My Pefect Sleeper Is Now Crying at Bedtime Every Night

Hi L.! My "perfect sleeper" also did this at about 8 months and I had to let him cry it out, even though I had NEVER done it before up until that point. He cried 20 mins the first night, 15 mins the second, 10 mins the third, and now he's back to being the perfect sleeper again! :) If both you and your husband are home, and he can take the crying better than you can, get yourself out for a walk, or water your flowers, or any other activity that gets you outside if you can. I couldn't take the crying but my husband could, so as soon as I laid my little man down I grabbed the leashes for our dogs and I took them for a 20 minute walk. Problem solved for all of us! It made me feel bad too at first, but I just chalked it up to a long list of things I will probably feel guilty for in the future! :) Good luck!

My son is 13 mths old, and he's cried at bedtime occasionally, and he's fine. Please, don't feel guilty! Those nights were hard for me too, but eventually my baby would fall to sleep. Also it may be partially separation anxiety since you've been in the hospital, and also don't rule out teething. It's such a guess for us moms, and sometimes it may be 1 of these and sometimes all 3 or more. Your perfect sleeper will return to his old habits in a few days hopefully, but just needs some time to adjust back to it. If it is teething, try motrin at night.

Oh, wow! You are sooo blessed that he only cried for 6 minutes. Mine would cry for an hour -- we later found out why, but that's MY story. :o)

After a few days of the old routine, he will probably go back to realizing that you are back to stay and the comfort of the familiar routine will probably be all he needs to calm down. It is nothing to worry about.

That is what "crying it out" is. Letting him soothe himself. If you "give in" and re-enter the room, then you have taught him that if he cries, he gets you to come back.

You are doing a GREAT job! Keep it up. :o)

P. <><

He'll be fine. This is a transition stage for him. My daughter went through this and I was never absent. The moment she realized she could manipulate me with her cries and get what she wanted (going to sleep on me), her sleep patterns changed. I had to let her cry it out, something I was wholeheartedly against at first. Now I can put her in her bed fully awake at 8:30 every night and she will play a little in her crib and then lays down to sleep within 10 minutes. He'll be fine.

I'm glad you are ok. It seems you are feeling guilty about being away and putting more on this. It's normal!

:)

You're doing fine! Less than ten minutes is amazing after a disruption like that! He shouldn't cry every night forever, but he probably will for the first 2-5 nights. He'll be fine. Do the dishes or the laundry or something while he fusses so you're not just sitting there listening. I don't even know you and I'm so happy you're better! Congratulations on being home and ok.

As long as he is fed, dry, and in a safe bed he is fine! Don't feel guilty it is for his own good in the long run, good sleep habits are very important. They crying will most likely only last a few days. 6 minutes is nothing! My daughter fought naps when she was a baby and once cried for almost two hours! Each day it was better and within a week or so she was calming down on her own. I would just go in ever once in a while to check on her and each time spaced out the time in between checking on her. Now she is three and sleeps like a rock.