Help Needed! Getting to sleep at night.

[Foxy]

My 10.5 month old has been putting himself to sleep for about 5 months for all day sleeps + night sleep.

He is still happily putting himself to sleep during the day, but all of a sudden he is crying when I put him down for his night sleep. Some nights the crying has been so bad he has vomited. I know he is not sick, the bedtime routine has not changed and I know he is tired.

I thought he might be getting scared of the dark, so I left a soft lamp on, but it made no difference. I thought I might buy one of those ceiling light shows - does anyone have one and are they worthwhile?

He starts to cry when I put him in the cot and if I leave the room he starts to scream. I have been patting him and then just sitting in his room until he falls asleep. He seems happy with this and then sleeps through with no problems. I hear him wake in the night at times, but he does put himself back to sleep.

Has anyone else experienced this problem? How did you solve it? I know it's not the end of the world if I have to pat him to sleep, but it is really worrying me that something has changed for him.

Thanks in advance for your advice. :)

[JanetF]

Babies don't go to sleep or stay asleep in the same ways forever. As their brains mature their capacity for sleep changes. He's very unlikely to be scared of the dark as at his age he doesn't have the kind of imagination that can conjure up something to be scared about. But if he has cried to the point of vomitting he will be remembering that every time you leave him alone in his cot. I'd cry too. He obviously needs a change in how you parent him to sleep. Most babies need to be parented to sleep. If you're worried about getting enough sleep yourself move his cot into your room so you don't have to wait for his distress to wake you but can settle him back to sleep much more quickly. My son was breastfed several times overnight at that age and your baby obviously needs some loving attention from you. Follow his cues, help him sleep in whatever way *he* needs and he'll be much happier. Remember, they change all the time so one "method" doesn't work forever. The way my son is parented to sleep has changed many many times in the last two years although some things have remained constant. He has never been left to cry, he has always had an adult with him, he has often chosen to breastfeed to sleep. They know what they need, they just need us to supply it :)

[reAllytee]

Yep he is just going through a change so to speak.
Just give him all the comfort he needs whether that be going off to sleep in mums arms or even have you sitting by his cot till he is asleep if your not willing to have him in your room or co-sleep. He just wants reassurance & loves his mum totally natural really us mums rock :p
I cant co-sleep anymore as bubs thinks its playtime no matter what i try so when he is going through this stage i just sit by his cot till he is asleep & give him the cuddles he wants when he wants once asleep i have no dramas & have a happy boy the following day. :)

[Foxy]

Thank you JanetF & Ally for the reminder that he is not a "robot" so to speak.

I guess the "sleeping thing" has been fairly easy for us, so I got a bit shocked at this sudden change. I have spent far too much time listening to relatives who tell me I am spoiling him by patting to sleep, feeding to sleep etc.

I will take your advice, and look at this as extra special time together. I suppose one day he will not want me in there!

[reAllytee]

You can never spoil them when they are this young.
If i had one more person say that to me gawd help them LOL especially my MIL she goes from saying i spoil bubs because i cuddle or comfort him when he cries to im mean & nasty when i dont want to give him chocolate go figure :rolleyes:
I can only imagine how it would be a shock especially if he has been so easy going etc i have the reverse as for the first 3 or so months bubs hardly slept etc was hard going but we survived & now i get paranoid still so im always checking on him hehehe.
Yeah i look at my sister with my nephew who is now 10yrs old so doesnt want kisses when around friends or other kids cause its embarassing so im taking all the kisses & cuddles i can get now before its too late hehehehe :p