Nearly 16 month old inconsolable when left in cot - ideas?

[dinkystinky]

DS2 is nearly 16 months - he has been relatively good at putting himself off to sleep until Friday (pop him in grobag, read him a story or two, put him in his cot and he'll burble and drift off) but since Friday lunchtime he has been terrible at nap and bedtime - wailing inconsolably as soon as the door is shut, calms down if you go in and lie him down (and he's tired) but if you let go of him he'll start wailing again. Its taking us up to 20 minutes to get him to go to sleep. He is teething (but has been for months) so I dont think its that. Do you think it could be separation anxiety? Never had this with DS1 so any suggestions of what it might be - and how you got through this stage without losing your sanity - would be much appreciated.

Could be separation anxiety and if it is you just need to reassure him by staying in sight. Try doing whatever you have to do to calm him then very gradually over a few day/weeks reducing what you do without upsetting him. In the end he'll realise that you won't disappear forever and you do still exist when your out of his sight. Until then just try to keep the cot a happy relaxed place and not somewhere to feel scared and alone.

Thanks - that is what I'm doing and will tell his nanny to do the same. DH is adamant that it isnt separation anxiety but cant tell me what he thinks it is instead

we had something similar at this age. are you telling him what you are going to do? With DD1 she wasn't talking much so i hadn't bothered too much up to that point. But I started the whole after your nap I am going to take you upstairs and change your nappy and put you in your cot etc etc. She still objected (in fact still does) but settled down quickly.

I do tell him at each stage - and its exactly the same every night (and has been since he was around 6 months) and every nap time (bedroom, grobag, story and into cot for nap). How long did the whole phase last for your DD1?