18 Months Old + Waking up at night again

MommyToAshley wrote: Ashley finally started sleeping through the night around 10 months old. She normally sleeps 12 hours, unless something is bothering her like teething or she is stuffy. I remember at her 12 month appt, the Ped said that around 12 months, and then again around 18 months, that toddlers go through a stage where they like to "test" mommy and daddy when it comes to bedtime. She said that it is so common that they put it on a checklist to talk with parents about. The PEd said the best thing to do is to let them go back to sleep on their own.

Well, sure enough, this past week (she just turned 18 months), Ashley has been waking up at night. At first I thought it migh have been that she was catching this sore throat that DH had, but she seems to be fine. When I go into her room, she holds her hands out for me to pick her up and then points to the rocking chair. So, I rock her back to sleep. I am wondering if I did the wrong thing though. The first couple of nights, she only woke up once about an hour after bedtime and then slept the rest of the night. Now, she's waking up 2 or 3 times and wanting to be rocked back to sleep. I think I made things worse, but I am not sure what to do. I don't want to do CIO, because what if she is having bad dreams, or something is bothering her.

Any ideas? Anyone else experiencing this at 18 months?

MomToMany replied: Hannah has been doing this for awhile now, too. Sometimes she goes back to sleep on her own, and sometimes she sleeps all night ( ). But, for the most part, she comes and sleeps with me in the recliner, since I can't lay down anymore . Sometimes she nurses to sleep (depends on my mood), otherwise I just rock her. She thinks it's morning sometimes and asks for breakfast at 2:00 am!

This is a challenge for me, too, with the baby coming. I like that extra cuddle time with her, since I won't be having as much time with her once baby is here. I'm probably making it worse by doing that, but I can't help it. She's not going to be the baby of the family much longer. I won't let her CIO. Other than waiting for it to pass, I'm not sure what else to do. Sorry I don't have more advice, M2A.

aspenblue1 replied: Isabella has been doing this also. I just keep trying to get her to go back to sleep. Last night she was up until 10 which she never does.

Kirstenmumof3 replied: I'm not sure what to suggest. I remeber when I was pregnant with my DS my DD (then about 19-20mths) would wake up at 5:00 and crawl into bed with us (she never ever did this before). As soon as she was in bed with us she would chatter until 7-7:30 and then we would all be up. We thought it was just because we had put her into a big bed and set the crib up in the baby's new room. I never thought she was testing us. But this only lasted about a month and she was sleeping fine in her bed again. I thought for sure once the baby was born this would start again, but it hasn't. Claudia hasn't always been a good sleeper, but now she sleeps through the night. I think if she is just wanting you to rock her than she is fine and I would try letting her cry for a few minutes. But I wouldn't let it go on too long you don't want to tramatize her. Hope that this is just a phase.

ediep replied: Jason does this sometimes, but he is geting his 2 year molars so that may be what is getting him up. What I usually do is wait a few minutes and see what happens. If he is still really crying after a few minutes, I go in there and rock him , but sometimes after a few minutes, he is laying down and snuggling his blanket so he goes to sleep on his own.
I don't think you did the wrong thing by rocking her, just give her a few minutes to see if she is going to go back to sleep on her own before going into her room
I am sure it will pass after a few days

Kaitlin'smom replied: sorry not much help here either just when kaitlin was sleeping throught the night bam more teeth two molers and on bottom. I usually give her a few minutes to see if she needs me, I can usually tell by her noise if she might go back to sleep on her own or not. I dont think you were wrong its hard not to go to them when they call for us. (((Big hugs.))))

kimberley replied: maybe you can slowly transition from the rocker to snuggling in bed, then you sitting on the bed maybe holding her hand or rubbing her back, then standing by the bed, then the door... it really is a long process but effective. good luck.

Julie (jem0622) replied: Don't rock her to sleep. Take your Dr's advice. The only thing I ever do is check for mouth pain, offer a sip of water, then give a kiss/hug and say 'night night Gabe...Mommy loves you'. I lay him back down and put his blanket on him and walk away.

HUGS

Julie

coasterqueen replied: I just got back from Kylie's well-baby visit (18 months) and doc was talking about how at 18 months babies will test the limits more and more. He said they hit their terrible "2s" now, not when they are 2.

Anyways, I have no idea what it's like to have a child sleep entirely through the night, so no advice there. I know that Kylie, for the past week, has been waking for 2 or 3 hours at night to play, and I know for sure it's because she's teething with her 2 year molars. You don't think it might be that and it's just a coincidence it's happening at 18 months?

My doc also said seperation anxiety happens BIG TIME at 18 months, so maybe that is what is happening for Ashley. And IMO if that is what it is, I don't see why rocking her to sleep would hurt her. Of course I've always done that for Kylie if she needs it. I am a firm believer that comforting my child and letting her know I'm there when she needs me will make her a strong, independent person one day. One of my attachment parenting beliefs, I guess

IMO, it sounds like if she is wanting to be rocked, she needs you and IMO if she needs you..you should be there for her in that way.

mommytosammy replied: Sammy wakes at night too sometimes quite a bit. I agree with boog:-)

be there for whatever your children need or want. what else is more important.

kit_kats_mom replied: K is still an awful sleeper but she had a great bedtime routine down and we were able to get her down by 7:30-8 every night, like clockwork. The last two nights however, she falls asleep nursing like usual then I transition her to the bed. She stays asleep for like 10 minutes and is wide awake chanting "eat, eat, eat". I offer water but she keeps the chant up.

Now for those of you who have been around awhile, you know that I will take her eating over anything else right now. I'm guessing she is testing us some but tonight she ate a bowl of rice cereal, 1/2 c of cheerios and 4 bites of mixed veggies within a 15 minute period. It was as if she was thinking, "as long as I keep stuffing my face, I can stay awake". She's finally asleep now at 9 though.

California Girls replied: I say do whatever works for you and her. Rylee (2 1/2) changes from night to night and I try to take the right action to meet her needs. Sometimes she just shows up in our room and she climbs in to bed with us (along with her blanket, pillow, baby, and whatever esle she can drag from her room to ours). And sometimes she cries from a bad dream, and she just needs me to go in and rub her back for a little bit. She's starting to sleep thru the night better again now, but getting her to go to sleep is the problem!

My Dr. said it's just all about growing and all the life changes they're going thru right now. Teething, frustrations, testing limits, dreams, etc. and is totally normal.