Please help me help my LO sleep!

Quick back story: DS has never been as good a sleeper as DD, but they have been STTN since ~7 months. A few weeks ago he started struggling with sleep maybe 1 out of every 4 nights. I'd hear him doing this whining/moaning noise, not really crying just frustated. When I check on him, he is in a sleep position, on his belly with knees pulled up under him, head down. I think if he didn't want to sleep he'd be standing up in the crib like he does in the morning or after naps. It's like he's trying to sleep, but can't!!

He goes down great - puts his thumb in his mouth, grabs a lovey, and settles down. Now, for the last few days, he's been struggling. For most of the night I'll hear him in there moaning, maybe 10 - 30 minutes out of every couple of hours. If I go get him out, he's playful, happy, just fine while I'm holding him. If I put him down, he gets upset, and the way he acts tells me he is definitely very tired.

Is this all the expected sleep disturbances from major milestones? They are getting close to walking, they got their 12-mo shots on Monday, and I know DD is getting molars and so I think he might be getting his, too.

Any tricks, ideas, thoughts, suggestions? We still use white noise to help them sleep, so luckily he doesn't seem to disturb DD. I forget how frustrated I get when I start losing sleep - I happily clean, miss meals, have little alone time, but please just let me have my sleep!!

 

I hear ya on the sleep thing! I can put up with almost anything as long as I have a good night's sleep!

This sounds a lot like teething to me. Jack (my worst sleeper) gets very restless when he's teething. He will wake up and cry sometimes several times a night; thank goodness he mostly goes right back to sleep now (this wasn't always the case). Have you tried giving your DS some ibuprofen 10-15 minutes before bed time? It can't hurt and might give him some relief. Molars have been the absolute worst for us. Nate, who usually pops teeth like it's no big deal, has been acting like he's possessed and he's cutting 4 molars. :wacko:

I wouldn't discount the milestone idea either. I know my boys act really different and don't sleep as well when they're working on something. Looking back, I think part of Jack's horrible sleep disturbances between 10-13 months was a combination of cutting teeth and learning to cruise/walk. Talk about a perfect storm! :blink:

Good luck, and I hope you figure it out soon! :hug:

 

Thanks!! It's encouraging that you thought the same things I did!! I think we will try something tonight...see if it helps.

 

I agree with Valerie...Ibuprofen worked wonders around here for teething. I also used teething tablets and those also helped out. I did find that my two would have sleep disturbances when they are working on a new milestone, so that might also play into it. I hope your DS and you have a better night sleeping tonight!

 

When I got home from work, his fever was 103 and he was miserable. He had a measles-looking rash all over him. Older DS didn't have a reaction to the MMR until 14 days after shot, so I was surprised the rash would break out so quickly. We gave him Motrin and the fever went down to 100. But, he slept fantastic last night. Now thinking the fussiness was probably due to the immunizations, but you never know for sure, right?

Just so happy that all of us were able to sleep soundly through the night!!

 

Wow, I'm sorry he was so miserable, but I'm glad you figured it out! Hopefully he'll be right as rain soon. Yay for sleep!!

 

I was just going to say "he might be sick" thats when my boys stop sleeping as well (aka well being waking up once or twice a night versus 6 times a night)...I hope he is better soon!