Do I need to sleep train?

[eggsandham]

My 11 month old son used to be (relatively) happy being put down in his cot "drowsy but not sleeping" at bedtime. But for the last few weeks I haven't been able to put him down until he is sound asleep in my arms. I fully night weaned him 2 weeks ago and for the first 3 nights he slept right through - but then he's started waking at 2am every night and repeating the same process as at bedtime - ie crying if he's put back in his cot and not sound asleep. I am really reluctant to do any kind of sleep training that involves him crying - but do I need to in order to get him to sleep through? Or will he eventually just do it ?

I wouldn't because I think it is cruel, but that's just me.

You don't need to do any cry it out if you don't want to. This is what I did with mine: explain that you are going to put him in cot after story or whatever is the last thing before bed. You can hold my hand if you'd like, or mummy can stroke you. Be calm and assertive. It will work .he might cry and yes it's a form of training but I would never let my child cry alone. I totally understand when people do... But it doesn't sound like you want to.

I also think skeep training is cruel but if you can't manage on one wake up a night then maybe you need to do it

Children do develop separation anxiety at his age - I think it's just him doing that

Thanks for replies. I can totally manage the night wake-ups and would much rather do that than let him cry - but I guess what I'm asking is if you make that choice, do they eventually learn to sleep through on their own?

Why is this happening? Could he be teething?

My ds did eventually but it took a while. Initially we got some help from a baby sleep advisor, but he still woke. It's still quite soon for you after night weaning, it may take a while to settle in to a new routine. It's very personal to you and your child whether or not sleep training suits. My ds changed as the months went on - at 18 months he got separation anxiety and wouldn't go down alone. In the end I just comforted him when he was upset. I would just go with what you feel comfortable with.

Yes they all learn to sleep through eventually - honestly! Sleep training has become so normalised now I can see how you could think they wouldn't.
Just do what you are comfortable with. he sounds like a lovely baby.

Ps I. Cuddle mine back to sleep - I love it and so do they. It might take a little longer to sleep through but you aren't going to regret those cuddles when they are older and they will sleep through when they are ready to.

They absolutely sleep through when they are ready - sleep training is rushing a baby to do something he/she isn't developmentally ready for that's all.

My daughter self settles but when unwell/teething/regressions etc she needs my help to get to sleep. I find that once she is better, she fidgets when I try to put her to sleep and that is her way of telling me she wants me to go away so she can fall asleep alone.

If you're happy to, wait a little bit longer and see if he goes back to it. If he doesn't, you don't have leave him to cry alone when sleep training. Things like gradual withdrawal involve you gradually reducing the amount of help you give him to fall asleep over a longer period of time until he is doing it himself.

In terms of sleeping through the night, it is much more likely once he falls asleep in his cot - even if that involves you helping him fall asleep there. Him falling asleep in your arms then being transferred means he is much more likely to go to wide awake in the night when he stirs and then want you to hold him when getting back to sleep.

Thank you all for your replies - really helpful