Cuddle

[TreadmillMom]

Hi, your opinion please. My DS2 is now 14 months and was successfully sleep trained using the Controlled Crying method just over a month ago. After 7 bliss filled nights of having him sleep through consistently for the first time in his life he developed an ear infection and surprise, surprise his good sleep pattern was back out of the window. Since then he has vehemently fought against putting himself back to sleep and is back to shouting for us from his cot 2 to 3 times a night. He has always been an affectionate child and has learnt the word ?cuddle?, he demands a ?cuddle? however about 100 times a day and every time he wakes in the night. It?s so difficult, in the middle of cooking, responding to DS1?s needs, going for a wee all accompanied by ?cuddle? with little arms outstretched and if you do not respond straight away and I mean literally a tantrum swiftly follows. He will and does cuddle every Tom, Dick and Harry, patients in the doctors waiting room, other mothers at toddler groups, the post man if I?d let him. My husband says he heard that a child who consistently asks for cuddles from anyone and everyone is a child starved of affection, it?s playing on my mind, what do you think? Any similar experiences, does it go hand in hand with needing a sleep prop?

He doesn't sound remorely starved of affection, that's ridiculous. I don't believe for one minute that being starved of affection will make a child very affectionate, quite the opposite IMHO!

It sounds like he has learned a new word. He has learned that this word gets a positive reaction from people. That's it.

I think he just knows that if he says cuddle then you will give it to him. Its just his way of getting your attention nothing to do with being starved of attention. Some children are just very friendly and if anything he sounds very loved and loving towards others.

DS does this. Its his way of asking to be picked up. This could be for a variety of reasons. Often it is for affection. Often it is to get him high enough to achieve whatever it is he is determined to achieve.

His vocabulary is much better now, so no need to say 'cuddle' now as he can say what he really wants.

Seems to me, he is trying to tell you something, and the only word/signal he can give you to get your attention is 'cuddle'.

I dont think ts because he is starved of affection as such. More that he is trying to communicate something to you.

Awww poor wee thing, he maybe afraid that you going to do controlled crying on him again.

Not really a very nice thing for your husband to be saying though!

He sounds just like my ds at that age. I used to drive the car with my arm twisted round behind me so he could cuddle me! We had dd when he was 20mnths and he would sit on my lap while I changed her nappy. It is a bit draining I agree but I don't think its abnormal behaviour particularly. DS is now 3.5 and growing to be quite independent. I never had any joy with CC though, partly because I could never see it through and partly because as you said, they sleep well for a week or two, then you have to go through it all again. Consequently we have both kids in our bed or I go in his for part of every night. I haven't slept properly for 31/2 yrs! J

My 15-month-old is exactly like this. It is driving me mad sometimes as I can't wash the dishes or cook or do anything really...

We also had a sleep problem but solved it at 9 months with cranio.

I gather it is just a phase that will pass