My first son got up every night to nurse until he was 22 months old. Then magically, he stopped. He would nurse once, at 2am, then go immediately back to sleep.
I thought we got lucky with #2. He nightweaned at 9 months. He stopped nursing at all at 15 months (he wasn't interested). He was sleeping through the night. At 20 months, he decided to not sleep from 11pm - 2am. He sings for awhile, then he takes the sheet and mattress pad off the crib and throws them out. Sometimes he takes off his own PJ and diaper - sometimes not. At some point, usually around 12:30ish, he starts to really cry and holler. When I do go to him, he tells me he is "done" - both verbally and sign. He really doesn't want to sleep! He isn't hungry, thirsty, dirty diaper, etc. He just seems to think he had enough sleep and is done. I've tried shortening his nap from 2 hours to 1 hour but he still needs that nap. And by 7pm, he is asking for night-night. He gets up at 6am because he has to (I work and he goes to daycare) but has been super angry about getting up because he partied too long at night! Any ideas, suggestions? No, we don't co-sleep - he doesn't like to sleep in our bed and doesn't sleep well in our room (Daddy snores, a lot, that is another story!). This has been going on for almost 7 weeks now!
I had a similar problem.
I suggest that you get rid of ALL lights and toys in his room at night. So if he wakes, he can't SEE to do all of that partying!
My boys both sleep soundly in a pitch black room They have since birth. We parents are the ones who seem to think kids need nightlghts. They don't..
Hi C..
I think if i remember correctly :) at this age they need about 13-14 hours. (Elizabeth Pantley 'no cry sleep solution...')
and that a good nap is important sleep that cannot be replaced by nite sleep (Dr. Weissbluth -- Healthy Sleep, Happy Babies or some such thing...)
Thus, I am not sure I would shorten the nap. i would perhaps make it earlier. Getting a good nap mite help actually induce a better nite's sleep.
in addition, i would ensure the day care is enabling plently of physical activity and sunlight to help bring on good sleep.
best, jilly
Could just be a growth spurt AND a period of adjustment.
My son went through several of these. Very similar to what you are talking about.
I would make sre he is more active during the day. Maybe keep the nap for now if he still seems to need it. Later you can play around w/that nap & see if you can shorten it, change the time or do away w/it for a bit.
My son did that for a few months: didn't nap, then went back to a nap, ajdusted time then no nap etc.
Try making sure he is more active during the day when you get home from daycare.
Try going in at 12:30 & be quiet but just soothe him.
Make sure he won't take a drink of milk/water or breast milk.
Sleep adjustments can happen several times around this age.
Just work with it & try tweaking it in different ways.
If one idea doesn't work, try another one.
Hang in there....it will level off & get back to a "norm".
My guess is that 7:00pm is too early of a bedtime for him now. He may not need as much sleep as he once did. Try putting him down at 8:00 or 9:00pm instead and see if it makes a difference. It sounds as though he is treating the 7:00pm bedtime as a nap.
