I don't know if anyone else has experienced a similar problem and if so, what did you do!
My ds (14 mths) has always been a good sleeper and started sleeping through the night (7-7) from about 5 months. Most nights he will sleep right the way through. If he is poorly he often wakes in the night which is fair enough. However, for some time now ds will sleep through for one or two nights then the following 3 to 7+ nights he wakes up, crying inconsolably, after a stint of wake ups he goes back to sleeping through the night again. Generally he only ever wakes for a reason (i.e. ill) but now I am getting a little confused as to whether this is the case or not. I am wondering whether it could be a comfort thing or separation anxiety as he will calm down after I go in and comfort him (rarely picking him up). He puts his arms out for a cuddle and I will lean over and comfort him then ask him to lie down. Sometimes this works which is great, a quick solution but the majority of the time he will not let me leave the room and immediately starts crying. I feel awful, worry that maybe he is feeling rough (I think he may be teething as the dribbling has increased and fingers are pretty much gnawed at 24/7). I sometimes end up cuddling him but then he screams blue murder when I try and put him in the cot, I've tried controlled crying but then he just gets himself in such a state I feel awful leaving him for such a length of time. I have even resorted to sleeping on the floor next to him to try and calm him and this works eventually but it is driving me insane as I am shattered for work the next day, he is tired when he wakes up (sometimes he will be awake crying between 1-3 hrs). It is only ever once that he wakes up and when I eventually get him back to sleep (whichever way works) he doesn't wake again. He doesn't much like the dark so has a night light, sleeps in a blacked out room, has a sleeping bag (his comforter)....any suggestions on what to before resorting to the crying technique (which I hate!) would be gratefully received.