Toddler Wakefulness

Sounds like his molar teeth are coming in. Try giving him Motrin before bed and see if that remmedies the situation!

At that age my son had very bad growing pains. And it seemed to always be at night time or in the middle of the night. Try giving him a dose of childrens Ibuprofen before bed. This is what helped my son. The Dr. is the one who recemended this. Try this for a week and see if it helps. Good luck!

Try putting a lamp in his room and some soft music or leaving a tv on in his room. Sounds like he is used to sleeping with you, and likes that, and is afraid by himself.I think he knows you will give in.I hope this helps.we did this with our son when he was young, He is grown now,married and has three boys, and does this with his boys. My prayers are with you. Good luck.

J.

1) Are you SURE he's not teething? He might be feeling the effects of it long before you can see any signs.

2) I know this sounds awful, but who cares if it wakes the neighbors? It's not like you are letting a dog bark all night. He's your BABY. It's a part of life. While they might not appreciate and while you could look into getting them some little gifts to try and apologize for it, you have to do what is right for your child over ticking off your neighbors. I would not bring him to bed with me. He could just be having nightmares. Or it could be that he WAS having nightmares and now realizes how to get you to do this stuff. Comfort him, but don't bring him to bed with you. Sit with him for a while, sing to him, talk to him, rub his back. Maybe ever lay your head down beside him and kind of cuddle him a little for a while, but don't start bringing him to your bed at this age. You are entering the terrible twos, and this will be a time of power struggle. This is an awful time to start something like co-sleeping. This is when your baby will learn all about independance himself.

Maybe take him something to drink when he is in there? Just half of a sippy cup? Comfort him, etc. Then leave. Try to find out if he is having nightmares. Is it a different kind of cry than usual? I can always tell when my two year old is having a nightmare because his cry is completely different. He, too, wakes up often at night now and cries. I just go in there and comfort him, on occasion it takes giving him something to drink (like us, they get thirsty at night.) Then I let him go back to sleep.

If your son seems more awake by then and reluctant to go to sleep then maybe he is not tired enough? Maybe you could cut out a nap or give him a later bed time? If you have a bedtime song that you sing every night when you put him down, go in there and sing it again when he wakes up. Try everything you can to comfort him without taking him to bed with you. It's an important thing for him to overcome at this age, too. Like I said, this is the time where first start trying to figure out who they are, test boundaries, and find independance. Let him over come this, with your help and support, and it will be wonderful for him.

Best of Luck!

I went through this same thing with my daughter and still do sometimes. She is now 4 yr old. I felt like I was going to go crazy. I spoke to my peditrician and he said she was probably having night terrors. I asked what was the best thing to do and he told me: Put her down at her normal bedtime (7:30-8:00) and then right before we go to bed (10:00-10:30) go in and fip her over. This will cause her body to wake a little but then it will restart her sleep cycle. As if she had just gone to bed. To my surprise it has worked beautifully. We went through a stint of this last month and we reverted back to that system and we have once again stopped the night terrors. Hope this helps.

I have found with my 4 kids that at some point arond 2 years or later that sometimes they need a change. Just think, they are still sleeping in the same bed since they were a baby, not a baby anymore. Several things to try...first is there a night light. May need to start there. Many will say no way to this one but has worked great for us. Use a T.V. Each of my kids have a small t.v. in their room. No cable hooked up just used for videos. They go to sleep watching something and if they wake just go start the video over and they are usually asleep before you leave the room. Works wonders for me. The last, you may think still a little young, but has worked for me also. Go to a toddler bed. Make it a big deal to sleep in a big boy bed. Just switched my twins to one at 27 months.
Just try everything to keep them out of your bed. I am a co-sleeper with my husband and my husband only. GOOD LUCK!!!!

My son did the same thing, only her had just turned 1. It's like all of a sudden he did not want to be in his crib. So we let him sleep in the floor by his bed. Worked like a charm. He is now in a full bed and sleeps all night. The bed is low enough for him to get in and out as he pleases, and if he wakes during the night he knows to come in our room and we walk him back to his bed, lay down with him for a few minutes and he goes back to bed. He is know almost 21-months old and LOVES his big boy bed. It was also helpful b/c we found out we were going to be having baby #2. Good Luck.

Sounds like he might be having bad dreams.. Or theirs something bothering him

I too have a 22 month old son. And also a 4 year old, so I've been through this age before! Your son is not dumb, I think he's pretty plainly doing this for attention and it's working!! In an ideal world (ie. one where you didn't have neighbors) I would go in very briefly, tell him he's fine, (do NOT turn on the lights or talk above a whisper) and that it's "night-night" time and then VERY promptly leave the room. A couple of nights in a row I think he'll quickly figure out that his screaming isn't going to result in anything interesting or rewarding and he'll knock it off. Perhaps you could leave a note in your neighbors mailbox explaining that they may hear crying for just a few nights but that it's only temporary!! If he doesn't knock it off if say 3-5 days, then I'd buy "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child." It is my bible!!!! And has fabulous suggestions. Good luck!!!

my started having night terrors about that age. we hav eto make sure there is light on (not a night light) but our bathroom light has to be on and the door has to be wide open in order for him to feel safe. My son doesnt get to watch to much TV but when he does it only noggin and I dont think theres anything scary on there?? But my older sister told me its very normal for children to go through this.

Good Luck!

Dear V.,

My son, who is now 16 years old, did that as well around that age. It is called night terrors. I think the baby is starting to have bad dreams. It is a phase, and he will grow out of it. Just be supportive and hug him. Check with your pediatrician to make sure he is not in any kind of pain. The worst thing you can do is take him into your bed. That will start a habit you will regret, and you will have the crying again trying to get him to stay in his own bed. Hope he settles down soon. It is exhausting, hang in there.

D.

Hi V. - I can completely relate - I live in a condo and do not want my sons screams to annoy everyone - although they'd understand every now and then certainly. My son is now 37 months and honestly never been a good sleeper. However once it seemed he was on a good groove, he'd go back to being up 2-3 times a night needing to be soothed. I mentioned this to his music teacher and she said kids go through different phases of separation anxiety between 2 and 3 so it may just be his needing to be reassured that you and your husband are there and he isn't alone. Hang in there - it will get better!

Hey Val, have you thought of putting a bed for him in your room and trying it that way? Sometimes just knowing that you are there is a big help especially if he is scared or unaware of his surroundings!! I went through almost the same thing with my now 4 year old, Haylee.

What time do you put him to bed? Have you started putting him to bed later than usual? Too late of a bedtime causes babies and toddlers to wake at night because they are overtired. My 19 mo old is in bed by 8 p.m. at the latest and sleeps until 8 in the morning. Anyway, just a thought. I hope things improve...

You might want to check to make sure he does not have an ear infection.

he may be having night terrors. there is not much you can do for them. when he screams does he seem to be awake and aware of what he is doing, or is he still half asleep. if he is still asleep, he is having a night terror. different from a nightmare. most kids who have them, don't want to be touched while they are screaming. my son wants to be held, but he will cry for about 20 min in my arms, my daughter had these from 18 months to about two and a half. she didn't want to be touched. i have a nephew who runs around his room when he has them and his mom has to stand in his doorway to make sure he doesn't hurt himself. these seem to be worse when kids are over tired at bed time, so you may try an earlier bed time for a little while, it cant hurt to try.