13 Month Old with New Sleep Issues

Ohhhhhhhhhhh I know what you are going through. When my daughter was the same age we went through the same thing. She learned a new skill and wanted to use it all the time. The DR told me this is a constant on her mind and that she would do this until she had it mastered. She would run around for hours in her crib... I would hear her walk from side to side and occasionally fall! Finally about 3 weeks or so later she had it mastered and we got her back on a normal sleep schedule after a few days. She would also cry in frustration as she was tired but wanted to keep working at it.
As for what to do... I have no idea, I just waited it out like the DR suggested and lost plenty of sleep sure that she would slam her head on the crib and be unconscious and I would not know it... more grey hairs added to my head!
I wish you luck and hope you get some rest soon... take naps if you are able to, it helps!
Many blessings to you and yours!

Glad it wasn't an ear infection. There are so many things it could be and you may not know until this "phase" is over. I would say it might be the developmental milestones. I know it is hard to say...but keep up what you are doing, as exhausting as it is, and hopefully in a few more nights it should tailor off. If it continues more than a week, I might take him back to the Ped. This type of stuff, even teething, usually wears down after a few days, at most a week.

Good luck, hope everything works out and is OK.

Hi there. Well, I'm going through the same thing right now w/my son that just turned 1 a few weeks ago. Good sleeper up until about a week ago. He would cry when we put him to bed which he hasn't done in months. He'd cry at first, but then sleep all night. The crying had gotten a little longer, but again, he would eventually go to sleeps. Well, one night he was up for 2 hours and the only thing that calmed him down was me. Yesterday, it finally affected his naps and he cried for naps and then slept pretty crummy only taking 45 minutes. Last night, went to bed no problem, but then was up for another 2 hours. After finally getting him calm and settled, he was still upset and didn't want to be in his crib. He woke up every hour and cried for about 30 seconds. The only thing I can come up with is separation anxiety. They say it can affect their sleep....I'm hoping it doesn't last long!! I too thought about checking his ears, but he was just at the doc 2 weeks ago so I don't know. Good luck!

You might want to have his ears checked out by the pediatrician to rule out an ear infection. My daughter had a few ear infections before that would keep her up at night, but I had no idea that was the cause because she had no fever, no complaints of pain, etc. One time her ear drum was about to rupture it was so bad - during the day she was fine, but at night it was bad because the fluid and pressure would build up when she was laying down. Hope you find an answer soon - you must be exhausted! Best of luck to you.

JG,

you mention you are a full time working mom. I cannot imagine going to work all day having nights like yours. i'm so sorry.

is he unhappy the whole time he's awake overnight?

you have stumped me... i dont have the slightest idea how to narrow this one down, even with having 4 kids who were all very different from one another. I mean, it could be anything... maybe he's afraid of the dark? Maybe he is just having trouble because of reaching the new milestones like you said... maybe he is napping too well during the day... maybe he is about ready to dump a nap and since he's still taking it, he's not tired when he should be?

my guy would sometimes insist on being up while teething, and would play with his toys all happy at 3 am, and i'm looking at him going 'what is wrong with you? it's sleepy time!' he would also do this when he was sick...

i'm not sure what to tell you... but my gosh, i hope you two get some sleep soon.

p.s. - motrin never 'worked' on my kids... i can't take it either, just discovered i have an allergic reaction to it. try tylenol.

Its probably just a growth spurt. Kids need a refresher course in good sleep habits every once in awhile. Learning to walk, getting new teeth, can throw things off course. Growing is hard work! Just keep up with your routine of him sleeping in his own bed, and no night nursing. Offer him a little water if you think he is really thirsty. Also, how many naps is he taking and how long? What is his bedtime and when does he rise? Your little guy probably needs about 14 or so hours a day of sleep including nap. He is old enough to be on the one afternoon nap a day schedule. Maybe rising between 6-8. One nap for 2-3 hours around noonish. Then bedtime between 7-8pm. Just trying to help.