14 Month Old Suddenly Won't Sleep

Dear A.,

I've been reading a lot that prior to a big development leap, such as walking, babies have trouble sleeping. Since she is pulling herself up, she may be getting ready to try walking soon, hence the sleep problems. And since you are trying to wean her, it just may be too much going on at the same time for her to cope with. Just a thought. . .

I'd also take her to the docter, as Gintare advised, just to make sure she isn't sick. She might have picked up something while she was on vacation.

Hi A.,
Maybe she doesn't know what to do after she pulls herself up. My son would fuss in his crib at bedtime when was at the pulling up stage for this very reason. I would repeatedly come in and lay him back down at bedtime (without nursing or picking up) over and over until he finally got exhausted from pulling himself up and gave up. I think this will pass soon, so hang in there.

Have you tried holding her until she goes to sleep? I know you are trying to teach her to self soothe, but she really can't tell you what's wrong and she probably feels rejected when you leave her. I went through a spell like that with my youngest daughter. She was never good about sleeping through the night so I let her sleep in our bed until she was two. I don't think it was a good idea but it was either that or never get any sleep. I got her out of my bed and she still sleeps with one of her sisters and she is three. She was a nursed for 13 months so she was more attached anyway. Have you taken her to see a doctor? Maybe she is hurting somewhere (ears maybe). Is there a reason she isn't walking yet? Do her legs hurt her? Just suggestions because there may be nothing wrong and she just wants love and attention or there maybe an underlying reason for this sudden behavior.

Is this your last child?

Many will not agree with my recommedation, but try co-sleeping. We currently co-sleep with our last child and I love it.....we never did it with the other two, but my son is my last child and I want to spend every second with him.....I finally realize that this is it for me.....my last time to look at my baby sleeping and my last time to hold his hand while he sleeps! He feels so loved and secure and is a happy, wonderful child. I wish we had implemented the family bed with our first two children.

A.,
I've also been having the same trouble my 21month old sons 9 o'clock bedtime has became 1-2-3 am bed time but he is finally calmed down back to about 10:30 trying to get 9 back but right now im happy with 10:30 and forget a nap but what im getting around to is he was scared of his curtains and it was thomas the train so we put his duck curtains back up and he was happy so as your children get older their sleeping habits change but sometimes when they chang for such drastic something may be wrong like in my situation all im gonna say when its dark walk in her room shut the door and turn off the light and look around from her point of view shadows from trees or something may be scaring her

O.

Just an idea...you might want to get her checked at the doctors.
I have my firstborn 10 month old boy who just had the very same problem. He would pull up in his crib and would stand there crying forever. We took him in for his routine check up to the doctors office and turns out the had an ear infection and a mild sinus infection. He showed no signs of discomfort during the day. Maybe a little runny nose. No fever, so we didn't think much of it. He was eating a little less, but nothing drastic to (what I thought) be worried about. (We also had some recent changes in our daily routine). Anyways, he is on antibiotics now and we all are sleeping much better. Hope this helps, I know how frustraiting it can get.

Hey A.!

I don't know if this will help, but I have a couple of suggestions. I hope it helps!!

Is she teething? My 3 year old use to cry and cry when she was teething. A lot of times once they get a couple of teeth we forget that they still have more that come in every now and then. If it is teething, I highly recommend the Baby Orajel for Nighttime. It worked wonders for my 3 year old and now for my 7 month old.

Is she a light sleeper? We have always used a fan for our girls while they sleep. For some reason it really helps them sleep longer and better. I don't know why. We just put it in the room and blow it away from them, but the noise seems to really help. You could try that.

Does she get cold easily? My 7 month old daughter use to wake up every single night at 3 in the morning. I couldn't figure out why. And then I realized she was getting cold every night and it was waking her up. So now I have to put her in a long sleeve sleeper and wrap her up in a fuzzy blanket so she doesn't get cold. I have been doing this all summer. I never thought of it before because my 3 year old is very warm natured and couldn't sleep unless she was completely uncovered and in short sleeves. Now the 7 month old sleeps at least 10 hours without waking up. But if I forget to put her in long sleeves and wrap her up, it never fails that she wakes up.

I don't know if any of that will help or not. But that is what I have experienced. Hopefully you will figure it out soon and get some sleep!!! There is nothing worse then being too tired to function!!!! Let me know what works!!!!

Good luck!! K.