Excessive Crying Before Sleep

I have an 11 month old boy, and I have had a few instances with him where this has happen. Not sure if either one of these apply, but my son had acid reflux and we did not see the first sign of it until he was 2 months old, that would cause him to cry excessively if we laid him down after he ate. Also, I think they say 6 months is the average age for separation anxiety to start, but at 5 months my son would cry whenever I would leave the room. We co-sleep with my son still because I am a worry wart, but I imagine if I put him in a crib at that time he would of freaked out just like he did when I would leave the room. It may not hurt to ask the doctor to see what they have to say.

Good Luck :-)

This is normal for this age and so hard to hear. Keep the lights off or very low in his room so he understands that it is night time, try some white noise like a humidifier or fan, or we would play a lullaby CD at bedtime. There was a mobile by Tiny Love that looked strange but he loved that thing, for some reason it captivated him. I would put him in his crib during the day when I was taking a shower or doing things in his room for 5-10 minutes at a time for playtime with the mobile and then play with him in there to get him used to the crib. In time he will get used to it.

Hi S.-

It sounds like he just wants to be with his mommy. At 3-4 months old, I would rock/nurse(bottle) my babies to sleep-if that doesn't work, try sitting on a yoga ball and gently bouncing him to sleep. The balls are cheap and it really helped when my son was gassy. He is 6 now and very independent and a great sleeper too. I loved the yoga ball-the rocker made my back hurt. Do you swaddle him still, my son did not like it but my daughter loved to be snugged up tight (and still does at 3Yrs). I agree with the fact that he is way too young to think he is missing out on something. Crying is his only way to tell you that something is not right for him, babies do not just cry for no reason. They cry when in pain (gas/reflux), when they are hungry, need a diaper changed or need parental comfort. You did not mention if you are holding him when he screams or if he is laying in his crib. Does he stop crying when you pick him up? I also had good luck with mylicon gas drops from the grocery store. My son had a little reflux too and he slept better in his swing or in his car seat placed in his room until he was almost 6 months old.

good luck-

K.

Hi S.. I've tried this "technique" on my 2 kids when they were babies and it worked for us. ITs all about having a routine (I know you've probably heard this a million times, but this was our routine which worked...). SOunds like your baby is 4-5 months old, so its a great time to start one. EVERY SINGLE TIME you put him in his crib to sleep (no matter what time of the day or night it is), do EXACTLY the same thing. Give him "HIS" comfort object, it can be a teddy, a cloth, or whatever he likes to hold on to and his pacifier (if he uses one). Come up with a 30 second "speech", something like " mommy and daddy love u very much, its time to go to bed and dream with the little angels, etc" But talk to him for 30 seconds with the same tone of voice, saying the same words. Put him down. He will cry the 1st 3 days, so go back in after 5 minutes, DO NOT take him out of the crib, but pat his back to calm him down (reassure him you are there) and do the routine again (give him his comfort object, say the speech). He will continue crying, so go back in every 3 minutes and do the same, until he eventually will cry himself to sleep. It can be very disturbing, I know, but after a max of 3 days, he will understand that u will not pick him up and that its time to go down on his own. GOOD LUCK! A friend of mine (who has 3 of her own) taught me this and it was one of the best advices I got.

My first thought was he might have gas. Both of my kids had a problem with gas as babys and the only time we really had a problem with it was when we put them to bed. So maybe thats something you want to check out. If thats not it maybe you want to try to let him listen to some soft music or turn on a night light that reflects on the ceiling so he has something to look at while he is laying down. You might also want to change your night time routine. Read a book, sign some songs. Just to get him to relax before you leave him. I don't know but i hope any of those ideas help. Good luck!!

Hi! I realize I'm late responding, but could he be overtired? Sometimes that is the cause of screaming/crying at bedtime. A lot of babies under six months can't stay awake longer than an hour or two without becoming overtired. If you catch them within that window, they go to sleep easier. Maybe try putting him down a little earlier and see if that helps. Of if he's not getting three good naps a day (1-2 hours each), try putting him down for naps within an hour or two of waking up. Good luck -- I know it's hard!

I know it's a little late to respond. I just wanted to let you know that I am going through the same thing right now and I feel your heartbreak. I was driven to the point were I had to leave her in her bed to cry. I didn't read any of your other responses so I don't know if I am repeating any of them. I finally read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr Weisblutth. I think that's his name. I realized that she was overtired and it was painful to her. She needed to sleep and I wasn't allowing her to. We are working on a strict nap and bedtime schedule. Her crying hasn't stopped but it is better and she is so much happier. Anyway, I feel your pain and I hope things look up soon.

My sister had to cry herself to sleep every night when she was a baby. It's what she did.
If you didn't let her cry, she never got to sleep and the crying got worse.

As long as he is not being hurt by something, I'd let him cry it out.
YMMV
LBC

I am having the same problem with my son also born in Sept 08. He will have a good night and then the next couple will be terrible. He screams non stop for hours and we have no idea what is wrong.

You probably don't want to hear my response - since I go against everyone else - not that I think it's wrong, it's just what we did.

I have 2 kids (now they are 7 and 4) - at that young age, I don't think you can spoil a baby. We held them / rocked them to sleep always - my oldest never was a good sleeper, typically woke up in the middle of the night at least once until 12 mths old. But my second always did well after the 4 month mark - and the rocking/putting to bed after asleep never hurt him. I think it helps them feel secure. We also swaddled my second better than my first.
My oldest one now is the most secure confident kid I know. Not saying she would be different if we had let her cry it out - we'll never know. But just wanted you to know that it sure made me feel better never having to hear her cry horribly and she has been an awesome kid and a good sleeper now too.

Good luck - trust your feelings.

PS - teething can also throw a real wrench into the sleeping, along with colds and ear infections - never rule those out

Personally I am not really sure why he is all of a sudden screaming at bedtime. I truly doubt a 3month old can dislike his crib or even be afraid of missing the action. Have you changed his evening diet lately? Maybe his tummy is upset when you lay him down? Try burping a bit? A warm bath to soothe and settle him? Maybe some soft music? Or sit w/ him and pat him a bit? Just remember anything you do do in moderation because you could get stuck w/ this bedtime ritual for a long time. I hope you figure it out, I know bedtime battles can be frustrating and stressful. Take it from a mom of 2 toddlers who just started sleeping on their own room all night long. What a battle that was. Good luck.
ps it could be a normal phase. maybe have friend come observe whats going on because it might be easier to figure out in person.

Yes, this too will pass. You need to have a bedtime routine......... bath, bottle, book (or something like that). Then, calmly put him down- turn on music or mobile or whatever he enjoys and simply leave the room. I would check on him every 10 minutes, but do not pick him back up. Calmly tell him, it's bedtime and see you in the morning.
The important thing is for you to remain calm and very matter of fact about bedtime. I'm sure he senses you are anxious about him crying. (It may well be that he is letting go of frustration.) The crying will get shorter and he will learn to calm himself down and go to sleep. Good luck!

My one and a half year old does this periodically. He has done it more recently when I take him out of the bath. Do you have things that sing in his room? Buy a small CD player with lullaby cds to put in it when he goes to sleep. WE have also resorted to Motrin on some occasions. He could be getting teeth and for some reason they tend to bother them more at night. All patterns are normal, there is nothing wrong. Each child has a different stage that they go through at different times. Be patient, give TLC (which I am sure you do), and dont get upset, he can sense that and prob. makes him more upset. Just stay calm and maybe try putting him to bed about 30 minutes later or so. We read books before bed too. It tends to calm him down and help him to unwind. All toys go away and milk and books come out. Then bed time. Somtimes he cries for a little while and sometimes he does not. But he did cry consistently for a while when we he would go to bed.
Good luck.
R.