sleeping problems at wits end

[kaylouise2184]

My son is 16 months and just got into a bed. I know this is a bit early but he was trying to climb out of his cot so it was for saftey issues. Sice then its been hell. My little boy who we used to put in the cot at 7 kiss good night and see at 7 the next morning now refuses to sleep. Some nights are better than others but in the main it takes us about 40 mins to get to sleep. which involves lots of crying, leaving the bed and banging what he can find, wardrobe, door etc.

Tonight is particullarly bad, we put a very tired boy to bed at 6.45 and since then he has cried constantly. We feel like we have tried everything. We started by gradually withdrawing from the room. The problem was he would leave the bed and sit next to us we have also tried controlled crying. He is currently crying at the gate after what feels like the millionth time of going up placing him back in bed and increasing the time between returning.

Please help xx

We used to kiss him and leave him turn the light off and close the door. Now we have to leave the light on and the door open or there is mass hysterics. The rapid return is an approach we tried the first few nights as we had tried this before when he was about 9 months and had cut a few teeth. It worked a dream we only had to do two nights. Now he can get out of bed though it horrendous he almost thinks its a game.

I dont know if im doing it right but i first tried just putting him straight back to bed using the approach you mentioned but he wasnt phased by this at all and was laughing. We then tried letting him cry a for a few mins at the gate and gradually increasing the time.

We tried gradually withdrawing from the room but he wont sleep with us in the room and if he starts to nod of and we leave he is wide awake crying again.

I lost my temper last night and raised my voice at him for the first time ever and felt absolutley awful. I dont know if I have just picked up a few bad habbits and am not doing the technique exactly right.

One problem I think is as I work nights and my partner works lates sometimes I put him to bed sometimes its my partner and sometimes it's my parents. I have now asked everyone to follow this technique so hopefully that will help.

Thank you so much for your reply it has helped just to talk to someone who understands x

Can he climb out of his cot if he's in a sleeping bag? I only mention this because my DS was really close to being able to climb out of his cot, but we put him back in a sleeping bag and he can't do it if he's in the bag - I'm happy that he's safe and fortunately am able to leave him in the cot for now (he's tiny - just under 1 - just a real climber and escape artist!). If a sleeping bag would stop him from climbing you could just go back to the cot for now, if he felt more secure there?

We had a sleeping bag for him initially but he was very crafty and would stand up pull it off and throw it over the cot so we had to go to a blanket. we have relented now and put the cot back up for a few months. We had to stay in the room till he fell asleep tonight but im hoping its now going to get a bit easier.