Night Wakings...opinions wanted

Okay....so this is turning into a real problem for our family and I am looking for some opinions on this...

So Noah get his bath at around 6.30/7 pm and is in bed by about 7.30 every night. He will go to sleep right away, but will wake up at around 9/10 pm and its at that time it all goes pear shaped. He can't settle himself down and get himself back to sleep. This has been going on for probably February, but in the past I have brought him downstairs into the living room to have a play around, then we would put him back to sleep. NOW I have decided that its time that he sleep through the night and I am keeeping him up in his boudoir. I have tried controlled crying, but he get too hysterical for my own personal limits and I can't let him get that hysterical, and to be honest, I am not being consistant at all...

I just do not know what to do. I know that he is desperate to leave his room, because last night in the middle of a tantrum he actually got up and walked out the door....

Any ideas and help would be appreciated!!!

Can you believe, the perfect Noah...not sleeping through! No, I can't believe it either!!!

Re: Night Wakings...opinions wanted

You've already hit the main issue. You have to decide what you want and then be consistent. He is confused right now about what he is supposed to be doing and thinks that there is a chance that waking will be rewarded by playtime.

Re: Night Wakings...opinions wanted

Re: Night Wakings...opinions wanted

Do you think it would help to put him to bed later? It seems like he's just taking a nap at 7:30. Maybe if you extend his bed time you'll have better luck getting him to sleep through.

Re: Night Wakings...opinions wanted

I agree with Calla - you have to be consistent - he won't fall into a routine, and know what to expect otherwise.

Have you thought about putting him to sleep earlier? Maybe he's waking because his bedtime is too early - maybe stretch him until 8 or 8:30 - let him run around like a little demon, exhaust himself, and then maybe he'll just pass out

Re: Night Wakings...opinions wanted

I have been putting him to bed a bit later, as I cut him some slack with jet lag and all, but he just wakes up later. On saturday night he woke up at 11pm. Last night he woke up at around 9.30 and didn't go back to sleep until 11.30...

I have no "Rachel" time. and everybody needs "Rachel" time (tm.)

Re: Night Wakings...opinions wanted

What if you gave him another bottle/sippy cup when he wakes up. Maybe he's going through a growth spurt and could use an extra feeding.

Re: Night Wakings...opinions wanted

Did this start happening when you went on your trip, or before then? I know Alex's sleeping schedule was muched up while we were in Israel and for a few weeks when we came back.

If that's not it, then you need to pick a specific bedtime, put him to bed everynight at that time, and then decide what you will do when he wakes up, and be consistent....

Re: Night Wakings...opinions wanted

Re: Night Wakings...opinions wanted

This has been going on for maybe 2 months...it was never a problem for us to bring him downstairs, he used to do a lap around the living room and maybe play for 20 minutes and go back to sleep...

I think the whole problem is that I have been rewarding him for bad (well not bed as in naughty) behaviour and not making him stay in bed.

Tonight we are going to be strong and let him CIO. Its 7.35 and he was falling asleep while watching "in the night garedn" he screamed through his bath, which was cut dramatically short and just wanted milk milk milk.

We will see what happens tonight! Stay tuned!

Re: Night Wakings...opinions wanted

Good Luck, it took a while with my daughter, but consistency worked the best. I too, need me time. So 8pm is her bedtime and has been for a while. If she seems not tired, then I wake her earlier. Good Luck with the cry out. I hope both you and he survive!

Re: Night Wakings...opinions wanted

We've been going through something similar with Andrew. I was thinking he was getting his molars, but it's lasted for over a month now. He goes to bed between 8:00 and 8:30 but is up by 11 wanting to play or 'go downstairs'. he cries so hysterically that I cave in and let him come into bed with us.

So I guess I"m like you where I'm not being consistent. Sometimes I try the CIO other times I pick him up and let him play for a little bit.

I hope this passes for you and you get your Rachel time back!!

Re: Night Wakings...opinions wanted

I have the exact same problem. I used to "dream feed" Jordana at 10:00. So she started waking up at 10 and I would feed her. For months I stopped, but she still always wakes up around 10. Before she could stand I would just give her the paci and she would go back to sleep. Now she can stand and she wails!!

I try to let her CIO. If I am going to bed (we share a room) then I bring her into bed with me. SHe doesn't sleep, but sometimes 30 minutes will calm her down adn I can put her back in the crib and she sleeps.

Although last night it took 3 tries

Re: Night Wakings...opinions wanted

good luck.... I was also going to suggest that you try a later bedtime. I think he is just confused because for almost 2 months when he would wake up he was "rewarded" with playtime. As the other mommies have said... whatever decision you go with just make sure you are consistent with it! for some rachel time.

Re: Night Wakings...opinions wanted

Well its 8.10 and he has been awake crying for about 10 minutes now...its going to be a long night.

Re: Night Wakings...opinions wanted

Good Luck, consistency is key!

Re: Night Wakings...opinions wanted

I am a firm believer once you put your DC in the crib for bedtime you shouldn't take DC out for the rest of the night. Because if they start to cry and you pick up the child they will do that over and over again. A baby needs to self soothe and get themselves back to sleep. Consistency is the only way once you break that the Child has got you. Of course if i think my DC is sick or something i will take her out. A good way to know is when you take DC out of the crib they immediately stop crying then you know they just want to be held. As much as it tears at you to listen to your DC cry in the long run it will help him....good luck!

Re: Night Wakings...opinions wanted

So this is how our night has gone so far...he went to bed at around 7.15, he woke up at maybe 7.55 and fell back to sleep at around 8.15, the he woke up and started to cry at 9.10, and he cried and stopped, played with his noisy toys, cried again, yelled, hollered, cried some more and after ONE WHOLE HOUR he fell asleep.

I am exhausted and had to get through the last 25 minutes of it by talking to my mother on the phone!

Here's to tomorrow night!!!

Re: Night Wakings...opinions wanted

Oh Racheeeee....what happen to our sleepy little guy?

Stay consistent...the poor babe is confused...he was thinking Hey play time at night is fun...then all of a sudden Hey where the bloody hell is my nighttime playtime?