Whats this all about?

[alicatsg]

Ladies - I'm in dire need of wise advice. DS has just turned 1 and over the past 2 weeks has gone all odd on me. He's always been a bad sleeper but generally would go back to sleep pretty quickly once he had his bear back or whatever had woken him up. He's always been good at sending himself to sleep to iyswim.
However now he howls if I leave his room until hes fast asleep and wakes up every 45 mins and yells. He does the same when he naps - sits himself up and checks where we are before going back to sleep.
At the same time he suddenly HATES getting dressed having never bothered before.

Any thoughts as am sleep deprived and losing it?

Thanks

Hi my dd has just turned one and appears to be having the odd weird episode at night too.....I thought it may be night terrors, (or is she too young anyone?) that said she slept great last night, but only had 45mins in the afternoon.....do you think it may be teeth as well as increased awareness of being on own? (as stated in previous thread my dd has started asserting herself, by throwing herself about too...., has your DS?)

no clue at all, but thought I would 'bump' this for you. But maybe starting to assert himself and realises that you are a separte being who can leave? My ds has always disliked getting dressed so can sympathise with that one.

I wondered if it was seoaration anxiety - anyone got any idea how to help him through it? He's so sunny usually thats its a horror seeing him all upset! I don't think its teething as most of his teeth are through and I can't see any signs of the few remaining coming up.

alicatsg - we lengthened ds' bedtime routine at about his age so that he really got the message that it was time to sleep.

We allowed about 1/2 an hour in his room and wound down slowly. So pyjamas, then milk, then toothbrushing on my or dh's lap, then story or quiet song, main light off, then cuddle, then bed. We keep it in that order and don't change anything. Now he's just 2, he knows exactly what's coming next and seems to appreciate things being familiar.

We also started saying goodnight to various things/toys etc in his room and ended by saying night night to ds and then left. That meant he knew what was coming and we weren't coming back (unless he really needed us - but we weren't telling him that!).

hth

Yes we do that but its suddenly not working. He goes down as usual and then wakes at around 11pm and then repeatedly thereafter. I've tried everything (water/milk/nappy/singing/rocking/begging
/bribery/sobbing.......!)

this is exsactly what has been happening in our house after 11pm every night. Will bump this up in the hope that good suggestions will come our way......

how old is your small person? is it mebbe an age thing? (certainly an ageing thing as far as I'm concerned )

I honestly don't think there is a lot you can do about this. I think it is kind of separation anxiety and all you can do is give them plenty of cuddles and reassurance (which I'm sure you do already!) and wait for them to grow out of it. In our family ds has been worse than the girls with this - girls never really had it at all! Sorry - not much help!

Bump (told you I'm desparate!)

My dd did this at 8 months then again around 12-13 months. It seemed to be about bad dreams (she was on the verge of walking and talking so her brain must have really active), but may have been triggered initially by a slight temperature caused by teething, although it wasn't serious. It's best to eliminate illness first though. All I could do was go in after a couple of minutes and reassure her, but put her firmly back into a sleeping position. After a while I had to leave her to cry because I realised she was actually half asleep and I kept waking her up. It did pass, by the way. Hope you get a better night tonight.

I am in the same boat with my DS2 (16 months). Every night at about 2.30, wakes up and screams the place down on and off until 5. It is driving me nuts.
He is getting a tooth, so have taken to squirting bifen (orange baby calpol stuff) down his throat, drink of water, quick cuddle and back to bed with a quick pat. It worked last night.
I have wondered whether his room is dark enough. We have to have the air con on here at night (SE Asia) and his machine has a couple of lights on it, even when set on a very low setting. I keep meaning to get the ladder out and tape them over. One of my many things to do when I get my head in order.

Any other suggestions out there??

just try and stay calm and firm and let him know what is expected - ie that he goes back to sleep in his cot.

Probably separation anxiety - all tied up with them realising they are an individual and getting what they want. They have to learn the social rules and it takes time !

No suggestions, but sympathies!My ds is just 12 months and is doing the waking in the night thing, and is also like a little klingon at the moment! I think its a combination of teething and separation anxiety and I'm hoping it will soon pass...am using medised and teething powders as well..