Please help....previously great sleep now won't settle!

[JohnLewisAddict]

My DS (now 15 months) was a brilliant sleeper - I've never had any issues with getting him to self settle in his cot. Within minutes of being put down, he was asleep (assuming that it was nap/bedtime) but now he just doesn't settle even though I can see he is tired (i.e. rubbing his eyes etc). He just cries and cries, sometimes for up to 2 hours and I don't know what to do. I think my DP and I have created a rod for our own back. He started nursery a couple of months ago and was pretty unsettled in general after that and I think we've just made it worse by responding to him, going in, shushing him, patting him, picking him up, offering him the breast again. Would you do controlled crying if you were in my shoes? I really don't want to leave him to cry but I just don't see how we can improve the situation without it. Please help - I feel like a total failure and I know we've brought it on ourselves.

Hi. I have just spotted this as I searched for some help with my similar situation!

My 13 mo was a great sleeper but since mid- December and a run of tummy bug, cough and cold he has been a nightmare. No answers or suggestions I am afraid, just a "me too".

Have you had any luck sorting it out yet? I am considering getting a night nanny in to help out for a few nights, as am absolutely shattered (am 3 months pregnant), and getting to the end of my tether. Last night I tried leaving him and going in every 5 mins, then tried shush- pat etc, but after 2.5 soul destroying hours I gave up, brought him into my bed, and managed a total of 3 hours sleep before getting up to do the school run for older DS. I swear this child is trying to break me!

Awww hun. Sorry to hear you're going through the same thing. We've resorted to some controlled crying after a friend of mine swears by it. It's really tough but seems to be working and it's taking less time each night for DS to settle. I spoke to the HV and she said just to persevere even though it's tough. She said we need to get it sorted before we take DS out of the cot and into a bed otherwise it'll just be even tougher. I hope she's right as I hate to hear my gorgeous boy crying his eyes out . Good luck. Congrats on your pregnancy btw! Xx

I would like to add another "me too" except my guy is only 10 months old. Up to about a week ago, a brilliant sleeper, just put him down in his cot and walk away and slept 12-14 hours through the night. Now he throws tantrums when you put him in his cot at bed time and at nap time and won't stop crying unless you pick him up. He also sometimes wakes up again an hour later crying which he also never did before. Going in, picking him up or shushing him doesn't work as he just starts crying again as soon as you put him down. He basically wants to only fall asleep in my arms, preferably on the breast.

How are you implementing the controlled crying?