1yo DS crying inconsolably before bed - why?????

[BettyDrapersWardrobeElf]

My DS turned one last week and up to that point had been a lovely easy baby, we've never really had any problems getting him to sleep except when he's been ill (sorry I know I should be thankful!)

However, the last couple of nights he's been crying inconsolably as soon as I take him up to bed and it'll take me ages to calm him down and get him to settle. There doesn't seem to be anything specific wrong with him Nd he will eventually calm down. He's always had the same bedtime routine - bath, pjs, story while having last bottle, lights off, bed. This has worked for months and months without any problems so just confused as to why this has started now.

Has anyone else experienced this and is there anything I can do to help him go back to feeling safe and secure at bedtime? TIA

Awwwwwww. He's probably just growing up a bit and feeling the separation- it's scary when they start to realise they are separate from you and I guess bedtime is one of the hardest times for this.

He knows you are going to leave him...all alone... by himself in his cot. Just gently reasure him, maybe sit by the cot,or in the doorway until he falls asleep. Move further way night by night, and eventually like when he's 4 he should be OK again.

It could be that he's overtired - they do get inconsolable when past a certain point. Is he doing more (e.g. started walking) or napping less?

We did the tough approach. Kept to routine, didn't sit with DD, did go in occassionally to reassure but kept it brief. Or it could be he's about to be ill....sometimes they get like this a couple of days before.....

12 month molars coming through? My son is 12 months - textbook perfect sleeper. Turned into a monster at night & I was despairing until I realised he was cutting all 4 12 month molars at once. They've given him much more trouble than his other teeth.

mine did the same around that age, turns out he got some big molars through around then, but also seemed more aware and realised that we were staying up so he might be missing out!! I used to go in and stroke his face as he lay there sobbing and he'd calm down over 5-10mins, then I'd sit by the cot murmuring to him reassuringly, and leave the room once he'd calmed fully, this seemed to take about 30-40 mins I remember, maybe a bit more, I never took him out of the cot after the 1st few nights when I did attempt it (in shock I think, at my amazing-sleeping baby screeching at bedtime!) and it made it worse/longer to go off and he'd buck and howl in my arms, was very distressing. he just seemed to need reassurance, it was a stage and only lasted a few weeks, bedtimes soon went back to normal. he's 2 now and goes straight to sleep unless I've made the mistake of letting him have a mid-afternoon nap, but now he will talk himself to sleep rather than shouting/crying! :)