My 16mth old dd has always been a GREAT sleeper. She goes to bed and we don't hear from her until the next morning.However, the last 6 weeks or so have brought troubles and we can't figure out why. FYI- She naps one time each day for about 2 hrs, but sometimes 3. Bedtime at 8pm-about 7am.

She goes to bed fine, falls asleep pretty quickly, then wakes up crying hard anywhere between 1:30-2:30am. I've never been one to rush in at a cry. I wait and see if she will go back to sleep. She used to cry out in her sleep, but it lasted 30sec. and then she was gone again. Now she wakes up crying hard, doesn't stop. When one of us goes to her, she stops almost before you're to the crib. I rub her back, talk to her, she doesn't jump up to be picked up, she just seems calmed as soon as she sees us. She is totally awake, and the times that we do pick her up, she just wants to play. She's wide awake! I put her back down and she's calm for about a half hour then back to this again. I return to her, she's fine when she sees me and then wants to be picked up and play. There are some nights where we go through this for 3 hours!

We've always done CIO and believe me this little lady had her share of crying nights lately but it doesn't seem to be getting rid of the behavior. She'll cry for maybe 20-30 min. before she stops and goes back to sleep for good. It seems like as a baby when we did CIO it took about 3 days and that was the end of it. She only had one small phase and she just wanted to be held all night. I can't imagine why she is awake and ready to go in the middle of the night. We've never left her room in the middle of the night, never had a playtime, there's nothing different about her room or her pajamas or blankets...I just can't figure it out!
She's not in pain as far as I can tell. Like I said, almost as soon as we walk in the room she's calmed. She has never slept anywhere but her crib other than when she was very tiny sometimes in the bassinet during the day.
Thoughts or suggestions?

By Amecmom on Friday, November 4, 2005 - 08:11 pm:

Could she be hungry, or scared about something? I seem to remember my son doing something similar. Hope you get it figured out.
Ame

By Trina~moderator on Saturday, November 5, 2005 - 10:17 am:

Teething? Ear infection? (Both my kids have had ear infections in the past without a fever. The only indicator was disrupted sleep.) Separation anxiety? Nightmares? Night Terrors? Also, developmental milestones tended to disrupt DS and DD's sleep.

Good information:
Sleep Concerns

Toddler Sleep

By Reds9298 on Saturday, November 5, 2005 - 12:35 pm:

Thanks guys. When this first began, Natalie had just mastered walking and I figured that was it. But that's been a while now! Separation anxiety is the only thing that really fits it seems, but she doesn't seem to be experiencing that during the day, and she takes good naps and *goes* to bed at night just fine. She's slept wonderfully the last 2 nights, but the night before that was the same up and down...just cry until mom/dad gets there, then immediately stop. We hug for a few minutes, put her down, totally fine going back down until about a half hour later then the same thing again. I'm racking my brain!

Kiddos.....who can figure 'em out?!

By Trina~moderator on Saturday, November 5, 2005 - 12:53 pm:

LOL, Deanna! I don't think that ever ends - the figuring them out part. Keeps us on our toes.