My daughter was sleeping through the night starting at approx 4-6 weeks. Now I must hold her until she falls asleep. (I know a big no-no to some) When I put her down in her crib at night she will cry hysterically. Last night she screamed her head off and on for 1.5 hours. It was horrible. I ended up putting her in her carrier and it calmed her down instantly. Normally she will only fall back asleep when she is touching my bare skin or knowing I am there.
I know she is teething, but I think she could be done for a bit... She has cut 4 teeth in 2 weeks. Could there be anymore coming in so soon?
Any suggestions? My husband works 3rd shift and I work full-time during the day. So I seldom have help during the night.
Thank you.
I know this will seem to some as a no-no as well, but my son was the same way, no Ferber method would calm him. He would only sleep in his swing going side to side. His pediatrician said that movement probably reminded him of the rocking motion he felt in the womb. He finally grew out of it after a month or two...
You know, your story sounds familiar. I don't recall when but there have been different times when my son (now 17 months) had different sleep issues I think his mostly started around 10 mos of age maybe 11. he got clingy and also did not want to go to sleep even if we were there. If baby is teething, I think that definitely causes lots of discomfort and stress. I would suggest that you just be patient and comforting and trust that once the baby feels safe again she will move back towards her old sleep habits. Especially if you keep some of the elements the same as before even if you are carrying her close to you for a while.
The other thing I have noticed with my son is even though they say CONSISTENCY CONSISTENCY. It's all right when sometimes we break the rules and do something different. I think for us, it builds in a flexibility in the child. Sometimes even if the goal is the same (sleep) it calls for a differnt path to get there. I believe, as long as it is a mostly peaceful, cheerful path then that feeling will continue and the baby will be less likely to have sleep issues later on. If you turn it into a struggle every night, then they might have different associations with the time for bed. Good luck!
I have an 11-month old son who went through that same thing at around 8 or 9 months. I'd put him in his crib, but he would cry hysterically if I left the room at all. He didn't need my touch, but did need to know I was there. Once he fell asleep, he was fine, but it was the falling asleep that was difficult for him. (I work a very early 1st shift and my husband works 2nd shift, so I too have little help at night.) About a month ago we took him to the doctor for a cough that just wouldn't go away. It ended up being sinusitis, so he took Amoxicillin. We put a humidifier in his room and raised the front of his mattress with towels to help the infection as well. I don't know how, but he got back into the swing of not needing me in there to go to sleep. I tweaked our bedtime routine a little. Our routine goes well(cereal, bath, story, lullaby) then he doses in my arms (I know---a big NO-NO to some, but I figure we'll get there eventually...pick and choose the battles) and I carry him into bed. So, I guess what I'm trying to say :) is that we had the same issue, but it resolved itself either from the sinusitis being taken care of or something he just grew into...he needed me in the room for awhile and now he's dealt with that and is more independent now...I hope that makes some kind of sense to you! Hang in there!
This really sucks! I have been there three times. The only thing that ever worked for me is to let them cry. Every 15 minutes to 30 min go in and sooth her so she knows that you are still there. she may cry (the longest mine stuborn one went was over 2 hours. However by the end of the week they are able to sooth themselves to sleep. This also helps them to go back to sleep if something wakes them in the night! Good luck! Also recomend some white noise such as a fan or vaporizer.
I would highly recommend the No Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley. She gives several tools for helping you night-parent your little one to sleep without crying it out. It worked great for us. We got it from the library in Nicholasville, but I'd figure the libraries in Lexington have it. If not, ask for an inter-library loan, and they'll get it from Nicholasville for you. HTH!
My two children have gone through similar stages, only neither one ever slept through the night before they were 15 or 16 months old. I think it is good that you are staying with your baby until she is asleep. I am NOT a fan of cry-it-out, especially for children under the age of 18 months. That said, I do believe it is ok for children to cry in the loving arms of their parents. Is there any way you can wear her in a sling or wrap until this stage passes? It sounds like separation anxiety. Does she sleep in her own room or in yours? Can you bring her into your bed? Just some food for thought. There is nothing wrong with responding to your baby's needs and the only way they can express them at this age when they are tired is to cry, so hang in there mom, you will know what is best for your baby. Don't worry about what other people think you SHOULD do.
Holding a baby until she falls asleep shouldn't be a big no-no. She needs some extra comfort now, and although it's a big change from what you're used to, it doesn't necessarily mean anything is out-of-the ordinary.
There are some great homeopathic remedies for teething, inluding chamomilla and Hyland's teething formula. These can help take the edge off without resorting to analgesics. You can find them at most health food stores, and big chains like Wild Oats and Whole Foods. They worked great for my two daughters.
Not everyone is comfortable with it, but it may help to try co-sleeping with your daughter. That way, you and she BOTH get what you need. She gets to know you're close, and you get some sleep.
Remember at this point in her life, crying is the only way she has to tell you what's wrong, and you are her single most important source of support and comfort. She will get through this, and knowing she can rely on you to respond to her needs will help her do so, and help develop a strong, trusting relationship between you.
Good luck with your business. It can be great to create your own opportunity to both support and allow you time with your family!
I had the same problem. My daughter didnt want to go to sleep by herself. It took a good week or so of screaming. What I did and it seemed to work. I would set the timer for 15 minutes, if she didnt stop crying I would go into her room and comfort her then lay her down again. I did this until she finally put herself to sleep. Its hard, but it works.Good Luck.
Mom of a one year old,
C.
try some hylands teething tablets, or a dose of tylenol or ibuprofin. her gums are probably still very sore and tender. my daughter is almsot 2 and sometimes i still have to hold her and rock her to help her calm down enough to go sleep. when babies aren't feeling good, they need a little extra mommy tlc. there is nothing wrong with that.
I did something similar to Chrissy H with setting a timer and comforting after 10 or 15 minutes if my son was still really crying. If he was taking breaks in his crying, I knew that he was on his way to putting himself to sleep. Your daughter may still have more teeth coming. When my son got his first teeth, he got 6 in about 2 1/2 weeks. His seem to come in bunches like that. Good luck! Hope things improve for you.
