10 month old waking at night and screaming. Need help before I go completely crazy through lack of sleep

[Betti]

My 10 month old son has hardly ever slept through the night. He seems to have got into a habit of waking at 4am and screaming at the top of his voice. I don't think it's for any other reason apart from wanting attention as he stops as soon as you pick him up. we have tried controlled crying but with little effect. I have tried giving him more food during the day but that doesn't make any difference either. I really don't know how to get him to sleep through.

I should also mention that everytime I put him in his cot for a nap, he screams until eventually he drops off and then he screams when he wakes up. He also seems to be going through seperation anxiety as he cries when I leave the room.

Any advice would be welcome as I need to get a few night's unbroken sleep before I go completely mad.

thanks

[Montifer]

Could he be teething?
I think the pain of growing teeth can be worse when they lie down, hence why picking up can stop the crying.

The sleep deprivation is awful isn't it, can you catch up during the day at all?

DS is getting his molars at the moment and we have had 2 weeks of very disturbed nights.
I'm planning to be in bed 5 mins after him tonight.
He has been coming into our bed in the night, something he's never done before, but it's a balance of lack of sleep vs potentially creating a new problem at the moment.
Don't know if that would be an option for you.

As with all of these things it will be a (hopefully short) phase which will pass - good luck

[Kathyjelly]

ds did this until 10 months. dh - big softie - didn't help because he insisted on picking him up every time he yelled. Solved it in June when dh went to LeMans 24hr. He was away 5 days during which I gave DS extra late feed, then each time he cried, I rolled over and ignored him.

ds slept through on nights 4 & 5 and has done ever since.

It worked for us, might be worth a try but requires a hard heart.

[Betti]

Montifer - I did wonder whether it could be teething as he also spits out any lumps in his food (isn't this a sign of teething?). You are right about worrying about creating a new problem. This has been going on for about 4 weeks now (same time every night) and initially I picked him up as it was the quickest way to get him back to sleep but now I wonder whether he's expecting a cuddle when he wakes. This parenting lark aint easy!

Kathyjelly - Thanks for the advice. We are trying the ignoring thing as controlled crying isn't working. So hard in the middle of the night though when the screams seem impossibly loud. We will persevere.

[Montifer]

I'm too soft and can't bear to hear him cry, especially with the teething going on and knowing he is in pain.

Keep reassuring myself "it's a phase" and hope a sleeping through phase will start very soon.

He slept through for the first time ever a few weeks ago (at 15 months) and I quietly celebrated for 4 nights - then the molars emerged!

So much for an early night, guess I can't complain about being tired, definitely off to bed now.

Hope your night is a quieter one

[cory]

co-sleeping?

[Betti]

Hi Cory

Really trying not to go down the co-sleeping route if poss. What I don't understand is why it is the same time every night that he wakes, screams and shouts and then will eventually go back off to sleep but only if I have my hand on his back.

Please, please let it be a phase. I'm dreading going to bed every night.