13 Month Old That Wakes up Every Few Hours

First, there's no such thing as holding a child too much. There's a ton of research out right now supporting kids being held and sleeping with their parents. Give that a try! If she's waking often, it might be easier for you to get her back to sleep if she's right next to you. It might also help her sleep better and then you don't have to wake completely to tend to her.

I have a 13 month old as well that JUST started sleeping throught the night a month ago. He would wake up and want to nurse. Him being my third child and my two older boys began sleeping through the night at about six months I thought there had to be something wrong. He has a milk sensitivity which may have contributed but he and I have been on the dairy free diet since he was four months old. After trying EVERYTHING and voicing my concerns to the doctor and feeling like I would never get a good nights sleep ever again, he all of the sudden just slept. I know how hard it can be when you have to run on low amounts of sleep MUCH longer than you anticipated, but I guess the saying that every baby is different is very much true. It will come. Maybe try leaving a bottle of water in her crib that she may find on her own without you having to go in? Good luck!

Make sure she is REALLY full and is not just sipping when she eats. Make sure all her nap times and sleep times are at the same time every day. I've never heard of babies throwing up from crying. Does that happen every time? That would make it more difficult, for sure.

Hi H.,

My 4.5 year old was the same way. I feel for you! My son was walking on his own at 14 months. I think that the rough patch has to do with the development that goes on in the brain between the crawling and walking stage. Once my son was fully walking on his own, the sleep patterns changed 100%. I FINALLY got at least 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.

I would recommend the usual: make your bedtime routine really solid - same time, same place, same rituals (warm bath, PJs, books/singing). No TV. Nothing overly stimulating. If she has a security object (blanket, doll, etc.) put her to bed with that - or something that smells like you (a T-shirt, etc.)

Make sure she is getting her two solid naps each day. The napping during the day will save you at night.

Also make sure that you walk her around a ton during the day (or have her walk). She will be a little more physically exhausted for you, and she will also be pushing to carry out the last of that brain development that goes on with the walking stage.

IT WILL GET BETTER. My husband used to have to drive my son from Portland to Tillamook early each morning...just so I could get a couple of hours of uninterrupted sleep. It was a nightmare, but it does get better. Some children are just born with highly reactive neurological systems. They're smart cookies, but it's SO hard on the parents. Hang in there.

I feel for you, believe me, my first woke up every 2 hours until 20 months, and my second is 12 months and it looks like we're on the same path. But I am SO SO SO happy that i never let them cry it out though. There is so much research that shows that it can be detrimental. Even Ferber, the original cry it out guy, has now recanted a lot of what he wrote in his first book.

Anyway, it was a long, hard road, but it was so worth it to me to let my daughter do it in her own time and not force her to sleep by making her cry. Sleeping through the night is a developmental milestone just like any other, and every baby reaches it at different points. As hard as it is to wake up every couple of hours (I know, there are nights when I just cry in bed) she WILL sleep eventually, and this will seem like such a short time in her life.
Good luck!!

Is she waking to be fed or to be soothed?
Babies love and need sleep- so I wouldn't think she has an alterior motive - something is waking her.

It could very well still be here teeth. Teeth can push and receede forever! I wouldn't count it out even if you don't see an action in there.I use tylenol or motrin- teething tablets did nothing for my son.
Make sure you feed her really good before bed. If she is eating solids maybe some foods with a little higher fat content.
My son was held 24/7 at first because of reflux. I don't believe a baby can ever be held too much. They need that so much. Other suggestions. Does she need a nightlight? What about using white noise like a fan? Is her room warm enough? I use pjs, a sleep sack ( and if chilly that night socks)
She may just be going through a faze and need cuddling at night
L

Hi H.,
Have you tried neuroemotional technique (NET)? Sometimes those kids who have a hard time sleeping very much at a time have a fear issue that can be addressed with NET, a gentle mind-body therapy. Go here for more information: http://www.netmindbody.com/patients/net-explained.asp
The other thing I always think about is blood sugar regulation. Maybe she needs a little snack before going to bed. Make sure the snack has protein, fat, as well as carbohydrates. Since she goes back to sleep relatively easily with jut a swig of water, this may not be her issue.
Another possibility is that she is not getting enough oxygen when she sleeps and the decreased concentration wakes her up. This is not very probable in her case since you said she wakes up even in your bed. Usually co-sleeping regulates breathing to a degree that awakening is not necessary to get adequate oxygen.
I think the most important thing to check out at this point is the possibility of fear or some other emotion guiding her to awaken. I've worked with kids before on this issue using NET. It can make a big difference.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
C. Peterson
www.chiromidwife.com

hello!
i'm in the same boat so i was hoping to see more responses to your request. sorry i don't have any words of wisdom for you, just wanted you to know you're not alone. my 14 month old little guy the last month or so has just not been sleeping well, sometimes i get so frustrated i just let him cry but i don't like it. i try to sit in his room and rock him and calm him down and that works a lot of the time(if big brother isn't awake and distracting us), sometimes i just bring him back to bed with me...this only works some of the time :)
i don't think you can hold any baby too much! she's just well loved! good luck- i know we'll both need it!

My only cry free solution is to teach her to entertain herself back to sleep. Put a nightlight in her room, put some books and toys where she can reach them, and a sippy cup or bottle of water (maybe even with a tiny bit of juice mixed in for flavor). When she wakes up, take your time getting out of bed and give her a minute or two to get interested in something else. Eventually, she'll get used to just waking herself and playing... then she'll get bored of that and just put herself back to sleep.

I got a futon & set up camp next to my daughters bed & bought myself a vibrating alam (for deaf people) so not to wake her up. That way I could still be on time & rested.

Have everyone help ware her out every day, that should help. Maybe shorten her naps in 10 minute incriments down to 30 minutes during the day. Just make sure she gets enough sleep for her age group. Sleeping does take training. My daughter had a very hard time from 8 months to 2 years because of teething.

Bets of luck.

My daughter had the same issue off and on from 6 months to present (15 months). The only thing that ever really works for us is to let her cry it out. It's tough, but usually only takes a couple of nights before she sleeps through. The first time we did it at 9 mnths, I wished I'd done it sooner! If your baby throws up though, that really throws a wrench in that approach.
If that's the case,I think I would give her as little interaction as possible at night (don't pick her up if you can get away with it) and then slowly make small steps towards her putting herself back to sleep. Maybe the first couple of nights, hold her, the next couple just rub her back, then just stand at her crib, then stand by the door, then stay in bed and sleep. She will probably cry over each change in routine, but she should adjust if you stay consistent. I think that has been the key with my daughter- not caving in- it seems it makes it harder on her in the long run when I do. If she knows I'm not going to pick her up, come to get her, etc. she gives up and accepts the sitution much quicker. When I give in, she just crys harder the next time.
Hope that's helpful- good luck! Here's to a full night's sleep!