I have an 18 month old who does not sleep..what can i do to make or help him sleep better?

Question

my son is 18 months old, and has never slept through the night. i have tried everything, i mean EVERYTHING and nothing seems to work. he wont sleep in his or my bed through the night. i thought maybe he would sleep better in my bed, but that doesnt work either. he wont cry himself to sleep either, he will scream and scream for hours upon hours and just wont give up. when it comes time for bed, he just gets wiggly. i swear if it were possible for kids that young to have restless leg syndrome, i swear he would have it..he kicks his legs like something is bothering them...every night he does this. i dont know what to do...

Answer 1

Does he nap?  Toddlers can get overstimulated if they don't get enough rest.  I'm sure this is an exhausting ordeal for you.  At this age though your son knows how to get control.  Make sure his bedtime is the same every night.  And keep him on a routine.  Maybe, bath, story, prayer, kiss goodnight.  Then he knows what to expect.  Be diligent at being consistent.  Ignore his tantrums.  Persevere, it has to get better.  If this doesn't work, beg the pediatrician for options.

Answer 2

Sorry Lee. I think you should see an expert - perhaps starting with an experienced pediatrician.  

Answer 3

when he wakes up is he thirsty? some babies sleep with their mouth open due to some nasal problem (sorry i dont know the term) and they need surgery to correct it. bring your son to the doctor and have him check everything is ok. once you've got the all clear, whatever you do needs to be consistent. you can't start something and then give in. also, there are sleep clinics for young children and your health visitor should be able to refer you to one. my son was referred to one but i managed to get him to sleep on my own before the appointment.

i really feel for you though. after 10 months of being woken every 2 hours i was ready for a good nights sleep!

Answer 4

I have 2 and half year old and am very very picky about her schdule. Maybe you need to make sure he has a STRICT schedule with as little interuptions as possible. Children need a schedule their body will start to just follow is auto. What is he eating? Try to stick with milk and water limit juice... NO SODA. Look toward healthy foods with no artificial colors and syrups they are proven to make children over hyper and behave worse. If u do juice maybe just once a day and half water. He is too little to have candy and things so try the less sugary snacks. Also make sure he gets up at the same time everyday and takes a nap at the same time and maybe limit it to an hour although my daughter needs 2 hours. And make bedtime a strict time and maybe dont allow anything to eat 2 hours before that can give the child more energy. Make him sleep in his own bed if you get him thinking if he crys you will put him in yours you will never get him out! If he cries let him. he will get use to it. It wont kill him, it will be hard but it will be worth it in about 2 weeks! :)

Answer 5

Maybe he isnt satisfied food wise. Have you tried giving him some supper about half hour before bedtime? Maybe a couple of rusks with milk or some Ready Brek?

I had to do this with my daughter. Also limit the anmount of sleep he has during the day.

Could be a possibility he is simply scared of the dark - maybe try a night light to see if it makes him feel more relaxed?

Answer 6

I wish I could offer more help. My daughter slept from 3am to 5am every night until she was about 4. The good news is, by age seven, she would drop what she was doing, get herself ready, and get into the bed by 8pm. All on her own! All I can tell you is that it does get better.  

Answer 7

Does he nap a lot during the day?  Maybe limit him to only 1 nap around noon time.  Give him a bottle with water (or sippy cup) in his crib maybe it will soothe him more..  do u give him a bath every night right before bed? try to use the lavender wash and lotion.