My son is 19 months old and he goes to bed fine (usually) no bottle, no soother, and then he wakes up 1 hour later screaming, he has no ear infection and is not sick, it is just a habit he has picked up because we used to go get him. The only way he will go back to sleep is by leaving him in his bed to cry. Is anyone else going through this with their child? He sleeps all night after crying and we want him to learn to fall asleep on his own.
2007-06-13 06:26:50 · 16 answers · asked by fiona t 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Thanks for so many responses, we are trying a soft satin trimmed blanky for him.
2007-06-13 10:23:36 · update #1
It is working really well for those of you who said to let him cry, he has been sleeping through the night every night and only cries a little bit. Thanks.
2007-06-15 04:01:49 · update #2
you can let him scream for a few minutes, and then go in and tell him he is safe and shush him, then leave. don't pick him up.
pretty soon, after a few days, he'll understand you are nearby and safe. and that you won't be picking him up.
another thing you can do is sit quietly in the doorway not talking to him, until he can sooth himself.
he needs to learn to self-sooth.
i like the idea of teaching him to use a lovie to self-sooth too...
2007-06-13 08:01:14 · answer #1 · answered by Linda M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter has the same problem, but I just can't bear to let her cry it out for too long. After about 30 minutes, I go in there and tuck her in again and give her kisses, and then she is fine. I can't beat the bottle though, although I am switching from the bottle to the sippy cup for nighttime (she only gets a bottle to go to sleep, sippy cups are all we give her during the day).
I cherish the time that she is so little, because they don't stay little for long. I don't want to be sitting here regretting letting her cry it out instead of cuddling and holding her when she is a smart-mouthed teenager and I have to knock before I can even go into her room. Cherish the moments, seriously, they will be gone so soon.
2007-06-13 09:26:00 · answer #2 · answered by mandibunch 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our son is 16 months. He has been sleeping really well since he was about 12 months old. Goes to bed at 8, falls asleep on his own, and wakes up at 8 the next morning.
However, recently he has started to wake up crying in the night. He is cutting teeth. If I were you I would take a peek in your son's mouth to see if his gums are swollen...he could be starting to cut his "two-year molars"
When our son cries at night I go in and sing him a short song, rub his back and then tell him "goodnight" and walk back out. If he starts to cry again, I wait 5 minutes before I go back into his room. Then I go back in, help him lay down, tuck him in and walk back out without talking (I only stay about 1 minute) If he cries again, I wait 5 mins and repeat the same steps. Eventually he falls asleep.
I feel better doing it this way because I am still making an appearance to let him know I am there to comfort him, yet he is still staying in his bed and he still gets the message that he is expected to fall asleep on his own :)
2007-06-13 07:12:26 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know what your are going through I have a brother who does the same thing. He's 18 months. Normally babies at that age don't go to sleep on there on unless you introduce it to him/her slowly, for example give him comfort every time it's nap time or sleepy time and then slowly reduce being around the baby when it's time to go to sleep then they'll get used to the fact of knowing how to soother his/her self when it's time to go to sleep. It helps to play with the baby alot so when it's time to go to bed or go take a nap they'll go to sleep faster b/c there so worn out, also it helps to have a tv on to cartoons or something fun to watch for young children, where the child is is resting and/or sleeping b/c they can still be entertained while in a bed, if the tv idea doesn't work turn on the radio to soft music b/c it helps sooth the baby. It's not a good idea to leave a baby crying in a room b/c they will start to feel unprotected, and less loved. But when you have a baby that is laid back they tend to cry alot but if you have a child like my brother who is VERY hyper active he has no prob. with going to sleep on his on. So I hope my advice helps you and your loving son grow a peaceful and loving relationship with being more independent while being alone.
P.S. If you need anymore advice post up on Yahoo Answers again or drop me an email. Hope the advice works out if not sorry for wasting your time, plese let me no if it worked.
Best of Luck
Sign,
Joey: The Hero of Kindness
2007-06-13 08:04:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you are doing exactly what you should do
my daughter was the same way for about a month then it stopped
also if you stay up later then him maybe the tv or whatever is keeping him from falling asleep
this was the problem with my daughter
i just turned the tv down so she couldnt hear it i also moved her crib to the wall opposite her door so less noise got to her
2007-06-13 07:50:43 · answer #5 · answered by squeaker 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just let him cry, Crying will not hurt him eventually he will learn that you guys will not come to see him or get him out of bed. Then he'll stop waking up. But you must be consistant. Even if you hate to hear him cry you need to do this. Believe me it works. I did it, It was had but it works.
2007-06-13 06:33:04 · answer #6 · answered by giggles 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
definitely let him cry it out. my daughter had been in the habit of being nursed and cradled to sleep, so when i stopped nursing at 12 months it was very difficult. finally at about 18 months we let her cry it out. we had to hold hands to keep each other from going in to get her. the first night she screamed for 2 hours! but the 2nd it was only 45 mins, and after about 2 weeks she barely wimpered. so it can be done! just stick to your guns and know every other parent has done it to their kids at one time or another.
2007-06-13 06:38:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
My stepson did this till he was almost 4!, he would also wake up crying in the AM until we phsyically carried him out. Its hard, but stick to it, he'll learn.
2007-06-13 06:33:31 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, my children started sleeping through the night after we started letting them cry it out.
2007-06-13 06:52:07 · answer #9 · answered by Emily 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just let him cry. i went through the same thing and eventually he will see that he's not getting your attention and give up. I know it's hard but you got to grit your teeth and bare it. hopefully he'll get over this soon.
2007-06-14 14:44:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋