11 Month Old Sleep Advice
TL;DR: 11MO had a 4-day success with Ferber, now in a total sleep "trash" era with 3-hour split nights. Need schedule tweaks or Ferber advice. No CIO.
The Situation
Our 11-month-old has historically been a poor sleeper, frequently dealing with split nights (awake for 2–3 hours). We transitioned from a "Chair Method" to a modified Ferber. It worked miraculously for 4 days, then completely regressed. Now, we are facing hourly wakes, intense crying, and 3-hour-long middle-of-the-night battles. We are full-time working parents and are reaching a breaking point. We are not interested in full "Cry It Out" (CIO).
Daily Schedule & Routine
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Morning Wake | 6:00 AM – 7:00 AM (Occasional 5:00 AM wakes) |
| Naps | 2 Naps: 30m morning / 75-105m afternoon (Daycare) |
| Last Nap End | Usually between 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM |
| Bedtime Routine | Bath at 6:45 PM, Bottle (in room/dark), Bed by 7:00–8:00 PM |
| Sleep Status | Drowsy but awake (usually); occasionally falls asleep on bottle |
The Struggle
We recently attempted "real" Ferber. He went down in 45 minutes but woke at 2:00 AM and stayed up for 3 hours despite consistent check-ins. The next night was a total regression with hourly wakes until we resorted to a recliner sleep-share just to survive.
Questions for the Group
| Topic | Question |
|---|---|
| Consistency | We skipped Ferber last night due to exhaustion; should we restart tonight? |
| Naps | Is he ready to transition to 1 nap at 11 months? |
| Development | Could this be purely teething (has 6 teeth) or a developmental milestone? |
| Encouragement | Since he has slept through for a 4-day stretch, is that a sign he’s capable? |
| Regress | Why can he put himself to sleep some nights but finds it impossible now? |