My Son Will No Longer Sleep in His Crib

My son is almost two now, but we went through a similar thing at about 15 months. He would wake up in the middle of the night and would not go back to sleep, even if he was crying. We tried a lot of different things, but nothing worked. Then someone suggested that he may be teething. And they were right on. We used the homeopathic teething tablets and they calmed him and he was able to sleep through the night, so were we.

Good luck!

I feel your pain! I have a 4 1/2 yr old and a 1 1/2yr old - both boys (my house is very loud - LOL) When my big guy was a baby (I think he was less than a yr), he would cry when I put him down for naps during the day and then again at night. We tried the cry it out method for 1 night but we felt terrible for letting him cry! Then I found the book "The No-cry sleep solution" by Elizabeth Pantley. This is taken from the back of the book:
- shedding new light on your baby's sleep patterns and helping you set realistic goals
- showing you how to analyze, assess, and improve your baby's sleep patterns using sleep logs
- offering a variety of sleep solutions that fit every parenting style
- creating a tear-free customized sleep plan that works for both you and your baby

I actually sat in the room w/my son (patting his back or just sitting on the floor right next to the crib) after I put him to bed - he still cried but at least I was there and he didn't feel alone. I also used the keywords that Elizabeth suggested so that I could verbally soothe him back to sleep - I am telling you it worked. It did take a couple of weeks, but it worked! Initially, I was looking for THE answer to his sleeping problem but unfortunately it couldn't be solved in 1 day (I was soooo tired). Also, I emailed Elizabeth and she answered me back!! This weekend, go to the bookstore, grab a coffee and sit down to look through that book - I really think it will help you (especially just to get you time)!! Also, you might want to check out the books by Dr.Sears - his books are chock full of helpful tidbits!! HTH

This is very common for children to do this, but, how we handle it can make all the difference. What is recommended is when the child cries,if you know they are not hungry or wet, then walk in room, do not turn on light,pat child on side or somewhere to comfort and let them know you are there,do not pick child up. then leave room after child calms down. A great source for child advise is the Barton Schmitt pediatric telephone advise.Good luck.

M., my son (my 3rd child) just went through this "phase" and he is 20 months old. It lasted for 2 months and we experienced the exact same thing you described. Not wanting him to get attached to sleeping in my bed, I resorted to bringing him to the couch where both me and my husband took turns each night to sleep with him on the couch. He seemed to have a little clock inside of his little body saying, "Ok, it's 2:45 A.M. Time to get up." He did this every single night. For 2 months.

One night, I just decided that I was tired of leaving my comfy bed to sleep with my baby on the couch so I put him back to his bed and a few "nights" I did the unthinkable. I let him cry it out. I thought he'd put himself to sleep...eventually. He never did so I stopped doing that. I tried a night lite. Didn't work. I put him back into his bed after walking around in the living room for an hour (or two) and tried rubbing his back or his tummy while either humming a low tune or turning on one of his crib toys that plays music. I can almost promise that your son will outgrow this. I just cannot tell you how long it will take. My two daughters never went through this so this was a new experience for me, who thought I'd experienced it all. Hang in there. Try to find a way to embrace this phase instead of getting angry that your sleep is being disrupted. I know it's hard...but you can (and will ) get through it.

I have experienced the same with my daughter. She has slept through the night since she was 2 and half months old. I have read that there are several reasons for children to start waking in the night. I found that the main reason for my daughter's change in sleep pattern was due to her molars pushing through. After they were in she started sleeping through the night again. Now she is 19 months and tends to wake up at least once. My doctor told me that she is probably having more active dreams and some of them may not be pleasant. She advised me to let her cry for about 5 minutes- go in and give her assurance that I am around and then leave (bring water or ask the child if they would like some water). For the most part, she tends to fall back to sleep. I used to wait for her to fall asleep and then leave, but I have now gotten into the habit of giving her a kiss, telling her I love her, and then tell her I will see her in the morning.

It is really hard to have a crying child at night- especially when everyone else is trying to sleep. I had to show my husband literature and battle his inability to let her cry. It took me several weeks to get him on board, and to have my daughter understand that bedtime is bedtime.

It is so difficult to hear our kids cry, but they are safe and learning important habits. There are a few things that are non-negotiable...car seat use, going to any kind of child care (if used), and bedtime. Usually giving a choice to kids is great- except when there is no choice to be had.

You are not alone...:)

I have a 3 years old son and a 2 years old daughter and can tell you that they have gone through phases like that. They have been always great sleepers and just of the sudden they wake up in the middle of the night for no reason.

I usually just comfort them and assure them that everything is all right. Something that has worked for me too is trying to dedicate at least 15 to 20 minutes before bed time to each one of them (separetely). We read a book or sing a song. This time is only for the kid. Sometimes we just "talk" and hug each other.

Maybe you can also try a little night light or a special toy just for sleeping.

Hope it helps and hang in there. Remember that all kids go through phases and soon they will be over.

My son has gone through this repeatedly, It can be a stage my son is 18 months he is doing it again. The cry it out method does not work for us, nor does walking around I have tried it all. Now I just bring him in with us let him fall back to sleep and hope that I can transfer him and that he sleep through the night the next day. I know it sucks I kind of just stopped stressing about and embraced it the best I could. I hope you have some Luck with this. I just try to think of it this way, it is a special time watching your child sleep and waking up face to face. Because later they want anything to do with it and we will wish we could still cuddle with them. www.DiscoveryToysLink.com/LisaRyan LisaM

ah, I feel you on this one. My Jameson went through a very similar spell. He just wouldn't go back to sleep. My hubby's grandmother, who spends time between FL & NY suggested that maybe because he was getting used to the rocking motion and not sleeping flat that we rock him to sleep in his little Infant-seat/toddler rocker. In addition to that I played a meditation cd that sounds like a rain storm. It worked. Now all I have to do is play that cd when I'm starting his sleepy-time ritual and feeding before bed and he's out like a light without the fussing and fighting (which would last for hours on end and a grumpy mommy with only 3 hours of sleep!)
I hope this works for you. Try lightly rocking him and if that doesn't work, long big rocks (like a boat) that's what made Jameson nod-off.

You may consider to buy him a toddler bed and get a sleep guard for it. He may feel to confined. We bought our daughter a toddler bed at Ikea (very cute) and a sleep guard at Babies 'r us. We also bought door stoppers so our door won't close fully and hers either. If she wakes at night she feels free to come in our bed, she falls back asleep and we put her in her bed. They are still babies and due to constant growth and change they may have fears and anxieties. All they need to know is that we are there for them at their will they can get the comfort they need. We NEVER speak to her in the night...just shhhhhhhhhhhhhh. (nice and calmly)
We made a big deal about her Big Girl bed:)
Great Luck!!!

M.:

I went through the same thing when my son was 1. He never was a really good sleeper though. I read through the other advice given and it is really good. Itried the nightlight and special toys for a while and they worked for a couple months. He was just not wanting to sleep in his crib at all. It took me about six months to get him back on a schedule and I didnt get there until we got him in a big boy bed with the rails and his own bedding.

I don't know if your son is ready for it only you will know that. But don't get discouraged and definately try some of the other advice. The nightlights and special nighttime toys helped a lot until he was ready for the next transition.

The two big things that disturbed my daughter's sleep: milestones and especially teething. Does he have his 1 year molars in yet? Those are big teeth and they really hurt coming in! As with most things, I've noticed a lot of things are just phases. This may not work for your family, but I do whatever gets us the most sleep. So in your situation (and my daughter was never a great sleeper), I would just bring him to my bed when he woke up and be done with it. As long as he's starting out in his own bed, when whatever is waking him up (milestones or teething) passes, he'll probably go back to sleeping through. My daughter's 2 and there were times she spent half the night (or more!) in our bed or nights where she didn't come in until 5 or 6 am. And nowadays, most of the time she spends the whole night in her room. It's just not an issue for us.