7 month old screaming at bedtime

[JodieMcL]

Hello

I'm just looking for some advice / reassurance really.

My little boy will be 8 months at the end of October. He previously was a good sleeper and self settling at night. We have a good bedtime routine of bath, book, bottle, bed which we haven't changed of amended. We start bath about 7.15pm. Now all of a sudden the last three nights he is sobbing uncontrollably after my husband and I say goodnight. He doesn't calm when we go back in to the room only if picked up and rocked. I tried not going in straight away and not picking him up but he just gets even more wound up.

Not sure what to do and I'm finding it quite distressing / frustrating.

Help?!

Thanks
Jodie

It could well be seperation anxiety. All very normal and an important stage for him to go through. It's great that he has been able to self settle so far...sounds like he will be fine to self settle again but for the meantime I would suggest the best thing to do is to get him to sleep however you can, rocking, feeding, whatever and just get him through this phase. It will soon change again... there's so much growing and changing in the first couple of years!

Thank you. I'm glad it is just a phase. I've heard about separation anxiety but wasn't sure as I leave him in the livingroom for short periods and he is fine.

Hi, I have a 7month old son that's like this but even with naps, not just bedtime. My DS is having a hard time teething so won't settle or stay settled recently. Where as before he did...Could it be that for you too?

Xx

I also have a 7 month old and we are having to feed to sleep and he gets so upset otherwise.. But then he is also struggling with teething. He was in a good routine of sleep feed sleep etc but now he also wakes up screaming for food every couple of hours throughout the night.. I'm hoping growth spurt / just a stage?

He has been teething (well he's had bright red cheeks) but it doesn't seem to be bothering him much during the day. Maybe they do at night.

Thank you.

I'm guessing developmental leap/phase.

Maybe rock him for now and try and gradually reduce the comforting you do. Perhaps rock him to not quite fully asleep and then pat him in his cot. Then you are giving him the comfort he needs to get to sleep, but also making sure he's not totally reliant on you again

Thanks rubyroot. I'm just concerned about getting him used to needing rocked to sleep but to be honest after a couple of rough nights I'll try anything.

Yeah I know. Mine is 9 months and has only just started sleeping well (for around 1 month), He went through every sleep regression there is!

He's having a bit of a fussy phase and one night he just wouldn't settle- ended up in bed with me for two hours tossing and turning and then I put him in the cot and he slept from 3.30 -9am.

Next night he slept okay- I didnt need to get up and the next night better. I have been rocking him to sleep for his naps and then trying to do less and less to settle him.

I think if it is a one off and your baby has reasonable sleep habits then you're probably okay. My baby is starting to sleep better already (after a week) and my interventions haven't worsened things at all