a wet nappy which could be making him uncomfortable.

@Vincitveritas it’s a nightmare, yeah he has a night light and a shusher in his room, he sleeps in a cot bed ( should I maybe take the barriers down ?) he’s quite a sweaty boy at night time so he usually kicks the covers off himself.. when I first go in I check nappy etc but 9/10 times it’s fine. 😩 I wish he could just tell me what’s wrong

What about Teeth?? Or separation anxiety?

I wouldn't take sides down until starts climbing. That's my view, but others may not agree.

What are naps like in day?

@ChittyBang1987 no he’s not currently teething, I hadn’t thought of separation anxiety? If it were separation anxiety, what am I best to do? he has 1 nap a day, usually from about 12/12.30 - 1.30/2. & his bedtime is between 8/8.30 every night x

When we had phases (ours is 18 months) we go in change nappy..... not sure why we just always do. Give a cuddle. We don't speak. No bottle, but offer water. No coming in our room. Then pop back down and gently hold bum and back and walk out(belly sleeper) if she starts again, i give it a minute or two(normally on the toilet at this point 😆)Rinse and repeat. Sounds horrible I know. But if we do it any other way. She doesn't respond starts talking and singing and definitely won't go back to sleep.

If its not teething. Or seperation anxiety. Maybe lo is overtired?? Have you recently dropped to one nap? Maybe pop to bed a little earlier? Or if you wake lo let them sleep till 3pm? That's usually what occurs with our lo once we ruled other bits out it means she overtired so I do couple longer naps 1230pm ish till 3pm then bed at 8pm. Our awake time here is about 5.5 hours.

Maybe lo is hungry? Perhaps add a supper. We normally do dinner ar 5pm. Then about 715pm some supper. Say yorkshires (yes I know but she loves them) or porridge or weetabix. Maybe help?

I know, it so frustrating at that age, but it sounds like you're doing all the right things. Probably best to keep the barriers up for now. I'd also agree that little one might be overtired. Logic says they should fall asleep faster but it can actually go the other way and they don't settle properly! Good luck Missy.

I agree with Chitty - Could be hungry/thirsty, maybe supper before bed? Weetabix or porridge or something?

Or they may need you to wear them out more during the day now they are getting older.

Just when you think you've got them into a routine they spring a change on you ;)

My son started doing this as we were in the room when he fell asleep and he was waking up freaking out that we weren't there anymore.
So (after about a month of hard bedtimes) he now goes to sleep without us there and this has completely stopped him crying in the night 🤷🏻‍♀️