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suggestions???

Brianna - posted on 06/07/2010 ( 3 moms have responded )

118

I have a 9 month old baby boy, he is a wonderful, easy going, cuddly/loving baby. Lately, when it comes to sleeping he has been fighting me both at night and at nap times. I don't really follow any particular method of parenting, I go with my instincts and cues from my little guy as to what to do in a given situation. When he was about 4 month old we had a great routine for going to sleep, I was able to put him down at the end of it tired but awake and he would fall asleep in minutes, with little to no fussing...not crying just a little talking to himself and rolling around to get comfy and then down usually for the whole night...I know I was very lucky especially with a EBF baby.

When he started teething he needed more comfort and started waking up 1-2 times a night, he sleeps in a crib in our room so I just grab him feed him and right back to his. It seems like with every milestone his sleep has gotten worse. He is now crawling, pulling up, and cruising with walking not far behind. We haven't altered our bedtime routine, except that now I nurse him to sleep, unless he falls asleep when we are carrying him. Lately, the second that I lay him down, completely asleep, he wakes up and starts bawling. When I pick him up again he thinks its play time, even in the middle of the night. I don't know what to do and I feel like it is just getting worse. Both my baby and I need sleep. I can only handle listening to him cry for a couple minutes and then I'm ready to cry too, but I also feel like he needs to be starting to learn how to "self soothe" just a little. After several weeks like this I finally let him just cry, I was in the room and kept touching, patting and rubbing and humming so he would know I was there and after more then 30 mins of crying he was finally asleep and I felt so bad I haven't been able to go back to sleep myself and I'm sitting here crying as I type this.

I'm just at a loss and feeling like a terrible mom right now, does anyone have any suggestions about what to do? Or how long this stage lasts, I'm willing to ride it out as long as I know that it will come to an end. My only request is not to recommend co-sleeping, I CANNOT sleep when my little guy is next to me.

Thank you for listening and I hope you don't judge me to harshly for what I tried.

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Bridget - posted on 07/14/2010

I am not recommending co-sleeping for you but that is the way I fixed our little issue. My son woke up EVERY time he was put down. I couldn't even run to the restroom without him screaming at me. My son takes naps very well in his baby carrier carseat, the one he's outgrown. I'm not sure if there is anything like that that would kind of cradle your little one so he feels like someone is there. Don't feel bad for letting him cry a little bit. He knew you were there and you just couldn't figure him out. I'm not sure what could be bothering him. Have you thought about swaddling? I never did it with my son and I'm not sure if you can with a 9 month old but it's an idea. Good luck!!! I hope you figure it out. But again, don't feel guilty.

Casey - posted on 07/04/2010

147

Don't feel too guilty, I know where you are I've done nearly the same myself. Although he was much younger. We all do things we regret as parents. I think the only advice I can give is this too will pass. My first never self settled until he was older and that didn't help with the night waking, he was 17mths before he slept through. But now he's 3 he sleeps fine, still gets up way too early but we can live with that. Just try not to stress to much, sleep when he has his naps if you can, and maybe try a little infant massage. Babies often practice in there sleep so he's probably trying to do all those things you talked about while he's asleep and waking himself, it probably gives him a fright and even if he could self settle he would need your comfort first. I hope I've given you some helpful advise I'm afraid co-sleeping was the answer for us and it obviously is not the answer for you and your family.

Oh the Food Allergy was our problem so if you have introduced something new it might be worthwhile cutting it out for a while also look for nappy rash particularly a red ring around the anus.
Again hope there is something of use for you in my ramblings!

Ella - posted on 06/28/2010

129

Do you drink caffeine? around 15 months or there about my son seemed to be sensitive to it. Also we have had SEVERAL shifts in the sleep patterns and had to get new patterns. do you nurse him back to sleep? Do you sleep share?

Also might a food allergy be presenting? just a random thought..