Reasons Why My 13-Month-Old Is Waking Up 4 or 5 Times a Night

Babies have a tendency to wake several times per night, even after one year of age. While this is not usually a cause for concern, it can certainly put a damper on your sleeping habits, especially if your baby was a sound sleeper before. There are a variety of reasons why your baby might be waking in the middle of the night; discovering the cause can help you soothe your child and get back to bed.

  1. Separation Anxiety

    • Many babies develop separation anxiety around the age of eight months, and this can last well into the second year of life. Many babies will experience separation anxiety when a parent leaves for work or to go out, but some babies will experience this anxiety when being put to bed. Your baby may wake several times during the night in fear you are not coming back and cry to get your attention. You can help your baby deal with separation anxiety by soothing her to sleep and staying in her room until she is sleeping soundly. Some parents choose to move a portable crib into their own bedroom until the anxiety has passed.

    Teething

    • Any parent who has had a toothache can understand that teething is painful. Around one year of age, children may be getting one or several teeth. This can cause pain in the mouth, jaw and ear area, all of which can keep your child awake during the night. Help your child deal with the pain of teething by giving her some children's Tylenol or Advil about an hour before bedtime. You can also use warm compresses or teething gel.

    Illness

    • Any illness, from a common cold to a serious virus, can result in your baby waking up periodically in the middle of the night. This might be due to a stuffy nose and trouble with breathing, an upset stomach and vomiting, or just generally feeling uncomfortable and achy. Give your child any prescribed medication before bedtime or Tylenol/Advil if no medication was prescribed. Run a humidifier to help with breathing and dress your baby in warm clothing in case he kicks off his blanket in the middle of the night.

    Learning New Concepts

    • Babies are learning and growing by leaps and bounds at one year of age. As babies start to learn new concepts, such as walking, talking and climbing, they want to practice these as much as possible. Sleep becomes a distraction that interferes with learning, so many babies will awake and want to play or practice their newly discovered talents. Giving your baby plenty of opportunity to play during the day can help alleviate this issue, but it may also be a phase you just have to wait out.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • How to Make Monster Spray
      Are those pesky monsters keeping you up at night? If you have children chances are at one time or another your home will be invaded by them. If you have tried everything in your power and your child is still afraid of the monster thats ready to pop o
    • Toddler Sleep Training
      Sleep is not often thought of as a skill; however, when you are parenting a toddler it may help to consider sleeping a skill that needs to be taught. Children seem to be born with an innate resistance to sleep that does not end with infancy. When a
    • What Is Sleep Regression in Toddlers?
      You probably thought your sleep regression days were over once your baby days were behind you. And yet, toddlers can also go through these same phases, in part because of their near-constant growth and development. From building on their gross motor