Separation Anxiety

Jessica - posted on 10/19/2009

I've heard the tough love thing is what you need to do. Let them cry for 3min. Go in and comfort them, next time wait five, ten and so on. They have to learn to sooth themselves so like someone else said do not rock them until they are asleep. When they are about to go to sleep put them in the crib, kiss, them and ease out of the room. After 3 weeks they should be sleeping through the night. It is hard hearing them cry At first but as long as you know they don't need to eat or have a diaper change or something else is wrong, it is okay for kids to cry a little!

Katt - posted on 10/17/2009

My baby gets that way to.. Sometimes I just let her cry it out. For 2 weeks should wake up cry twice wait 10 seconds cry twice again and do this for 2-4 hours.. And of course I went in there and cuddled her fed her gave her a bottle and nothing would help but by 2 weeks I was so tired I said you know what i'm not doing this anymore, I just soothed her, did the things that comforted her with out picking her up and went back to bed, she cried for about 20 mins and went back to sleep and ever since then she's slept right threw the night but during the day however I can't leave a room with out her screaming or making a fuss lol i'm not sure if there is anything you can do for that but if you figure it out let me know!!!

Elise - posted on 10/15/2009

Firstly, do NOT feed him in the middle of the night. He will get hungry and his body will trigger to want to eat in the middle of the night. To wean him off of that feeding make it less and less each night for a week until no more. Rub his back and try to calm him. If he is over 7 months, let him cry a little. I let mine go 10 minutes before I go in to check on him. Sometimes he just falls back to sleep. Secondly, do NOT co sleep. This is all making the seperation anxiety worse for him. That is the worst thing you can do if you want him to get out of this habbit. Leave him in his crib. You must put him in his crib awake so he doesn't wake up and realize you're gone and freak out. Comfort him in his crib. Do not change him, it stirs him and wakes him even more. Leave him in his crib and try to shush him to sleep. You want him to stay drowsy and fall back to sleep without the help of anything but himself.

Colette - posted on 10/14/2009

He might be developing a sleep association with being rocked to sleep. You should really look into the Ferber sleep method. It worked wonders for us!

Joanne - posted on 10/13/2009

Never give in & let them sleep with you in your bed, It doesnt help them or you,

Tania is right tough love is needed but will benefit both of you,

Put your son to bed as normal, but dont overdo cuddles extra just prolongs,

Try putting some soothing music on so its not total dead quiet,

sit by the cot, but dont say anything, wait few minutes,

If he is still crying standing up lay him down, dont say anything,

repeat untill he falls asleep,

Do this each night & move further away from cot/bed untill you are right out of the room,

It may take a few nights, but it is a proven technique from the Baby whisperer,

I've used it & i have 5 kids,

hope this helps & good luck

Tania - posted on 10/12/2009

I have exactly the same problem, Ryan is 8 1/2 months old and is waking up in the nght again after his routine was broken with teething, We have tried to let him cry but he does not stop, so we have put him in bed with us. I was totally against this but we feel it is a stage that he will get over, it is normal for them to be clingy at this age. We spoke to our plunket nurse and she said if it became too much of a problem to try some tough love which involves leaving the baby to cry, if they are screaming, go in give them a cuddle and then put them back to bed, keep doing it until they go to sleep. It apparently only takes a few nights! I hope some of this helps but wanted to let you know we are going through the same thing too.