8 month old won't sleep unless his face is covered

8 replies

sparkleymummy · 28/02/2008 20:26

Posted this on behaviour but didn't get any responses . After all sorts of sleep hassles DS2 has now decided that he will only go to sleep if I place my hand over his face with my fingers splayed like the first alien thing in the film Alien. He grabs my hand and holds it there and pushes down so that slight pressure is applied. If I move my hand he grabs it back. This is now the only way that he will go to sleep.

Has anyone else come across this? Its bizarre. DH thinks he might have headaches??!!

OP posts:

Legoleia · 28/02/2008 20:30

Hello! Didn't have this problem but can feel for you - once it's a habit you'd rather just get them to sleep the easy way!

How about next time you hold your hand, also hold something against his cheek - e.g. blanket, teddy, get him used to that, and then start letting go with your hand...

...might work? Good luck! Hopefully someone will come along with other advice too!

UniversallyChallenged · 28/02/2008 20:34

could it be he just wants to smell you ? DS1 was like that

Maybe try an old t shirt you've worn to snuggle him up with

Divastrop · 28/02/2008 20:38

not heard of the hand thing my dd3(11 months) will only sleep with the blanket over her face.she started pulling it up over her when she was about 9 months old.i used to sneak in her room once she'd gone to sleep and pull it back down,but it would be back over her the next time i checked so i just leave it now(i only use an open-weave cotton blanket though as it still worried me).

Original poster

sparkleymummy · 28/02/2008 20:38

It could be smell. For a couple of weeks he would only sleep nose to nose with me (boy was that exhausting since I couldn't move!) so I guess its maybe just a progression from that.
I should point out that I had no intention of sharing a bed with DS2 but he has had other ideas from day 1. DS1 was never a problem and was happy in his cot from the beginning.

OP posts:

allgonebellyup · 28/02/2008 20:41

oh god please dont end up sleeping nose to nose with him every night! i had this with my ds when he was born, and now he is 4 and will not sleep with out me!
one of the reasons my marriage went down the pan!

Original poster

sparkleymummy · 28/02/2008 21:11

We don't sleep nose to nose anymore but I must confess that if he wakes more than twice in the night DH goes into the spare room and DS2 comes in with me. I know its a bad move but its too exhausting to get up to him every time. He generally wakes at least five times every night and if he's right next to me its easier to settle him.

OP posts:

TripleyTigger · 28/02/2008 21:13

My little girl would only go to sleep with a tea towel over her head Don't ask me why or how we found that out!!! One day it just happened and it carried on!!
She was like a budgie in a cage , not to mention the amount of tea towels she stole from peoples house

She has grown out of it

forkhandles · 28/02/2008 21:15

my DD used to sleep with his Taggie blanket over his face.

Maybe you could do what Legoleia said but sleep with the muslin or little square of blanket so it has your smell on it and then slowly substitue this for your hand?

Flip