Toddler sleep patterns

[KDENISE977]

I know how you feel it is week to week with us as well. We do have a schedule he knows we give him a bath and get his pj's on and he is ready to go to sleep. He usually gets up between 7:30 and 8 then I rock him and he has a nap around 11 or 12 depending on how tired he is.He will usually sleep for an hour and a half or 2 hours. I try and get him to nap again later around 4 some days he does others he fights it.

Chase has his naps at daycare, one from 10:00-11:30 a.m. and another half our nap usually from 2:00-2:30 or close to that time. And he'll stand up and bounce and jump and cry and cry and cry and bounce and jump until he falls down and sometimes actually hurts himself.

 

[somdfunguy]

Wirelessly posted (Samsung Galaxy S III )

Go back to duct tape!

I know what you mean about worked up. Mine will sometimes have a coughing fit so at that point it is time to rock her. As soon as she calms down she is back in the crib.

 

[doubtfull24]

Oh I totally agree, we've made him think it's okay, but if we let him cry, and we have, he ends up getting even more worked up and then walking around in his crib, falling down, hitting his head. We tried exactly what you're saying, tried to start with short periods of time and it's actually NEVER worked. One time, I actually fell asleep and my husband was determined to make him cry it out, and the next a.m. I asked my husband and he said he cried for 2 hours... THAT'S not okay.

My husband was also determined to let our son cry it out a few times.The baby would cry for hours and it was horrible . I couldn't sleep I tried ear plugs and my mp3 player.He finally couldn't take it and let me rock him back to sleep. We also went threw a stage instead of picking him up we would lay him on his tummy and rub his back. It worked for awhile then he wouldn't let us do it anymore.

 

[KDENISE977]

My husband was also determined to let our son cry it out a few times.The baby would cry for hours and it was horrible . I couldn't sleep I tried ear plugs and my mp3 player.He finally couldn't take it and let me rock him back to sleep. We also went threw a stage instead of picking him up we would lay him on his tummy and rub his back. It worked for awhile then he wouldn't let us do it anymore.

Yup. Sometimes we will rub his back and he'll stay laying in his tummy. Sometimes not. I hear him even coughing and I'm wide awake instantly waiting for the crying to start. I was actually contemplating getting a toddler bed with crib rails so we could let him fall asleep with one if us and then sneak out of the room but I don't know that would work either cause he would wake up and hop out bed for sure. IDK.

 

[doubtfull24]

My plan is to take my son to see the Ent doctor to see if he needs tubes for his ongoing ear infections and fluid in his ears. I am also changing his milk from 2% milk to almond milk to see if that helps with the reflex. I am also trying to get rid of the bottle completely. He only drinks milk and water. Water from his cup and milk from his bottle for nap/bed. I know he should be completely off the bottle by now and am working on it..It is a comfort to him he never liked the binky. So after those changes if he is still waking up several times a night I will try and let him cry it out.

Also he only gets 4 ounces of milk at a time...

 

[SoMDGirl42]

My husband was also determined to let our son cry it out a few times.The baby would cry for hours and it was horrible . I couldn't sleep I tried ear plugs and my mp3 player.He finally couldn't take it and let me rock him back to sleep. We also went threw a stage instead of picking him up we would lay him on his tummy and rub his back. It worked for awhile then he wouldn't let us do it anymore.

that's your first problem right there. You are rocking him to sleep or rubbing his back until he falls alseep then putting him in the crib. He hasn't learned how to sooth himself, not to mention he falls asleep in your arms then wakes up alone, of course he's gonna be startled and scared. Haven't you ever fallen asleep somewhere (watching tv etc.) and woke up starteld because you didn't know where you were or what time it was? Same with him.

Step 1
Stop rocking him and rubbing his back.

Step 2
Teach him how to sooth himself

Step 3
Lay him down and let him cry. Walk in and sooth him for a minute and leave.

Step 4
Gradually space out the times between you soothing him

Step 5
When he learns to sooth hmself back to sleep, enjoy a good nights sleep. Finally.

 

[somdfunguy]

Wirelessly posted (Samsung Galaxy S III )

Also he only get 4 ounces of milk at a time...

Add some brandy to the milk.

 

[doubtfull24]

that's your first problem right there. You are rocking him to sleep or rubbing his back until he falls alseep then putting him in the crib. He hasn't learned how to sooth himself, not to mention he falls asleep in your arms then wakes up alone, of course he's gonna be startled and scared. Haven't you ever fallen asleep somewhere (watching tv etc.) and woke up starteld because you didn't know where you were or what time it was? Same with him.

Step 1
Stop rocking him and rubbing his back.

Step 2
Teach him how to sooth himself

Step 3
Lay him down and let him cry. Walk in and sooth him for a minute and leave.

Step 4
Gradually space out the times between you soothing him

Step 5
When he learns to sooth hmself back to sleep, enjoy a good nights sleep. Finally.

I guess after I make sure his ears and or reflex aren't the problem, I will try to get him to go to sleep while he is awake. I never thought about the fact he might be startled from wake up in the crib.

 

[SoMDGirl42]

I guess after I make sure his ears and or reflex aren't the problem, I will try to get him to go to sleep while he is awake. I never thought about the fact he might be startled from wake up in the crib.

you are making excuses now. Kids still sleep with ear infections. kids still sleep with reflux. I know, mine had it also

use risers to prop one end of the crib up. It will help with the reflux and ear pain.

You have been given the tools to help. If you choose not to use them, it's your and his sleep that it's affecting, not mine.

I do wish you the best of luck

 

[doubtfull24]

you are making excuses now. Kids still sleep with ear infections. kids still sleep with reflux. I know, mine had it also

use risers to prop one end of the crib up. It will help with the reflux and ear pain.

You have been given the tools to help. If you choose not to use them, it's your and his sleep that it's affecting, not mine.

I do wish you the best of luck

Thanks for the advice .. I don't think I am making excuses. I really do think he is in pain when he sleeps. When he wakes up and I pick him up to rock him he flings his head back and arches his back and throws his arms around. It would be different if I picked him up and he was instantly soothed and went back to sleep. I am going to start with nap time trying to let him go to sleep awake.

 

[somdfunguy]

lol, hes a kid. they all do that. mine has been doing that since 2 months.

 

[SoMDGirl42]

Thanks for the advice .. I don't think I am making excuses. I really do think he is in pain when he sleeps. When he wakes up and I pick him up to rock him he flings his head back and arches his back and throws his arms around. It would be different if I picked him up and he was instantly soothed and went back to sleep. I am going to start with nap time trying to let him go to sleep awake.

find it hard to believe it's his ears every single night. Who's your doctor? I don't want my child going to a doctor that is ignoring ear pain for a year.

Reflux? one word, risers Is he on meds? Maybe it's the meds. Not on meds? Maybe he needs meds.

You keep saying reflux. Have you seen a pediatric gastro doc? Maybe the kid has celiac disease and he really is in pain. Maybe it's time to take him to get a second/third opinion?

I haven't heard of too many children that are over a year old still dealing with reflux. That is usually resoloved way before that age, if infact it is reflux.

 

[doubtfull24]

find it hard to believe it's his ears every single night. Who's your doctor? I don't want my child going to a doctor that is ignoring ear pain for a year.

Reflux? one word, risers Is he on meds? Maybe it's the meds. Not on meds? Maybe he needs meds.

You keep saying reflux. Have you seen a pediatric gastro doc? Maybe the kid has celiac disease and he really is in pain. Maybe it's time to take him to get a second/third opinion?

I haven't heard of too many children that are over a year old still dealing with reflux. That is usually resoloved way before that age, if infact it is reflux.

I just changed my pediatrician and met him yesterday he suggested changing his milk and keep a food diary to see if it is something he is eating or drinking and if it didn't get better he would suggest going to have a scope test? I can't remember who it was he would send us to but would if it didn't get better with milk and diet changes. He is currently off meds he did take prevacid but we stopped because he seemed to be better around his first birthday. We also thought it was the formula. After I stopped nursing he started formula and when we changed from formula to milk at age 1 the episodes seem to get better. However recently seem to be starting again. I also told the new doctor about his reoccurring ear infections in the one ear and fluid in his other ear. He gave me a referral to an Ent to determine if he needs tubes and has any damage to hearing. I have not propped his crib because I am afraid he will fall out and because he never stays the way we lay him.He rolls around all night and will put his legs on the bars fall asleep sitting in the corner of the crib.

 

[Roman]

I know that you're right and that consistency is the key to good sleep habits and we TRY but he's just so random. I've had daycare cut his P.M. nap to 30 minutes to try and help him sleep and I've actually done the tylenol/advil a few times and oddly enough he actually wakes up MORE when we give it to him? He falls asleep faster, but doesn't STAY asleep. He slept perfectly sound until he reached about 7 months old, now he's 14 months and sleep is our ONLY problem !

He may be sensitive to the Dyes in the Medicine. Red Dye wound my Daughter up! Talk to the Pharmacist about giving meds with no dyes. If I remember correctly, Kids start to have night mares at about your Child's age. I didn't read every Post, so sorry if I repeated any info.

 

[Roman]

find it hard to believe it's his ears every single night. Who's your doctor? I don't want my child going to a doctor that is ignoring ear pain for a year.

Reflux? one word, risers Is he on meds? Maybe it's the meds. Not on meds? Maybe he needs meds.

You keep saying reflux. Have you seen a pediatric gastro doc? Maybe the kid has celiac disease and he really is in pain. Maybe it's time to take him to get a second/third opinion?

I haven't heard of too many children that are over a year old still dealing with reflux. That is usually resoloved way before that age, if infact it is reflux.

Fluid in ears in an indication of Allergies in most cases, and yes it can cause pain all the time especially when laying down. It can be food allergy also.

 

[libertytyranny]

that's your first problem right there. You are rocking him to sleep or rubbing his back until he falls alseep then putting him in the crib. He hasn't learned how to sooth himself, not to mention he falls asleep in your arms then wakes up alone, of course he's gonna be startled and scared. Haven't you ever fallen asleep somewhere (watching tv etc.) and woke up starteld because you didn't know where you were or what time it was? Same with him.

Step 1
Stop rocking him and rubbing his back.

Step 2
Teach him how to sooth himself

Step 3
Lay him down and let him cry. Walk in and sooth him for a minute and leave.

Step 4
Gradually space out the times between you soothing him

Step 5
When he learns to sooth hmself back to sleep, enjoy a good nights sleep. Finally.

I wish I could like this a billion times.


And as far as "we let him cry it out a few times he cried for hours then we got up and did exactly what he wanted"..thats the problem..kids realize they just have to stick with it long enough to get what they want. in order for it to work, you have to actually get to the part where the child GOES TO SLEEP ...they have to do that in order to see that everything is ok, they dont need you to sleep,a nd you will be there with hugs and kisses in the morning... iit will NOT NOT NOT hurt a child to cry for 2 hours. what it WILL do is reinforce that the crying will get results, and further that the more forceful it is, the better the result. its going to take a week or two of completely consistant ignoring. you have to have the fortitude to do it.Some parents dont. I can say from my own experience and advice taken by my friends that it absolutely works, but you have to understand the pyschology of it, and actually DO IT full out.

 

[Roman]

I wish I could like this a billion times.


And as far as "we let him cry it out a few times he cried for hours then we got up and did exactly what he wanted"..thats the problem..kids realize they just have to stick with it long enough to get what they want. in order for it to work, you have to actually get to the part where the child GOES TO SLEEP ...they have to do that in order to see that everything is ok, they dont need you to sleep,a nd you will be there with hugs and kisses in the morning... iit will NOT NOT NOT hurt a child to cry for 2 hours. what it WILL do is reinforce that the crying will get results, and further that the more forceful it is, the better the result. its going to take a week or two of completely consistant ignoring. you have to have the fortitude to do it.Some parents dont. I can say from my own experience and advice taken by my friends that it absolutely works, but you have to understand the pyschology of it, and actually DO IT full out.

I think letting a child cry for two hours is a little excessive. They are developing trust, along with other emotions, and they need to know that their Parent is there. I can actually see both sides of the coin, but they have to know that their Parents are there. I'm not saying that any of you are wrong, so please don't slap me with the written word. We all want healthy Children, mentally, and physically. JMHO....

 

[KDENISE977]

Thank you. My son has a killer bruise on his head from falling I his crib against the rail

 

[KDENISE977]

I think letting a child cry for two hours is a little excessive. They are developing trust, along with other emotions, and they need to know that their Parent is there. I can actually see both sides of the coin, but they have to know that their Parents are there. I'm not saying that any of you are wrong, so please don't slap me with the written word. We all want healthy Children, mentally, and physically. JMHO....

Also. This is what MY mother told me, mother of 5.

 

[somdfunguy]

My little girl was fighting hard tonight.