Baby getting stuck sat up in cot

[Teaandjam345]

7 month old has just learned to sit from lying down and now every time he’s placed in his cot or wakes in the night, he sits up and gets “stuck” as I don’t think he knows how to lie back down again. It looks like he’s doing it involuntarily when he’s trying to roll onto to his side to sleep. As a result, he cries a lot and then tries to self soothe to sleep sat up by leaning forwards, which sometimes works but other times he just jolts awake again as I imagine it’s not comfortable. I’ve tried going in to lie him back down, but he cries harder and then pops back up again so me attending to him prolongs the whole process. If he manages to fall asleep sat up, I can then sneak in and unravel him and then he’ll stay lying down if he’s drowsy enough. He banged his head a few times too 😞

Is this normal? Has this happened to anyone else and what did you do to help them? How long did it last?

It is normal. He's learnt something new and they do tend to do things they learn in their sleep. Mine used to sit up and start clapping in the middle of the night lol

Can you spend some time during the day, while he's awake, 'teaching' him how to lie back down? Maybe first by holding his hands and letting him sort of fall back (safely) and take it from there?

It will be just a phase though so try not to worry x

@feelinglikeanewparent thanks for your reply. How long did you find the phase to last? I’m so worried about him hurting himself!

I can't remember, it was a while ago (DC is nearly 9 now). I think I also remember him sitting up and then banging head on cot but it didn't seem to bother him much, he either slept through it or woke briefly and settled back down.

I did put those bumper things around his cot and a couple of teddies but I don't think that's recommended any more

Bump

Tried leaving him to work it out initially last night but he’d only stay asleep slumped onto his lap for 20 minutes before pinging back up on repeat so we ended up repeatedly lying him down. Luckily he was so exhausted by that point it didn’t take too long before he stayed but I don’t know how this is going to end 😭 anyone help??