The toddler sleep problem:
My son turned one on the 14th October. He has never slept through the night, mostly because of reccurring ear infections/burst ear drums etc. He recently had grommets put in on the 20th October, and the week leading up to his surgery he started sleeping through from about 9pm until 5am (Mummy was very excited!). However since having the grommets he now wakes up 2-3 times a night. I don't feed him, just give him a quick cuddle then put him back to bed. I have a "no breastfeed before 5am" rule.
However, should he now be sleeping through at night for his age? Should I not cuddle him when he wakes up? Is he hungry still???
Further information:
Tell me about your daytime routine – i.e. what times does he have bottles/solids/sleeps/bedtime?
Breastfeed at around 5am, 8am, 1x bottle while I'm at work (4 hrs a day Mon-Fri), breastfeed around 2-3pm, 5-6pm and just before bed which at the moment is 8pm. He has only been having one daytime nap of about 1 - 2hrs.
Does he ever fall asleep while having his feeds/bottles, either in the day or at bedtime?
No, always awake when feeding and just has as much as he wants.
Does he use a dummy, either just to fall asleep or while he is asleep?
No, has never used a dummy.
What times does he wake in the night? Always about the same times?
The last 4 nights he has gotten up between 4-5am.
What happens when he wakes? I.e. does he grizzle/cry/scream? Is he fed when he wakes?
He cries. If it is before 4:30am ish I just give him a quick cuddle and put him straight back to bed, he settles straight away. If after 4:30 I feed him then put him back to bed.
How do you settle him at bedtime and during the night?
Feed him while reading a book to my daughter then have a little cuddle and put him to bed (awake), he does a very little grizzle for less than one minute then goes straight to sleep.
Is he swaddled or in a sleeping bag?
No, hasn't been swaddled since about 6 weeks old - kept getting out of it. I only read about the sleeping bags a couple of months ago.
Does he move about in his cot? Kick off blankets? Stand up? Bump his head on the end of the cot?
He used to move about lots (up and down the cot), but lately has been staying in the same direction, just moves around to the front & sides of cot. Occasionally kicks the blankets off. When he wakes he stands up. Yes, bumps his head on the cot most nights.
Does he have any sleep cues, e.g. fed to sleep, rocked, needs you there, mobile or music?
Dinner, bath, little play, book, breastfeed, little cuddle, bed. No mobile or music. Pat him a couple of times on his back then I leave him to sleep.
Does he have a blankie or special toy that he always has at sleep times?
No, neither of the children have had pacifiers/special toys etc.
How do you feel about leaving him to cry? Have you tried it, for how long and what happened?
I did the 5, 10, 15 min cry thing. But because he settles so fast after a quick cuddle I was able to get back to bed quicker than doing the crying thing so stopped after 3-4 nights (he was about 6 months old at the time and waking every 1.5-2hrs).
What outcome are you looking for from a sleep program?
Hoping he might sleep from 7:30-8pm until 6:30-7am - not sure if it these times are realistic?? My daughter started sleeping through at 13 months but I understand all children are different, just hoping her sleep times weren't out of the ordinary and my son might do the same??
Any other relevant information?
Just not sure about starting something like the sleeping bag thing at his age (13 months yesterday) as he is quite active (walking since 9.5 months) and not sure he would like the restriction. But I'm not totally against trying it or anything else.