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Sleep

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Original poster

Angel Baby to Nightmare Toddler

13 replies

Rowlie · 09/02/2023 17:06

Anybody else? For background, my DS slept through the night from 6 months (although has always woken early 5.30/6am ish). But we never heard a peep out of him at night at all.

DS is now 16m and sleep has turned upside down. He still goes to sleep easily but the nights are unrecognisable. Sometimes he is waking hysterical which I put down to teething, sometimes he is having split nights where he’s awake but quite happy for over an hour at 3am, sometimes he wakes every hour or so crying out/moaning but does put himself back to sleep each time.

What the hell is going on?! I know sleep isn’t linear but this has been going on months and is now starting to feel pretty permanent tbh. I cannot remember the last time he properly slept through (after doing so for over 6 months). Even if I don’t have to go to him I hear him all night on the monitor.

Has anyone else been through this and will it eventually improve for good?!

OP posts:

ChickenBurgers · 09/02/2023 23:17

Oh you’ve described my 13 month old to a T. He was a pretty good sleeper until 11 months, now he spends half the night wailing unless he is cuddled up to me, not even sitting by his cot helps anymore. No idea what happened it was like a light switched over night. Following for advice and solidarity x

LGBirmingham · 10/02/2023 06:22

All of this sounds like teething to me. Could be getting molars and canines?

Original poster

Rowlie · 10/02/2023 06:55

@LGBirmingham he definitely is, yes. Had no teeth at all until 12m so they do all seem to becoming at once.

however, would this be every night for the past 3 months? Also some nights he isn’t even upset just wide awake and vocal.

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LGBirmingham · 10/02/2023 07:14

If he's getting the canines and molars I'd say it could easily last 3 months. My ds was an early teether and first year molars and canines both started coming at once at 11.5 months. I think they we're through by 14 months. That period is hazy as he'd started nursery and got every bug going and also had chronic glue ear.

His second year molars started at 22 months and were through a couple of weeks after his birthday.

Might be worth getting your lo's ears looked at too? Ear infections can massively disturb sleep as well. Apparently it hurts more when lying down.

WhatNoRaisins · 10/02/2023 07:18

18 months can be a difficult regression sometimes.

LGBirmingham · 10/02/2023 07:18

Also if yours got no teeth until 12 months that probably explains why he slept well at 6 months? Teeth are awful for sleep and most babies get a lot of them between 6 and 12 months. I promise it will go back to normal when the teeth are through. Hang in there, you aren't doing anything wrong!

CrispAppleStrudels · 10/02/2023 07:25

We are having this too. DD didn't get her first tooth until 13months and its been awful on her sleep. The 18month regression was HORRIBLE for us. Now at 20months, things are starting to settle down a bit. So hoping that it is just a teething issue and she'll be back to propee nights soon 🙏😩

LGBirmingham · 10/02/2023 07:36

Sorry just read your reply again. You're getting split nights sometimes as well? Has he dropped to one nap yet? Nap drops can cause that kind of issue in my experience.

Merlott · 10/02/2023 07:38

Too many naps / too long a nap.

It doesn't last forever, soon they'll be 12 and you'll be struggling to get them up for school!!

Original poster

Rowlie · 10/02/2023 07:38

@LGBirmingham yes agreed teething is definitely disrupting his sleep but I’m unsure if it’s 100% that. His first two front teeth came through with no disruption at all! I know molars are much more painful though. I think if an ear infection it would have cleared in 3/4 months?

@WhatNoRaisins yes I read lots about the 18m regression. I’ve always been a bit sceptical about them but something is definitely going on with his sleep. He is only 16m but the 4m regression hit us very early perhaps at 3/4 weeks, but finished around 5 months and then his sleep gradually got better and better.

@CrispAppleStrudels it’s hard to see an end in sight when it’s been going on so long. Really hope 20m might be a turning point for us too.

OP posts:

Original poster

Rowlie · 10/02/2023 07:43

It’s hard as You feel like you can impact it in someway! Im constantly wondering if he’s under tired/over tired, going to bed too late/early. And thinking I can somehow do something to fix it.

we have transitioned to one nap too since about 14/15 months which has probably contributed.

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LGBirmingham · 10/02/2023 08:08

Also remember that he could be waking for a different reason each time he wakes/ on different nights. We as adults like to rationalise it to one cause as we see one symtom - waking up at night. It's a flipping minefield 😂

Fightingtobepositive · 21/02/2023 07:42

Hi app my son is exactly the same at the minute he’s 21 months. We are exhausted. Even when he’s asleep he’s wailing out for a split second every half hour or so. I’ve been really worrying wondering if it’s not normal so glad I came across your post. He wakes up so happy then to so it completely baffles me!

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