13 MO tossing and turning all night - what's going on?

[Honeybee]

Hi all

My 13 month old is sleeping so badly at night at the moment, and I'm trying to figure out why. He's in bed with us, and he tosses and turns all night, crawls all over me in his sleep, is constantly on and off the breast and last night woke up crying. It's exhausting me as I don't get any solid sleep. He seems to move around all night.

My two hypotheses are that it's either teething-related, or as a result of his 12 month vaccinations, which he had 12 days ago. Although it might have been going on since before that too from memory. He did get quite a few mozzie bites a couple of weeks ago, and I think they caused him a lot of discomfort at night, but they've healed and he's still doing it.

Is this common baby behaviour, to be so restless? Do other people's babies toss and turn like this? Could it be teething that's causing such bad sleeping? I'm getting a bit desperate. Although I don't really think there's anything I can do to stop it, if I at least had some idea what's causing it I would be a bit happier.

If anyone has any ideas, I'd be grateful to hear them

Thanks!

xx

[~Kim~]

No real advise as I suffer this too.
My DS is unreal at tossing and turning, but has done it since birth. He's a little younger than your DS, but I just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone.
I have found it worse when he learns something major - like this week he started walking.

[Honeybee]

Thanks for replying Kim. I'm sorry to hear your little boy does it too. Well, maybe it is just a phase. DS has really amped up the walking lately, so perhaps that has something to do with it. I really need to get a good night's sleep soon!

[onthefly]

Oh my goodness yes! It's ok when he's happy to sleep alone - he can toss and turn and roll around all he wants then - but when he needs mummy to stay with him it's awful!
It might be restlessness due to developmental stuff...
My DS has always been like this, which is why we only co-sleep when when really have to. He'll take up a whole queen size bed

[Honeybee]

That sounds terrible Marcellus! Maybe my DS will be like this for ever now? I am hoping that it's a developmental phase. Otherwise he's going to have to move to the cot, or we'll have to get a king sized bed! I can't imagine he gets a very good sleep tossing and turning like that. I know I don't.

[onthefly]

Funnily enough we recently moved him to a single bed (from a queen-size mattress - gave up on the cot a loooong time ago) and he's been doing ok. We're actually out at my parents' place for the moment where he sleeps in a queen size bed...when I'm lucky I get to sleep in the other room.

If he's moving around lots the cot might not work too well - DS hated hitting the sides.

[~me~]

Have you had his ears checked? My DS2 never used to get any ear infection related symptoms other than not sleeping at night.
Hope it improves for you!

[Traveller]

my 2nd son and daughter are like this. DS2 is 4 now and I cannot co-sleep with him due to him tossing and turning all night. I guess some people are just restless sleepers from birth

[Honeybee]

Marcellus - good point re the sides of the cot. I already have a single mattress on the floor at the end of the bed, in case he falls off the bed. Perhaps he could start sleeping on that. Now that I think of it, I might try that - then I can lie with him during the night to resettle, and then get back in our bed - brilliant!

Heather - I would definitely suspect ear infection, as he tugs at his ears a lot. But he saw his GP about a week ago and his ears were fine.

Traveller - interesting, maybe he is just a restless sleeper, but am still keeping my fingeres crossed that it resolves itself soon.

Thanks for the replies everyone
xx

[Dansta]

my DS is also 13 months and has become a restless sleeper. but i'm fairly sure its developmental. he's *just* worked out how to pull himself to standing against his cot he's also looking like he has 4 teeth wanting to pop though at once - he tugs at his ears also which can be a sign of teething (DS had a hearing test at the start of the week which was all clear) so maybe its a development thing

[cheekyfrog]

My DS feeds off and on all night when he's teething and when he's coming down with a cold. I suspect he starts with a sore throat and he's after comfort or it's soothing. DS is still co-sleeping with me. I have been thinking of moving him into his own bed tough as I'm sure it's me being there that wakes him up now. I have enjoyed not having to get up during the night though! Hope your DS settles down and sleeps easier soon.