Sleeping or the Lack of...with My 17 Month Old

Hi D.:
If your little one is normally a good sleeper and had a cold for weeks,it could very well be,that its now created an inner ear inflammation or infection.When ever a toddler has a lengthy cold,this can occur.The reason,this appears so evident,is because shes unable to sleep for hours.Lets face it...All the comforting in the world,isn't going to take the pain of an ear infection away. She may be teething as well,which adds insult to injury.I'd get her to the pediatrician and have her checked out.For those mothers who are advocates of CIO This is not the time.Compassion is needed when a child is obviously in distress.I hope your darlin girl is feeling better soon and you get your much needed rest. J. M.

My first guess is that her sinuses are still draining into her ears...since babies can't clear their own ears...this can be super painfull...even if there isn't an infection.

Try a half dose of decongestant before bed, and then the other half when/if she wakes up. Sleeping on an incline can also help.

Something else...being sick uses TONS of energy. She might actually be waking up because she's hungry. You can also try feeding her right before bed (at a year and a half, I'd think something like a milk & instant breakfast smoothie). Ditto on feeding her when she wakes up.

Anyhow...those are the two common things that happen with us. Actually...with post nasal drip we've always gotten vomiting...so it's easier for us to tell if it's hunger or mucus... But try those two things and see if you start getting longer sleep!

R

Hi D., This is very normal after an illness, cause as moms we tend to baby and pamper more during this time, but if you allow her to get up everynight, she will continue to wake up becasue she knows someone will go in and get her, you need to be strong and not go in there, eventual the habit will be broken and she will go back to sleeping throuh the night or stay awake and play. J. L.