Oh God, please help - dd been screaming since I put her to bed 45 mins ago..

[poppiesmum]

My 9mo dd has always been a good sleeper. We did cc with her when she was 5mo as she wasn't able to go to sleep without being rocked. Since then she has gone straight down every night at 6.30pm until 6.30 am.

However, for the past 2 weeks, she has been waking up every night (different times) and not settling herself. The problem is hampered by the fact she can stand up in her cot and just screams until I give in and pick her up. The minute I put her down, she starts again.

The problem has reached a peak this weekend, when she was awake for 2 hours on sat and sun night (1-3am).

Tonight, she has been screaming for 45 mins. I have been VERY controlled and stuck to the cc rules - calming her down after 5,10,15 mins etc, but not picking her up - but she's still going!!!!!!

Why oh why has she started doing this again???

oooh dear...my `DD started sleeping badly when teething, she was in pain and very cross...calpol helped....might she also be teething?

if you have picked her up before, she might be hoping you will do it again...

you sound like you really want to do this properly...so can you bear to stick to the controlled crying> can DH go in next time to settle her....

Poor you, I know how awful it is. Are you sure she's well and hasn't got an ear infec or anything that may be troubling her? They can sometimes grumble on for weeks.

If she's ok then she may just be waking as she's learnt to stand then trying her luck with you when you go in to her. Stick to the 'rules' and she WILL eventually fall asleep. This used to happen to my ds and my dh and I would just look at the clock and see the hours go by....

Hope she settles soon.

Thanks both - she has 2 teeth and only suffered a little with them, and I can't see any new ones appearing! Dh works away, so it's just me 4 nights of the week (agghhhhh!), and I really want to get this sorted before he comes back at the weekend, and it's no fun for any of us when we're all together as a family.

DO want to stick to the rules as I know they work, but can't think why she's started all this again! Will take to GP tomorrow to rule out ear infection, but she seems well in herself (although have tried Calpol tonight!!)

it is hard isn't it....stick to your guns,.it is long term gain for short term pain....

don't beat yourself up about it...all babies go trough an unsettled period,,,if she has been a good sleeper..she'll go back to her routine...

wow - confusing with lulumama and lulusmama.
My DS went through this at exactly the same age - I assumed it was separation anxiety. I used gradual withdrawal, so I sat next to his cot and everytime he stood up or cried I just laid him back down again and said 'its time to sleep sweetheart'. I found that he went to sleep faster that way than doing the CC - perhaps b/c everytime I left the room his anxiety got worse, with CC. After a week I was able to just stand by the door. Another few days later and it was sorted. At the same time though we also tried to get him used to a soft toy to sleep with, and that helped alot too. Now he ONLY sleeps with his soft toy!

oh mi god- there's two of me!!!!!

almost!

Not much advice but my DD went through exactly the same thing at that age. She will get better - just stick to your guns. I think it lasted about 2-3 wks with us if I can remember..... Good luck - it's exhausting isn't it!

Well done you for keeping on track - the only thing I can say is to keep the visits short and to the point - dry eyes, 'time to go to sleep now' and if still really yelling - leave - less attention for crying - very matter of fact and calm - getting more boring with each visit I also found helped!! For each night that you do it for the next few nights give neurofen if the bub is OK with it - it lasts 8 hours and gives a better sense of peace as you know they can last longer - give 1 hr before bed so that they are fully dosed by bedtime. Then - large glass of wine for you!
Good luckxx P.S. 2 out of 3 of mine did this every 3 months following initial cc - it stopped at 12 months with dd2 and 2 yrs with ds - it DOES stop.

Forgot to say - DON'T PICK THEM UP!!!!!

I had my DS waking up every hour at 9 month i did call a sleep doctor. He had separation anxiety.
I would try and put her down if she stands up sit next to her holding her hand on her level and if she goes crazy pick her up and cuddle till she is calm and put her down again.
The key is when she goes to sleep she should be half awake knowing that she is in her cot and fall asleep by herself.
Took me 2 weeks.

Thanks for all the advice - she went to slepp after 50 minutes last night, and for the first time in weeks slept until 5.50am - relief! Not getting too excited though, as tonight's another night! Will stick with it and resist the urge to pick her up and take her into bed with me!!!!! Glad to know I'm not alone!

What happened last night???