Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!gatech!cuae2!ihnp4!houxm!mtuxo!ahj From: ahj@mtuxo.UUCP (a.johnson) Newsgroups: misc.kids Subject: Re: 1 year old sleeping problems Message-ID: <2132@mtuxo.UUCP> Date: Tue, 14-Oct-86 14:13:38 EDT Article-I.D.: mtuxo.2132 Posted: Tue Oct 14 14:13:38 1986 Date-Received: Thu, 16-Oct-86 08:28:20 EDT References: <1376@ihlpl.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Holmdel NJ Lines: 51 > Our 1 year old is having some problems sleeping at night. It seems that > Matt will wake up on the average of twice a night. He will stand in his > crib and scream for attention. His cry is not really a cry but more of a > scream for us to come and get him. When my wife or I pick him up all is > well. This started about 4 months ago and we both assumed it was a phase. > Unfortunately it seems to be getting worse. We normally bring him into > our bed and my wife will nurse him until he falls back to sleep. We then > will put him back in his crib. > > Our pediatrician assures us that there is nothing unusual with this behaviour > but I tend to disagree. The doctor also wants my wife to continue nursing. > He insists that it is really the best way to go (He tells us he was nursed > until three years of age). Matt is eating table foods along with baby food. > The nursing is mostly for putting him to sleep. > > Since this is our first child and I've gotten some great responses from the > net in the past, I thought I would toss this one out for some experienced > advice. > > Thanks in Advance, > Andy Gezik *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** I've read the responses about letting the babies cry and I'll admit that I've never been able to do it. When my 6 month old crys at night its because he's hungry and he gets a bottle of formulae with 2-3 tablespoons of cereal in it. He usually drinks about 6 ounces before falling back to sleep. If he wakes up again right after that feeding, then he gets a pacifier. I've read the books and heard what the doctors say, but they don't have to listen to the screaming. The rememdy is extremely old fashioned, but it works. When my 2-3/4 year old wakes up, he also usually wants something to eat, a cookie, a juice cup or whatever. So we get up and go to the kitchen. We may have a half a cup of yougert, or some raisins or a cup of warm milk and then its back to bed. Sometimes he wakes up and wants one of his cars -- we get it and then go back to bed. When he doesn't want to go to bed at night, I lay down with him -- and we get to spend some quiet time together, talking and playing with his cars. Many times I'll fall asleep with him and wind up at 11 o'clock washing up the dinner dishes. I guess that I'm saying is that I feel its more important for me to to be there when they need me. I go to work every day and they go to the babysitters and nursery school. You've got to do what you're comfortable with -- I'm not comfortable letting my kids cry for 30 minutes. I recently read somewhere that a child's scream is 10-15 decibles above what adults consider to be a comfortable noise range -- that's why its so nerve grating. Good Luck Aeyjay