1 Year Old Restless at Night

Hi there,
My son went through a similar phase about this time. He on the other hand would wake up screaming and it would last for hours until we learned how to calm him. His pediatrician told us that this was about the time children begin having nightmares so that could be causing it. And also when they begin to start having some separation anxiety from mommy and/or daddy. He said it is very common for children of this age to have a major change in their sleep patterns. Of course as you mentioned and the others as well she could be teething too! It's a difficult time for parents during the early years because our little ones can't verbally tell us what's troubling them! Hopefully it won't last long!
Good luck!

Something's bothering her, because kids don't just decide to wake up.

Teething is possible. So is hunger – kids go through regular growth spurts, and they do get hungrier. Since their stomachs are so small, they can't always eat enough during the day. She could be reacting to some food if she's eating solids. Growing pains are fairly common – aching legs, usually. Dreams are another possibility, but since she stays awake and fussy, it sounds like something else. And having read a great deal of research on bonding issues, I'm convinced that lots of babies are actually lonely when they wake at night. Only recently in human history have we started expecting babies to sleep by themselves in a separate room.

I think all of us feel worse when alone and awake during the dark of night. Does she cry hard, or only fuss and toss and turn? (If she's actually crying, she's producing stress hormones that will make sound sleep less likely.) Do you comfort her, snuggle her, or offer her food when she wakes? Have you tried baby tylenol in case it's teething pain? If her legs seem to hurt, warm compresses and gentle massage might help.

One other possibility is that she could be developing sensitivities to common household chemicals. Sensitive kids can't tolerate perfumed products like laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and air fresheners. These can be real sleep-wreckers.

Hi K., I know all babies go through many different phases during their first 2 years or so, all of which can effect sleep.

Teething, growth spurts, and times of 'discovery' (when they realize how cool grasping things is, climbing, when it occurs to them they and mom are not the same person, more awareness of senses sights sounds, etc...)

She'll settle back in soon, but it probably won't be the last 'sleep strike'.

NAP when you can!

Hi K.,

Restlessness can be caused by several issues. Has anything changed in your home? Have you changed laundry detergent, shampoo or even your perfume? Most of these things are neurological stimulants if not neurological toxins. I detoxed my home and my hyperactive/aggitated/ADHD daughter had her diagnosis removed. She was being stimulated by the chemicals in the house. It was almost overnight that her behavior changed.

If your interested or intrigued and want more information, please get back to me. It was simple and inexpensive and it has changed our home for the better...and not just for my daughter but for everyone. Let me know!

God bless,

M.

My one year old daughters bedtime was also 7:30 for awhile, but now she's not tired at that time. I too went through that, and I tried to feed her more right before bedtime so she would sleep through the night, but that only worked for a little while. Now her bedtime is between 8:30-9:15pm. Now she sleeps through the night and wakes up aroung 6:45-7:15am on the week days, and between 8-9am on the weekends. That works for us! I know her bedtime might seem late, but it's harder for me to put her to sleep when shes not tired and I have to be going in and checking on her because she won't stop screaming. Good luck to you.