11 month son sudden onset sleep problems

[Dreadymawma]

My bottle fed (birthing complications for mom) 11 month son has slept through the night since 3 months old. We've never had any problems with him, even when camping or other changes. His dad and I recently split (about 3 months ago). He started crawling 2 months ago. Within the last month and a half he has been slowing increasing his night wakings/feedings from one to five, and up. On a good night, he may only wake up three times. Needless to say, as a single mom, I'm exhausted. He's always been a great self soother before, never used a pacifier or nursed to sleep. I've been fully indulging his nighttime wake ups, feeding him just about every two hours, starting at about 11, 4 hours or so after I put him down. He's warm, dry, tired, takes two short naps a day on his own schedule. I don't like the CIO method but everytine he sees me he only screams harder, and the only way to get him to stop is to give him a bottle, and if he gets too worked up, he doesn't even want that until I can calm him. I am starting night one of allowing him to cry, and he's woken up twice and gone back to sleep within 15 minutes. I can't imagine this will continue and I know I will break down for any serious crying bouts. What do I do? I am exhausted and it is begin to interfere with our days together! I know he can sleep through the nights withOut feedings, he used to so well!!! What can I do!? Please help! (sorry for such a long post!)

[Dreadymawma]

I forgot to mention he is a larger than usual baby... More like an 18 month old, and he also has 6 teeth, and is pretty constantly teething, but that's never been an issue for us.

[Newmom!]

We rarely had a good night sleep my son's first 18 months - but otherwise what you are saying sounds somewhat familiar. My pediatrician told us at 8 months the baby should be able to sleep without night feedings (at least 8 hours). Starting around that time we were able to wean the night feedings, but then something would happen and I would feed him (like ill, or teething, or desperate for sleep when he did wake up). Then he would expect one feeding every night, then a few days later he would always wake up twice a night, then a few days after that he'd wake up three times each night. Each time this trend got started we had to get tough and do Cry it Out, and since I was the primary nurser - I did have my husband be the one to check on/soothe him (which I know is not a luxury you have).

Since you are single, thus the primary bottle provider, this is going to be harder for you. Ideas to try -

Cry it out, but check on him, pat his back, give a reasuring 'shhh" every several minutes so he knows he isn't abandoned (although you might just have to let him cry at his age, my own son did worse if we came back in at that age). It sounds like this is working for you - waking only twice versus 3-5 times. If he does have a "serious crying bout" go in to him, but don't pick him up from the crib and don't give him a bottle of formula. Just stay with him and sooth him. If you can stick to it for a week, it will probably get better, or even be a non-issue by then (if it doesn't get better in a week then you need to reevaluate and do something different)

Bottle of water - we provided our son with a sippy cup of water and that seemed to help. He could find it at night on his own - he still has it at 2.5 yrs old.

Stop indulging his night feedings - who wouldn't wake up for a good thing if they can get it. I know this is hard though, that is part of why I had to wean my son from night feedings at least 3 times. What helped me sometimes was reminding myself that even though it is harder to be up with him right now and soothing him without food, in the long run it will be easier because he will start sleeping through the night sooner. Other times I was too tired to care and gave in, and I know it prolonged the issue. Hopefully you'll be able to hang tight better than I did.

Sorry, I can't think of anything else. We struggled until my baby was about 18 months to get him to sleep through the night consistently - but a year later I am just forgetting all that it took. I guess that can be read as good news - you will get through this and then it will be a thing of the past.

I hope this made some sense, I think I rambled a bit. Good luck, know that you are not the only one, and that it will get better.