Please Help, I Need Sleep!!!

My son was the same way at about eight months. When he would cry at night we decided to keep him in bed with us. At first it didn't seem to work either, but eventually (about a month)he stopped fussing and crying and we returned him to his crib. Check out Dr Sears on line, he and his family have written numerous books and does not agree with "let them cry it out" also he doesn't believe that the extra attention will "spoil" him. He refers to such babies as high need. Hope I've helped.

K.,

This is totally not surprising. Many kids start to experience separation anxiety at about 8 months, and your son is just the right age. It is a phase, but one that can last for a really long time. My son did the same thing. Slept through the night from 2-8 months, and then started night waking. He's 2 1/2 now, and almost never wakes up at night.

My advice is to begin a consistent sleep regimen with him now. Bath, pajamas, story, hugs & kisses, and then into his crib. If he is falling asleep in your arms and then being upt down, he never learns to fall asleep, so when he wakes up away from you in the middle of the night, he freaks out, and doesn't know what to do to help himself go back to sleep. Mike responded very well to the Fisher Price aquarium soother, because the lights and music entertained him, and then lulled him to sleep. He would wake up, hit the button a time or two, and fall back off watching the little fishies move.

It will end. I promise. I can't tell you how long it will take, but if it's gone on for a month, it's not his teeth. Everyone has their own feelings about this, but I'm not an advocate of Cry it out. If he cries, respond. Tell him a story, rub his back or belly and sing him a song till he's ready to sleep, and eventually he will know that you are only a yell away, and it won't be so scary to be away from you. If you don't respond, then all he learns is that he really is on his own in there, and if he's upset or afraid, no one's going to help him. Talk about frightening. He may not bother to cry for you in the middle of the night anymore, but you'll probably be setting yourself up for big-time bedtime battles. If he knows he is truly alone after bedtime, he won't want to go.

Best of luck, K., I've been there, and my heart goes out to you. If you are a stay at home Mom, try to sleep during his nap. Every little bit helps!

Teeth!!!! Ahh!!!

My kid is a great sleeper, but when the teeth are coming in everything changes! I would say just hold tight and it'll pass. Sometimes it's ok to let them cry it out a little. If it goes on for more than 2-3 minutes, go in the room. But wait and see if he just goes back to sleep. Or, instead of picking him up, try to just go inm, comfort him, and leave again. It's so easy to bring them into bed, but they get addicted! My aunt still has her two year old sleeping with her, and now no one can baby sit for him because he needs to sleep in a bad with someone. I hope this doesn't sound cruel, but let him cry it out a little and see what happens. Maybe you can leave a teething ring in the crip, if it's a safe one that is.

Your baby may have collic. My son who is 2 now had it when he was an infant. He would scream at the top of his lungs now stop at times and I was unable to soothe him. When I took him to the ped. I mentioned the symptoms and he gave me some infant drops to assist with the collic by the third day my son was sleeping better. You can also try to make sure he isn't hungry babies burn lots of energy during the day and my need a small snack before bedtime. Or you can try rocking him to sleep then putting him in the crib or try leaving some music on a tv on which worked with my older son whose now 4. I hope this was helpful and good luck. I have two boys and my baby cried all the time where as my oldest hardly ever did so I know how this can be but it will get better so have lots and lots of patience and once again good luck

has anything changed in his routine? Anything that might be upsetting him? Or maybe he's eating differently? Keep a diary of his meals for a week or two and see if you notice anything like:
- does consumption of dairy, eggs, or other allergens correspond to incidence night wakings?
- is he eating more sugar and/or refined grains that usual?

Sugar, caffeinated items and refined grains utilize a lot of vitamin B to be processed by the body; in turn, the body has less of these precious vitamins, whihc are particularly useful for relaxation and restful sleep. Sugar also robs the body of precious minerals and long-lasting milk contains too much phosharus whih created a mineral imbalance in the body. lack of calcium and magnesium and lack of vitamins of the B group can all be caused by certain food choices and will almost always result in sleep problems.

Also, it's best not to give OTC medicaments to children particularly young ones, unless absolutely necessary. Try homeopathiy teething remedies and herbal cooking gels(available at Drugstores, some Health Food Stores and Whole Foods) to help wth teething pain.

Good luck!

We went through something like that but we found out it was inner ear infection that we didn't know she had once she got the drops and meds she started to sleep like a log.

Hi K.,
I am mom to a 4 month old, who sleeps pretty well. He used to wake up for feedings, but now sleeps through pretty good.
My trick is I give him a set bedtime, whick is 9, and he gets a big warm bottle of formula as his last feeding. I hol dhim to keep nudging him awake so he drinks as much as possible before falling asleep (which he always does)... Once I lay him down, I keep a bottl eof room temp water close by, and when he wakes up at night I give it to him, a few sips and he is back to sleep. Sometimes once or twice a night we do this.
Also, maybe your son is wettin gmore now that he is older, and a midnight diaper change would help him sleep in the morning hours.