AboutMary Pat, R.N. Expertise I am happy to answer general non-diagnostic questions on infant & child care, infant & toddler feedings, discipline, illnesses, and how to access resources for the child with special needs.
Experience I am a pediatric nurse, an R.N. with 40 years experience first as manager of a community hospital pediatric department & 11 years working in a private pediatric practice. I have managed more than 100,000 phone calls from parents in private practice.
Question My son is 14 months old. He takes one nap through the day between 11 and 12pm. This usually lasts 1 - 2 hrs (sometimes I have to resettle him after 45-50mins) At nights he is given a bottle and is in bed between 7 and 7.30pm I put him into his cot turn off the light and leave. I sometimes have to come back once or twice to reassure him but mostly he puts himself to sleep. He wakes several times through the night sometimes up to hourly. I am not sure why this is happening. I do let him come and sleep in our bed from around 4am or so if he isn't sleeping well so that I can get at least a few hours sleep but he will still continually wake even when sleeping with me. Is this waking normal for his age? What can I do to minimize it and encourage him to sleep all night?
Answer Danielle:
All young children awaken during the night, some more than once. Most return themselves to sleep on their own.
A huge mistake you are making is taking your son into your bed. This is a habit that will become harder to break unless you stop the practice now. Your son's sleep may interrupt as he looks forward to that snuggling in your bed. Big mistake.
You just need to check in on him if he is fussing in his bed when he awakens and lie him back down and leave him be. He may cry and carry on for a while but you have to ignore this.
That is the only way to improve his sleeping habits.
