Light Sleeper

Updated on April 07, 2007
A.G. asks from Sioux Falls, SD
12 answers

My son just turned one years old. He is a very light sleeper. He wakes up every hour during the night and needs to be helped back to sleep. This help includes nursing him, giving him his pacifier, and holding him. We co-sleep so he is in our bed to reduce the number of times I'd have to get out of bed to get him. Any thoughts or ideas on how to get a light sleeper to sleep more soundly at night.

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A.B.

answers from Davenport on

HI MY NAME IS A. AND I'AM NEW TO MAMASOURCE, AND I THINK I CAN HELP YOU, TRY PLAYING CLASSICAL MUSIC OR ANY KIND OF KIDS
MUSIC. YOU CAN ALSO TRY A TOY OR A STUFF ANIMAL,OR EVEN A SIPPY
CUP TO COMFORT HIM.MY YOUNGEST WENT THRUOGH IT ALSO, AND ALL OF THEM WORK FOR ME. I HOPE THIS WILL HELP YOU OUT. GOOD LUCK.

SINCERLY A.

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E.H.

answers from Des Moines on

The most important thing is to get him in his own crib, for your sanity as much as for his! Try the reassurance technique, which saved our lives! It's basically letting him cry it out, but every 5 minutes or so, go in the room and pat him on the back, tell him you love him, then leave the room. Usually after 20-30 min. they'll go to sleep. Now, if he gets really hysterical, pick him up, calm him down again, and start over. It's rough the first few nights, but I swear it works. They learn that you're still around, but that they can sleep on their own.
I really hope this helps!
E.

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H.G.

answers from Kansas City on

My son was also a light sleeper and we co-slept until he was about 7 months old (we b/f until 1 year). I was never getting any sleep and was miserable! What worked for me was trying his crib. I was really amazed that he slept there because he seemed so dependent on me to put him back to sleep (it seeemed like he nursed ALL night). But, he is actually really good at getting himself back to sleep, he just rolls around till he falls back asleep, as long as he's not bumping into his "food" he always did ok on his own. He's 19 months now and if I'm up late sometimes I hear him wake up and bump into his crib rails, but he never cries! I hope you find something that works for you!

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S.S.

answers from Omaha on

I have a 6 month old son and he was a light sleeper as well. From the day we came home from the hospital with him we had him in our bed for the same reason. Last month I put him in his crib just to see how he'd sleep and he actually sleeps better in there. I was really sad at first that he wasn't sleeping with us anymore but we all get a better nights sleep now. We put a little radio in his room and if he does wake up in the night we turn on classical music and he goes right back to sleep. Give your little guy's crib a try for one night and see how he does.
Best wishes!

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A.D.

answers from Great Falls on

A.,

Hi! I would definitly agree with a lot of the other post on here about trying to get him in his own bed. Maybe keep it in your room untell he gets used to it and then gradually move him into his own room. Another great thing to try is a sound machine. It seems kind of loud at first but I use one with both of my girls and they definitly sleep longer sence we have started using them. Plus they help dround out all the other noise going on in your house. I can vacume while my girls sleep!!! They are awsome! Hope this helps:)
~A.

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H.R.

answers from Sioux Falls on

Hello, My name is H. and I would suggest to put a fan in his room and keep it on during the night. My daughter who is 1 year old also is a light sleeper. When we bought the fan we made sure that is wasn't one that said very quiet, or such we bought the fan for the constant noise so when it is on you have a constant humm.
This seems to work good for our daughter hope it helps some.

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A.R.

answers from Omaha on

I have a 17 month old girl. I would probably put him into his own bed and get some sort of noise maker (i.e., noise machine, fan, humidifier, etc.) and put it in his room at night to drown out the house noises. My daughter used to be a very light sleeper too (I also would have to nurse, rock, and put her back to sleep) and I was getting up with her 2-3 times a night. Since we started using a humidifier at night, it drowns out the outside noises and she MAYBE gets up one time now at night.

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S.P.

answers from Great Falls on

I would try to get him in his own bed. My oldest didn't sleep through the night until I put him in his own bed. If you're still nursing, I'd consider weaning him. Even if you get him to his own crib in your room. That may help.

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A.D.

answers from Great Falls on

A., my first question is are you ok with your son sleeping with you? It seems everyone suggests that you get him his own bed, but if you enjoy him in your bed why? I too have a 7 month old that does not sleep very deeply. She begins the night in her crib, but if the heater kicks on, or the dog goes bumping around in her room at night she wakes up. I work 10-12 hour days, and do not have the time or energy to fight with her at night, so I just go get her and bring her to bed. Recently she has been on beneadril for an allergy, and so she is sleeping through the night, and what I have found is that I don't sleep as well! I thought I sleep great once she slept on her own, but I don't. Just like when my husband is gone. She is a part of our family and we love having her in our bed. This is my time with her and I treasure it. If you and your husband are ok with him in your bed, don't stress. he won't grow up to be weird, or even in your bed at 10. I slept with my parents until I was 3, and then just as easily moved into my own bed. My brother and sister also co-slept and my parents had no problem moving them into their own beds when they got a bit older. We are all very well adjusted and very confident with strong relationships with our parents. Your little guy is only little for a short time, take advantage of it. Soon enough he will not want you to hug him in public... cuddle and love him. It makes him feel secure. Think about it this way, would you like to sleep in a separate room without your husband? No. So why would your child that loves you more than any thing in his entire little life want to sleep alone without you? I sometime run into people that make me feel bad for our choice to co-sleep they try to fill me with doubt about the future. I encourage you, if you are happy with co-sleeping don't let others pressure you to conform to the "norm".

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N.S.

answers from Dubuque on

Hun am in the same boat my baby girl will be 1 years old on Friday and she still wont sleep in the night I do to bring her in bed with me at night so I can get some sleep. I have no answers for you so If you find out some send them my way.... She is in our room because there are only 2 bedrooms and my boys are in one and we are in another.. MY husband is in AL for schooling so we can go back active duty.. SO I have no where else to put her and I Cant leave the room without her waking and crying for me I cant let her cry cause she has breathing problems and then she hyper ventlates.. SO I am stuck.. Hope you will get some answers and I will check yours out so I can get some help with it.... toooo O GOOD luck hun!

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J.M.

answers from Des Moines on

my dau. is a light sleeper too. and she sleeps better in her own bed. I would try to get him in his own soon so that he doesn't become too dependent upon using you to soothe himself. It may be rough for the first few nights but if you hang in there he'll figure it out. I did read something that said if he wakes up, don't talk to him, just quietly put him back. The more you converse with him, the more it stimulates him to wake in order to focus on your sound. And that just makes it harder because he'll be more tired.

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J.M.

answers from Bismarck on

This is going to sound really mean, but you need to let him cry it out himself. INstead of going to him and nursing him or sticking his paci back in his mouth you need to leave him in his crib and let him cry it out. If you do this consistantly after about 2 or 3 nights he will sleep soundly and then be able to put himself back to sleep. Also you will be able to sleep better too. I Know it sounds mean and its really hard to do but take it from the voice of experience work on it now before your child is 4 and 5 and still waking up 6-7 times a night crying and wanting you and still sleeping with you.

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