1 Year Old Not Sleeping Through the Night

I had great luck slowly cutting down the bottle in the middle of the night. Tonight, give him 7 ounces instead of 8. The next night 6 ounces, etc. Since he is used to eating in the middle of the night, his belly probably feels hungry even though he doesn't "need" it. This will help him get used to not having milk then.

When I was about 7 months pregnant with my 2nd son, my first (then 17 months) started waking up again after being sick. I was sobbing to my mom that I had to get this child to sleep b/c I COULD NOT be getting up with 2 kids. Slowly cutting down the milk helped ease him back to sleeping even at that age.

Also, I think that giving him a snack before bed might help too. Just fill him up!

Have you tried a gradual wean - putting less and less in the bottle each night, until there is very little liquid, and then offering a sippy cup of water (if you have introduced a cup)?

I have an 8 month old and we are going through the same thing. He gets up at the same times throughout the night. Be greatful that yours is only doing it once.. Mine goes to bed at 7:15 wakes up at 10:30 for his first feeding, back up at 1:00 for his second feeding and again at 4:00. I have tried to settle him in other ways but he just gets more worked up. It's easier to nurse him for a few minutes and then put him back down. When you find something that works please let me know. Good Luck to you in the process.

E.,
We had the same problem. Our pediatrician told us our son was a "trained feeder". He told us to put him to bed,turn off the lights,shut the door if you want, and go somewhere noisy, eventually he'll realize your not coming to rescue him. It worked and we realized we had created that bad habit by getting him out every time. It's hard, but it works.

Just an idea....maybe he is hungry. When does he eat dinner? Maybe he needs some cereal or a snack before bed. Do you give him any milk before bed? Good luck.

I have 2 boys, now 7 and 4 (on Monday). My first one started sleeping through the night at 3 mos. and was pretty consistent after that. My second, on the other hand, started about 3 mos. then at 4 mos. started getting up again. When he was about one, I gave him a substantial snack before bedtime. IE: Gerber Graduates pasta, peanut butter sandwich, etc. something that would 'stick to his ribs'. We took him off the bottle and used a sippy cup when he was 13-14 mos. old, not sure if that helped but it may have been part of it. He may not be hungry, he just likes the security of the bottle. The other thing was- let him cry, let him cry until you feel terribly guilty and then let him cry some more. I know it sounds cruel, but if he knows that all he has to do to get your attention is cry- he'll keep doing it. It took about a week of frustration and guilt, but he got the message and everybody was better for it.

E., at any point, did he sleep through the night? If they have sleep through the night before and now he is waking up in the middle of the night it might be something other than him being hungry. If his not hungry and you are feeding him because he woke you up, you may be training him that if he wakes up he gets to eat, that my cause problems when he is older and wants to still eat in the middle of the night. Once my kids showed that they could make it through the night, several nights (weeks)in a row, without a feeding then if they would wake up I won't feed them. I knew that they didn't need it. I know this sounds crazy, but out youngest son, who is 2, still wakes up in the middle of the night occasionally. Sometimes all he is doing is looking for his "plug" (pacifier). Other times he just happens to wake up and usually he will turn his music on in his crib and then he puts himself back to sleep. The music is the aquarium that attaches to the side of the crib, he's had it in his crib since he was 3 months old. Sometimes we have to go into his room and help him find his plugs, usually they have fallen under his crib, or just cover him back up because he is cold.

I am not disputing the fact that he might be hungry...I am just offering the idea that there might be other reasons and that he doesn't need to feed. Just becareful that your son isn't just training you to come into his room for company. I know one time I had to go into my son's room and sit beside his crib and hold his hand for a minute just to reasure him that I was there. Never had to get him out of his crib and he fell back to sleep. Good luck and I hope that maybe this helped a little. Congrats on the up coming little one.

I also think waking up once a night for a bottle is reasonable and that he could actually be hungry. However, you might try reading The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley, if you haven't already.

I have a 1 year old also, he is not sleeping through the night either. Sometimes I think he doesn't sleep all night because we are so busy during the day that he doesn't get his calorie intake. You know I really enjoy that time we have at night alone by ourself. I have two other boys and they are demanding. If you nurse your next baby you will get plenty of sleep and not be up at night, just bring them to bed with you. You can sleep at the same time it works like a charm!

Hi E.,

See if your child is sleeping with his head pointed toward one of his good directions. Go to my website, and enter the word 'trigram' in the search feature. I've had people with sleep disorders have dramatic improvement by changing the position of the bed. Let me know if this works for you too.

D.

I know everybody's different but, to me a 1 year old still waking in the night is not bad at all. Even if there is another baby coming. My second daughter still wakes up in the night to nurse and she's almost 21 months. I guess it just doesn't bother me at all. When she was born, her older sister was 17 months and still nursing so she too would wake up to nurse in the middle of the night. I just did it, & it really wasn't that bad. Big sister is weaned now ofcourse but little sister isn't yet. So I guess this isn't really advice but more like encouragement to tell you that you'll be fine. But if you really really don't want him waking when the new baby comes,then definately keep working on it now. Just be very persistent it can take what seems like forever. How long do you let him cry anyways? When I weaned my older one(at 22 months), she cried each time I told her no for about half hour or so which doesn't seem too bad but, asked me to nurse alot during the day. It took about 3 or 4 days of that.

I have a almost 4 year old and 19 month old. I did not use a bottle for either one so I am not in the same position but my son used to wake up for a diaper change every night and go back to sleep quickly afterward. My daughter still needs a little reassurance a couple of times during the night, just a hand on the back or me to lay with her for (literally, I watched the clock) 2 minutes. Children are all different and have so much going on in their brains and so much we will never know about. (Maybe he does need to eat, who are we to say he isn't hungry?) I am not a crying advocate. If you have to give a bottle to have an otherwise peaceful night, then do it. If you have a partner that can help so you can rest your self then let them do it. Beleive me one night you will realize that you have slept through and you will be surprised. Fighting this may be more work than letting him grow out of it. I mean this all in the most supportive, don't beat yourself up kind of way. Otherwise try more whole grains and slow to digest foods at dinnertime...or wean off the bottle if that is an endeavor you have energy for...But don't let your baby cry even if you don't beleive it is a true "need". He depends on you to come and reassure him, you may not give in to what he wants but let him know you are there for him. Elizabeth Pantley's books are great.

how about a cup . maybe that will work!

I've been there, and while it might be very hard on everyone, you have to be firm. Make sure he gets enough to eat during the day and give him a snack before bed. Then, if he wakes up, go in, give him some love and tuck him back in. Refuse to give milk. If he cries... he cries.... let him go for 20 minutes, go back in and comfort him, and do it again. Eventually, he will fall back to sleep. It make take several nights, but you need to be consistant. Be firm. If you show him you are serious, he will eventually learn that he's not going to win. I suggest you start on a weekend or some other time when nobody needs to go anywhere the next day, as you will all be over tired! Good luck!

I am sorry..... I go through the same thing. I feel like I would be starving my child if I dont give her the bottle. I dont know what to tell you- just follow your mommy instinct. If it tells you to get up and give your baby a bottle, then there is nothing wrong with that. Have you tried to give a full bottle before he goes to bed??

You might try giving him a little rice cereal mixed with milk before bedtime.

Hi E.,

I bet you would like to get him sleeping. Everything is so much better with some sleep. Have you tried shortening his feedings...for instance he takes a 6 oz. bottle everynight feeding, tonight give him a 5 1/2 oz and again tomorrow night and a 5 1/2 ouncer the next. Then go down in 1/2 oz. every 3 days, until it is gone. Then when he wakes go in and soothe him to sleep by singing, or patting his belly or holding his hand or whatever works without making eyecontact. What do you think? I read a wonderful book where this was the method, it is called "12 hour sleep by 12 weeks old" by Suzy Giordano. It really works.

If you know your child doesn't need to be fed in the middle of the night then he is winning the power struggle. Just let him cry it out. It will probably be aobut an hour the 1st night and slowly get shorter and shorter.
As long as you continue to go into his room and give in he will continue to cry until he gets what he wants.
Good Luck!
Jenn......

Check out "The Baby Whisperer: Solves All Your Problems By . . . " and read about the Pick Up/Put Down technique. It works, I swear it. Stick it out for 3 days and you'll see improvement.
Good luck.