My Daughter Started Waking up 15-20 Times at Night!

I am experiencing the same thing with my 8 month old who use to be a very sound sleeper at night. Sorry, I don't have advice, just empathy. I am anxious to read what other mom's say.

I've been told they do this when they reach new developmental milestones as well. Sounds like you're doing the right things. It will probably pass quickly enough. Good luck!

Talk to her pediatrician. There are many things it could be. Make a list and start narrowing the possibilities.

my kids sleep better when they've been playing with other people's kids....not just getting exercise.

Call your peditrician! She could have acid reflux, cutting molars, something happening with her sinuses while in the prone position, etc. Elevate the head of the bed for starters. You can place a folded blanket to raise the head several inches. Our 3yr old still wakes around midnight, sometimes he makes it to 3am. There is a sleep specialist at Childrens but you must have a referral regardless of insurance. Hang in there.

HI... I have a 20 month old little girl who is going through the exact same thing. I have always loved that we can usually just put her down in her bed with her dog blankie and binkie and she goes right to sleep on her own and would stay asleep all night. But for the past 2-3 weeks she has been waking up several times a night calling out for me..standing up in her crib... and I will go in and put her right back down and give her her binkie and blankie and put the covers on her and leave..and she goes to sleep but wakes up again like an hour or even less later. It has been killing me! But, I really think it is just separation anxiety. She is going out in the world more...more independent..she is walking better...and can run and walk faster. So, I think that is it. She is just making sure you are there. I know it is hard. But this week has been so much better with it slowing down to only a few times of waking up a night. I know she has to know I am there...last night my husband (who she adores) went in to help her and she just wanted me. It will pass...really it will... and she will go back to sleeping all night again I promise.

M., Whatever it is is surely a phase. If she is teething, she may not be able to get comfortable lying flat. Have you tried elevating the head of her bed or giving her a pillow? Another temporary idea is putting her in bed with you. It has to be more restful than getting up 15-20 times a night! I find that when my daugher is teething, sometimes just having her head on my arm is enough elevation to make her comfortable, because there is so much going on in their little heads (jaw/tooth pain, sometimes they're stuffy or their noses keep running, drooling, etc.). i don't know how to do cranio sacral therapy but i pretend like i do and i rub her head in whatever way makes sense to me and it seems to help too. also when i do give her a pain reliever, her body seems to like tylenol better than ibuprofen. good luck to you. this will pass and you will be rested again even though you can't imagine it now!

Try The Baby Wisperer book for ideas. I hate the cry it out thing, personally. You could also try some herbal remedies for kids. Look at your local Vitamin Cottage. I noticed a change in my son when I gave him homeopathic Bioplasma. It's a cell salt that helps with trace minerals. Hope you get some rest.

Two words for you: Ear Infection! It usually is more painful when lying down.

My daughter does the same thing. Exactly! She is a year old and my husband and I are sick of being so exhausted. She sleeps fine during the day but at night she keeps waking up several times. If she keeps doing it and crying we usually give her tylenol like you do.She's not sick at all but sometimes it seems the pain reliever helps. Could be ears or teething but for 3 months? I am beside myself as well. This has been going on since Christmas. We have tried "everything" in the book and nothing really helps. It makes me weary of having another child cause the exhaustion is killing me.

M.,

You might want to have your daughter checked for sleep apnea. I have two boys which both have been diagnosed. I hear that it can start as early as one year old. My boys are completly different now that they are on c-pap the have more energy (positive) and can make it through the day without any meltdowns or falling asleep. My only wish is that I would have had them checked earlier

Does she cry when she wakes up? If not, let her play in bed or look at books until she falls back asleep. Keep stuff in her bed for when she wakes--you can put a lot of stuff in a crib! I wouldn't get her up or go to her every time, because I think that it encourages the waking. As long as you know she is safe and not hurting, she needs to figure out how to self soothe.

Okay, I'm been reading a lot the the responds that you have recieved all ready. Some of them are great. I have that same problem with my daughter about 6 months ago when she was almost two and a half. I wouldn't just assume that it is something that requires medicine. If you want to rule out the possibilities take her into the doctor. But for my daughter it wasn't because she was sick or anything, it was a phase. I would talk to her about how mommy can't be happy when I don't get the sleep I need and finally let her cry it out. That was my last option because I break my heart. But in order for me to be a good mom, I need that sleep. I would peak in on her at the door, but never went in. I sometimes would explain why I wasn't going in there quitely, so she'd have to calm down to hear me. Each night she would go back to sleep faster and faster. When she was making progress I would tell her how that made me happy. "You only called out for mom once last night, I'm so proud of you! Do you think tonight you can let mama sleep all night?" I know if sounds cheesy, but they do understand a lot of what you are saying. She is back to my good sleeper again and our days go by so much better. I know what helps for one might not help for another, but anythings worth a try for your sanity, right? Good luck!

Play with her. Get her toys to distract her. I say where her out during the day. You could also just let her cry.

Does your daughter like motion? When my daughter was an infant I had the same problem. She loved her swing. That was 15 years ago before battery powered swings were availalbe so I was up often to re-wind. But, when she was in motion, she was sleeping. It may be worth a try. I know how extremely frustrating it is to be up all night with a restless baby. Hang in there :)

It could be an ear infection or other medical issue as some of the other posters have suggested. But if she's napping well during the day without the crying, it may not be. Definitely at least call her pediatrician to see what they recommend. It may just be that she's getting too much sleep during the day (at naptime). So far, three of my kids have cut out one of their two naps around 18 months because they didn't need quite as much sleep during the day. They used to take a morning nap (about an hour) and an afternoon nap (1-3 hours). Around 18 months, they started just taking the afternoon nap for 2-3 hours to help with their sleep at night. If your daughter takes more than one nap, try cutting one out, or shortening them and see if that helps. It could just be as simple as she's getting too much rest during the day so she doesn't sleep quite as soundly at night. Good luck! It's hard to have to wake up in the middle of the night for our children...

excitotoxin article by James South
articles on excitoxins, smart drugs, idebenone, NADH, SAMe, deprenyl, pyritinol, tryptophan, Hydergine, metformin, nootropics, modafinil James South.
www.smart-drugs.com/ias-excitotoxins.htm - 122k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

EXCITOTOXINS: The Taste That Kills DR. Russell Blaylock

Discover the many and hazards of chemicals added to processed ...
67 min -

video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2384105525501310962

You may want to ask your pediatrician but I believe this is the age when the toddlers start to experience nightmares. She may be having this problem and this is why she is waking up. Night terrors can be even worse. Can she communicate her feeling to you through language. You may want to ask her what is going on. Good luck!

Could be acid reflux. My son would wake up every twenty to thirty minutes. My husband says it gets worse when you lay down and can be really painful. (I've never had it myself.) Our doctor prescribed Zantac--it worked the first night.
Good luck

I recommend the book "How to Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems" by Ferber. Very common sense & straight forward solutions written by a sleep scientist. Covers everything from habits to night terrors.

If you are truly concerned take her in for a check up. I would say by experience teething tablets only last a few hours, if she is truly in pain due to teething motrin for kids is the best idea at bedtime as it can last up to six to eight hours. She could be going through first real dreams too, waking and needing to learn to get herself back to sleep. It isn't good for you or her either to have such disrupted sleep. Maybe try the motrin and see if it helps, it isn't a long term solution but will help, if she is cutting molars those are really painful for them especially at night.
If it doesn't help maybe go see your Pediatrician.

I haven't really read what the other moms have said but I will tell you the same thing i tell all the other moms having the same problem. You have to let them cry it out. I know it's hard but it really works. First take her to the dr. to make sure that there is nothing wrong with her and then you might need to try tough love.

Does she have any stomach problems? Both of my children suffered(so did I)from gas, we spent many night's bouncing them on an exercise ball. My Pediatrician at the time said it could be thier diet. We tried the B.A.R.T. Diet(banana'a,apple juice,rice and toast) for a couple of day's and it helped. I know all children are different, but maybe that would be something to look into

My daughter did this at about the same age, almost two. She was just doing this because she didn't want to sleep. She would rather be awake and playing. But she was too tired to play, so she would just cry. I firmly made her stay in her bed. If she was awake, she could read a book, but she had to stay in bed.

If you feel like your daughter is in pain, you need to call your pediatrician. Did the doctor tell you to supplement with vitamins? Sometimes vitamins can cause gas pains, so if you are giving them to her at night, she may be waking up from that. Try a night or two without the supplements and see if that helps her. I know that I personally have problems digesting calcium. I have to take Gas-X or something similar with it. If it were my daughter I would call the pediatrician.

I am not a fan of "medicating" either, but you do need your sanity. I would try camamilia drops which might help her stay alseep. Also Valerian root is great for sleeping, but I would check on that before I gave it to a 22mo. old.

M.,

I recently went through a similar experience with waking 6-10 times a night with my 12 month old. After 3 nights I took him to the doctor and found he was just starting to get an ear infection. It is more painful when they are laying down. Has she had any problems with her ears in the past? Just a thought, good luck.
K. in MT

I would suspect she's having withdrawal issues or she's scared. And you're rewarding her by paying attention to it. Does she have a blankie or a stuffed animal to sleep with? Put one of your dirty shirts in her crib with her. Your smell will be comforting. Put a picture of yourself near the crib so she can see it and be reassured. Make sure the room is cool. Make sure she's not too cold or too warm. But don't turn up the temp of the room. Make sure the room is dark, but have a night light as well. Play soothing music. I think it's ok to give her medication if you think she's teething or having a growth spurt. Try letting her cry. Babies sleep restless. Let her cry for 5 minutes and then go check on her but don't pick her up or talk to her. Leave. Let her cry for 10 minutes and return. Repeat at 15, 20, 25, and 30 minutes. She'll probably be asleep by then. If not asleep and still upset after 30 minutes, pick her up and comfort her. Give her a snack before she goes to bed so she doesn't get hungry during the night. How long is she sleeping during naptime? Maybe she's getting too much sleep during the day and she's not tired at night? Good luck.

Let her cry. At 5mo. my daughter(nursing) would only stay in bed for daddy... I had to walk around the block and could hear her cryin while he let her cry herself to sleep(i am sure only in my thoughts) because I thought the worst.He laid her down and she fell asleep. However, She is 4 and for the last 6 mo. has woken up crying almost everytime I put her to bed. Sometimes 5 times a night....Unless He puts her to sleep...She senses Me and wants mommy.. TRY SLEEPING ON a PILLOW CASE OR SHEET OF HERS FOR A FEW NIGHTS AND SEE HOW SHE DOES WHEN PUT TO SLEEP ON IT...
SOOOO Feeeel your pain
A.

My daughter started waking up many times throughout the night when we moved to a new house. I thought I would lose my mind with little to no sleep! I went and purchased a book called "The Sleepeasy Solution: The exhausted parent's guide to getting your child to sleep - from birth to age 5"

It is really fantastic and very easy to read. I totally just read through the part which applied to me and my husband. We saw results within 3 days. It is very parent friendly. I also suggested this to a friend who had recently adopted and was having issues as well. Worked wonders for her and her son.

Best wishes and hopefully sleep for you soon!
S.

WOW! I feel your pain. My 4 month old who usually sleeps through the night started waking up 2 or 3 times, and that's more than enough for me. Have there been any recent changes in the household? Or has she started potty-training? Both of those could account for the recent behavior from what I've heard. Also, have you introduced any new foods lately? Or taken away a "soother"? Or, has she watched any movies with scarey parts recently? (My son has gotten scared over disney movies lately.)

As far as the behavior itself, and how to fix it, a lot depends upon your parenting style. Many adhere to the cry it out method, which I finally gave in to with my 26 month old when he started not wanting to go to bed in his crib but rather in Mommy and Daddy's bed. He cried for about 10 minutes the first night and a few the second and has done well since. You could try going into her room to assure her you're there and gently lay her back down and say it's time to go night-night. If needed, hold her standing next to the crib for a few minutes and then lay her back down. Wait 5 minutes before going in again if she cries, repeat cycle, wait 6 minutes next time, then 7, etc. It will be a long night or two, but may kick it. Another option, if you feel it's due to insecurity for some reason, is to either put a blow up bed on her floor and you sleep there, or put her mattress on your floor and try having her sleep with you a few nights to get yourself some sleep and allow her to feel secure again. Also, when my son was on a strike a couple months back, we decided to try a special night light. We looked at the normal ones and they didn't interest us, so we got this cute fishy lamp at walmart that gives a dim glow while the fishies circle the lamp. And, some nights, he does better if we leave his door open. I'll ask him if he wants it open and he usually says yes.

HOpe that helps, at least a little.

Hey M.! I have friends of mine with the same problem and they gave their children Melatonin which you can buy over the counter. It is a natural supplement that aids in sleep and it worked great for them. Hope you find relief! H.