My little boy just started pulling himself up in his crib (6 1/2 months), and now instead of falling asleep for naps, he stands up and cries! We were just on the verge of him learning to put himself to sleep, and now I don't know what to do.
Thanks for the all the advice and encouragement. Last night, my husband and I took turns going in and helping him back down. I think it took us five visits, but he finally relaxed and went to sleep!
Leave him be. He has learned a new skill and wants to use it for starters. Second, he knows that when he cries, you come and get him!! So with a new skill he may think that he is missing out on something else where in the house and wants to be part of it. So let him stand up, the thrill will ware off and he'll be easier to take naps again.
Good luck!
S.
I know that it's easier if your baby can put himself to sleep by himself, but it may not be what he really needs right now. I usually snuggled my babies to sleep, and then moved them to a crib or safe spot for them to sleep. They were comforted and happy to have me close by, and I got a few minutes to rest and enjoy just spending time with them. The best part, was that there were no tears :)
I have four....everyone of them goes through sleep issues. Unfortunately they are never exactly the same issue! I am just trying to figure out where to put my youngest.
Standing up(in the crib) is better than running out(of the room, because now he has a big bead)--so I would say you want to solve this before he outgrows the crib. He is still really little-- it should be easy.
Just go back in, at ever increasing intervals--pat, kiss, release, lie him back down and leave...eventually he will go to sleep on his own....try and introduce something that will give him comfort, just for bedtime. That usually works. An animal that plays music, or a blanket or pillow that is ONLY for him and ONLY at bedtime.
R.,
It may be that your little one doesn't know how or can't get down after standing up. He may be really tired, but has an internal desire to stand. So, maybe, just go in and help him back down. You may have to do this many times, but eventually he will be able to get down himself and might realize that standing up isn't a great option if tired! Hope this helps.
Okay, I know this is going to sound harsh but, you need to let your little darling know that it is time to go to sleep....
Let him cry... for no more than two minutes. Go in and calm him down, lay him down and try again.
Then let him cry.... for three, then four and so on. You need to lengthen the time minute by minute so that it "conditions" him into knowing that crib time means sleep time.
I did this with my son and daughter. It works, until that is... they put that leg over the crib edge and come walking down the hallway! (my son at 10 1/2 months and my daughter at 9 months)LOL!
With compassion and peacefullness, gently but firmly lay him down in the crib. Keep your hand on his back and jiggle him a bit. Tell him it's time for sleep.
Withdraw your presence slowly. First stop jiggling. Then let your hand be lighter on his back. Remove your hand but stay near the crib. Perhaps keep singing or reassuring him with your voice.
If he starts to fuss, go back to full hand on his back, or jiggling. You may have to have your hand very firm if he wiggles to get up. If he insists on getting up, you may have to lay him down again.
Watch your own breath. Slow exhalation. The key is to stay calm. Do not engage with him emotionally at all. Be boring! Keep your own eyes closed.
You may have 2 or 3 days of having to give him the message over and over but hang in there. Soon the two of you will be in sync - story, cuddle and song, lay down, pat on the back, sweet dreams - or whatever you establish as the rhythm.
Children thrive on consistency. Having the same rhythym at every bedtime makes it so much easier.
Oh how I hated this stage! My daughter would hold on and cry while sucking her thumb. Eventually she would fall asleep standing up and fall over! I thought for sure she would damage her pretty little head, but she got over it in a couple of weeks. Practice up and down with him. Let him stand between your legs and pul him up and show him how to do down. That way he can get himself down and to sleep.
With babies it seems like ever phase goes by so so quickly. He will probably stand up now when naps are over, but there is a good chance he will get past this, or stand up and play, then lay down to nap. My kids both did that, but were already self soothing and putting themselves to sleep. Perhaps a lovey will help him if he doesn't have one.
B.
universal problem! :) you'll just have to put him through a training period. they learn how to stand up and then can't get back down! go in to his room and release his hands from his crib rail. he'll plop down on his mattress, but he needs to learn how to do that and that it doesn't really hurt to just let himself "fall." don't worry - every mom goes through this one. this too shall pass. :)
Just wanted to agree with the other moms.....teach him how to sit or "fall" back down. I wish I would have asked or figured this out a lot sooner with my little boy. It would have saved us both a lot of frustration and sleepless times.
We went through this with both children. My husband decided to we were going to let them cry without picking them up no matter how long it took. I could only go in every once in a while to tell them it was going to be OK. The first child cried hard for 45 minutes. It was very hard for me to let that happen, but it worked. It only took one time doing that and she went to sleep by herself from then on. Though it was hard for me to endure that 45 minutes, I'm glad my husband insisted. It worked on the next child, too. If they know the crying will get you to go pick them up, they will never go to sleep by themselves. I've seen moms who lay with their child even through elementary school years to get them to go to sleep.
