my son lately wont sleep at night at all. he stays up as late as 1 in the morning. we tried to just let him cry himself to sleep but he gets histerical adn it sounds like he is really in pain or somthing. but once we bring him back down stairs he is FINE!! he sleeps very well during the day. i thought maybe he just didnt like his crib but i know that isnt true now because i just went and layed him down in his crib, there is daylight in there. he is sleeping just fine. could he be scared of the dark adn doesnt want to be alone in it? and what can i do since its impossible for me to sleep with lights on?
2007-03-13 08:19:24 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
My baby is afraid of the dark and I know how you are feeling about the whole cry themselves to sleep thing. Invest in a soft night light and sleep with one of his blankets next to your skin for a few nights then when it smells of you put it next to him at night when he goes to bed and it will comfort him if he is scared.
Good luck!
2007-03-13 08:24:00 · answer #1 · answered by angelcakes 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Both my sons have been afraid of the dark since they were babies. Buy a nice lamp with a fun theme and not quite enough light t read by but enough to make sure there are no spooky shadows. Remove any lage tings (stuffed creatures, the vacuum cleaner etc) before bed to make sure nothing "moves" in the night. And now is a good time to check the decor, even the happiest face can look scary in the dark, he is too little to imagine that but it will come. Shapes and decor that is painted onto the wall or is at least flat, disappears in the dark and doesn't make shadows. Friendly faces on dolls and stuffed animals can become Chucky if its dark and you're scared. Get animals with just bead eyes and a sewn on smile, stay away from life-like stuff in the bedroom at night. Building these good habits in you will prevent your son's toys from turning on him when he's three.
2007-03-13 15:31:51 · answer #2 · answered by Huggles-the-wise 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is very normal for a child that age. Try putting him in the bed at an early time and keeping him up more during the day. He may be sleeping too much during the day to sleep at night. I just went thru this myself. When my 1 yr old will not go to sleep, I turn the radio on in her room (along with a night light) as loud as I can stand it and let her fall asleep with it on. I then go in after about an hour of not hearing her crying and turn it down low. I also have one of those fish scene night lights( the one with the motions and sounds) that you can get at any Wal-Mart or most shopping centers. That helps alot. Also try the night lights that you can attach to the side rail of the bed that you can get at Wal-Mart. Good luck!!!
P.S. Try getting a hairdrier and blowing it across the bottom of his feet. I forgot to mention that earlier, but I did this and it worked like a charm.
2007-03-13 15:45:23 · answer #3 · answered by GA Girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried using a night light?? We have one plugged in under our little girls crib. It gives off just enough light to let them know where they are and that things are OK. Also have you tried leaving the door open until he falls asleep?? Just him seeing the light on in another room might be comfort enough....I really wish that there was instructions with babies..would life not be much easier...lol lol..hope this helps...
2007-03-17 11:53:13 · answer #4 · answered by BEAK72 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does your son not go to bed a few hours before you? If so then put him in the cot with the light on then if he falls asleep put the light off before u go to bed.
If not - Well there is bound to be some type of baby light u can buy for this kid of thing...
2007-03-13 15:35:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It’s unlikely at 5 months. It sounds like he is having separation anxiety – not having you there to go to sleep or waking up and finding you not there. Does he calm down as soon as you enter the room and greet him?
If so, I would suggest getting him into new sleep habits. He needs to learn how to get himself to sleep and back to sleep when he wakes at night.
He should be able to soothe himself to sleep by finding a thumb, binky or stuffy, but you may need to help him learn self-comforting techniques. Most of the experts agree that you should try to avoid music, lighting, feeding, etc. to fall asleep. If you do, he'll need the same things every time to go to bed or when he wakes up at night before he can drop off again.
If you don’t have a bedtime routine, start now. A bedtime routine helps him wind down and get ready for sleep. This can be a bath, a couple of stories or a lullaby, but do the same things in the same order at the same time of night. Babies love and need routine.
Put him to bed awake, once in bed stay with him for 5-10 minutes, then tell him good-night and leave the room. Give him about 5 minutes to cry and then go in and talk to and comfort him, but don't pick her up or take him down stairs. Do this for 1-2 minutes TOPS, tell him good-night and leave the room. Now give him about 10 minutes to cry, do the same routine as above, then go to 15 min, and 20, and so on.
It is MUCH harder on you than him. In about 3 days it may take him 5-10 minutes to fall asleep.
If he wakes up at night, give him 5 minutes before going to him. Do the same comforting as above - talk to and comfort him, but don't pick him up…. If he keeps waking at night every 2-3 days make the time he waits longer, from 5 minutes to 10 and so on. He will then learn how to get back to sleep on his own.
Take care - you'll do great!
2007-03-13 16:05:59 · answer #6 · answered by g-lady 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is more a separation axiety at night. As soon as you put them down they know you will be gone for hours! They always want to be with you. Next time try turning off all the lights downstairs and see if he becomes scared then. If not, you will know he just wants to be with you.
My son does it sometimes with us and we let him fall asleep and then put him in his crib and it works for us.
Also, try a night lite in his room if you think it is fear related!
good luck!
2007-03-13 15:54:36 · answer #7 · answered by qpook 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would try to keep him awake during the day time and turn a night light on for him at night.
2007-03-13 15:24:38 · answer #8 · answered by Chris B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
how about a very soft night light -put it so the crib blocks it from your view--and far enough away from the crib to be safe!
2007-03-13 15:24:09 · answer #9 · answered by NuncProTunc 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
put a good night light on under or by his bed. My daughter was like that and I sware that was what was wrong with her and she just finally out grew it ( she is 14 months now)
ps if there is anyway that you can put him in another room just put him in there with a lamp on
2007-03-13 15:42:01 · answer #10 · answered by mommy of 2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋