Expert: David Olson, MD - 6/29/2009

Question
My 9 mo old, also a 11-12 hr sleeper has suddenly in past 2 weeks gone from happy sleeper/napper twice a day to waking up around 2-3AM crying and wants to get up for the day at 5AM. Normal wake up is 7:30. We've tried putting her down earlier - to no avail.She will go down as early as 5:30 but wake up times stay the same. She just learned how to pull her self up to a sitting position and we find her in that position in her crib. We do not CIO, as have never had to before and not comfortable with it. Also, she is battling teething I believe - none have come through but she just seems to be uncomfortable. She is also on amox. for double ear infection/sinus infection. If this is the cause for the shift, what do i do to correct her 5am wakening? Also her 3am waking? Thank you,

Answer
Hi, michelle,

Make sure that her last waking memory (LWM) is of her crib and not of you.  Even if before the ears and the teeth she did well falling asleep in your arms and then being transferred to the crib asleep, she may not do this now.  Give her a dose of Tylenol before bed to eliminate the pain problem, comfort her and then put her to bed awake.  She will probably cry for a bit.  Whether you are comfortable with this or not, this is the way to get her back to her usual good sleep habits.

Sleep is tenuous and even a slight change (teeth or ear infection or stomach pain from antibiotics) can change sleep in an adverse way.

Good luck, Dr. Olson