My 16 month old is a decent sleeper. I am not going to say he is the best, nor the worst. Recently, however, he has been waking up extra early. I tried pushing his bed time back an hour and he actually gets up earlier. Last night I even gave him Benadryl (because he had a mosquito bite that was swelling-doctor's orders), and I thought for sure he would snooze longer... and NOPE - not a minute longer. I am exhausted and can't just "sleep when he sleeps." I have a husband and a house to tend to and going to sleep at 9 pm is just not realistic. Can someone please just tell me this is a phase? Because honestly, if this continues, I don't want anymore kids. I'm losing my ability to function. Any tips on getting him to stay in his crib a little while longer?
p.s. He takes one nap a day that lasts about an hour and a half.
Thanks for all the great responses! I may very well have a vitamin deficiency. I never take vitamins and I really need to start. I think I will go in for a check up before the summer is up. I am also starting a new job in a few weeks so when he naps I am studying for my new job. Probably the only thing to look forward to when he is a teenager is the sleeping in. LOL. Thanks again, everyone.
First of all i'm going to assume he is still in a crib, so therefore if he's up it's because you let him up. just cause he wakes up early does not mean you have to let him up early. the only tip on getting him to stay in the crib longer is to leave him in the crib longer, because it seems like he is controlling things and it's not supossed to be that way. J.
My day starts at about 4:30 am so it's important that I get to sleep around 9:00 pm. In order for our house to keep maintained my husband is a huge help...and if things don't get done...guess what it will still be there tomorrow. Find things you are doing daily that could be done every other day...it may not be ideal..but sometimes we put more pressure on ourselves than necessary. I also agree that a good vitamin is important..I really like one called life's fortune. Lastly...we gotta take it one day at a time...if you're extra time one day...only do the essentials and then rest. Tomorrow you may have more energy to do a little more.
As my sister tells me "be gracious to yourself". We do soo much for others and often neglect us!!! A happy you makes a happier wife and mother!!
Good luck!
Try putting him to bed earlier. If my son goes to be a 8pm he wakes a 6 or earlier. If I put him down at 7 he will sleep until 7. At that age sleep breeds sleep.
After helping many families who have been sleep deprived for 30 years, I can suggest to you that the best sleeping children are trained behaviorally to fall asleep and stay asleep. Waking too early can be ignored and the child will eventually get bored and fall back asleep breaking the cycle in a few days to a week. Every situation is a little different so post me if you require more instruction.
It is not unrealistic to go to bed at 9pm. I run a busy daycare, open 7 days per week, have tons of laundry to do for both the daycare and a family of 6. I have chickens I care for, cats, dogs, and I read. I keep a very clean home, and I've learned to do all of that and still be ready for bed when the kids are ready.
It's all about learning to keep the kids busy while you clean during the day, never enter a room without doing a minute or two of picking up, never go to the bathroom without a minute or two of picking up, 1-2 loads of laundry per day, put a load in first thing, move it through during nap time, and if you can do it again just after supper. If not, laundry gets caught up on the weekend. Toys get put in boxes and only a box or two come out at a time. No meal is ever served without first picking up the toys. Discipline yourself and everyone in the house to finish what they are working on and pick up before starting a new project. Never start a meal in a messy kitchen. If you spend all morning cleaning the kitchen and don't have the ambition to turn around and cook, buy from a fast food dollar menu. You CAN sleep when the child sleeps and husband will have to be serviced a little less :) If he wants more time for certain pleasures, he can pay for a babysitter and take you to a hotel.
Sleep begets sleep - have you tried putting him to bed earlier, rather than later? I know, it doesn't sound right, but experts agree that sleep begets sleep. At that age, mine were sleeping at 7:30 with bedtime preparations and story time beginning at 7; they slept until 6-630 am. He's taking a good nap, so that's good news. I learned a lot of great sleep techniques and facts from Kim West, aka "The Sleep Lady". She wrote a terrific book called 'Good Night, Sleep Tight' that changed my life. I wrote an article about it if you want to read more about the book and the sleep issues I overcame with the book's help..here's the link:
http://hubpages.com/hub/sleep-training-good-night-sleep-t...
Hope this helps!
He is not going to be 16 mos forever, so you can think of having more kids :-)).
What do you do during his nap? If you aren't sleeping then start. Forget about the house and the husband for that hour and half. Does your baby play in the crib for awhile when he first wakes up? If so no need to run in there and grab him to second you hear him......if you are.
Have you had your thyroid checked? And Are you taking vitamins? Contact me if I can recommend some. They DO make a difference.
And yes, it will get better. Keep fiddling with his schedule. As far as a second child.........Another child may sleep more. Somehow you don't need as much sleep after a second child....... I think you are used to sleep deprivation by then!
One more thing, find a teenager to come in and babysit once in awhile to give yourself a break.
You could try shortening the day nap or not give him one and see how that works. Childrens sleeping habbits are all different. Actually everyone's sleeping habbits are different. It may be a phase or he may just be an early riser. My Mom always told me to nap when the kids do but I am one of those people that can't sleep when it's light out. My husband can't sleep at night if there is noies but can sit in the chair in the living room and sleep all day long. People develope their sleeping habbits when they are little. Your child is just making his own sleeping patterns. The next child might be one that sleeps longer.
Thankfully it is just a phase. Sleep when he sleeps especially if it is during the day. Then when you are up later than him it will even out. Good Luck
Hi MeliFalc, One more thought in addition to the great responses below. We went through the same thing at that age. I found that more outdoor play and sunlight really helped him sleep longer and deeper. We started going out in the morning and in the late afternoon, for a total of 2-3 hours of outdoor play and just outdoor time (including in a stroller, a picnic, sitting outside and playing with his toys and reading books). Instead of doing all these things indoors all the time, we started doing them outdoors -- weather permitting. Just the fresh air helps.
Hope this helps and Hang in There. My LO is 21 months, and his sleep patterns so improved after the above advice.
GL. Jilly
