8 1/2 Month Old Not Sleeping in Crib

my son did the same thing, he finally slept through the night at 15 monts old because i put him in a bed, I layed with him and read books then he went to sleep. Looking back I wish I wouldv'e put a matress on his floor and let him sleep on that,
good luck

Am going through the same thing with my son (now 16 months old) -- it started around that time and I think it was separation anxiety. At this point I think it is force of habit. I can't let him cry either. He is so persistent! A couple nights I swear he slept standing up in his crib almost all night, letting out a yell every now and then. I know this is no help, but we just gave up and let him sleep with us when he wakes up in the night (like your son, he goes down OK but can't fall back to sleep after he wakes). Went through the same thing for months -- trying to get him back down, I'd fall asleep rocking him which I'm sure perpetuated the problem as he got used to sleeping on my chest. We got a bed rail so he could sleep on the outside (when he sleeps between me and my husband he takes up so much space we are relegated to the outer edges of the bed). Not a real "solution" if you're not into cosleeping but we have just made peace with it. I feel like my son is comforted by us and I can't deny him that. It's certainly not a solution for everyone. Good luck!

Don't worry you're not alone and each baby has his or her own things that they go through. Could you try having his nap in a pack n' play instead of his crib to disassociate "bedtime" and keep his crib for bedtime only. It helped me. My son woke up every 2-3 hours until about 9 or 10 months. Also, 12 mos and it was a magical time: no growth spurts for awhile and less teething (for a while). Do you have a night light on for him? That helped us so it wasn't so dark that it wasn't scary for him. Also, I put an infant friendly stuffed animal in with him until he fell sleep. I then sneak in and take it out before he's totally asleep for the night. At first, I would make sure he was very sleepy before I put him in his crib for the night. Because of that his bedtime was, at first, 11pm then 10 pm now 8:30 or 9pm. This separation anxiety will end but I tried different things until I found what worked for my son: leaving a tiny flashlight on w/the nightlight (I used to stay in there for a few mins before sneaking out and so he thought I was still in there) etc. People will tell you that you don't need to do what works for your baby but what works for you well I tell you to try different things and you will find what works for you and your baby. Every family unit is different. Good luck and try all the good advice you get! Also, you could put a pack n play in your room for a few nights so he doesn't feel as scared w/o you and wheel him into his room when he falls asleep so he wakes up in his room. Good luck and remember this too shall pass!

I think it's normal. At least that is how it was for us. It took about 3 weeks until our son would sleep in his crib. We didn't transition until he was 8 months old. Now at 9 months - he goes down at 9 fine - but he has to be already asleep - then wakes around 2am and needs to be comforted. I can't do CIO - so my husband gets up with him. When my husband goes in to comfort - my son knows he means business and settles back down (if I go in - he tries to nurse and I have to stop him). Our son is also 22 lbs - you are not alone. I just think it will pass - but I am sure you will get lots of advice on here! Good luck to you.
~ J.

He needs sleep training! He will contimue this behavior until you stand strong and are consistant with your messge to him. His crib is where he sleeps and stays all night. Do not give in and rescue him from the crib. It is OK for him to cry and protest, however you need to be firm and leave him there.

Sleeping alone and being secure is a skill like walking and toileting.

You say you let him cry a "couple of minutes". I don't know how literally you meant that, but it may be that you need to wait a bit longer. I am now caring for a six month old who seems to often just need about a ten minute cry in order to settle in and go to sleep. She will be falling asleep in my arms and can hardly hold up her head, but when I put her down she starts crying. Sometimes it's just a minute or two of whimpering, but other times she actually cries fairly hard and for a longer time. I wait her out, and if she doesn't settle in about ten minutes, then I pick her up and check to see if she needs something... a diaper change, food, maybe she has'nt burped thoroughly... or whatever. Usually if I check her and then hold her for another five minutes or so... not cuddling, but just holding her on my lap... then she'll settle down and sleep. I don't know if this will work with your child, but it's something you might try.

Hello M., I want to tell you that as a mother of 5 and having been a foster mother of newborns I can share some of my own experiances, and those of my grandchilden .
We always let ou children sleep with us as much for our comfort as for theirs. I even nursed the foster babies as well as giving formula. Since your little one was with you during preganancy itis natural to want to be with you now. My husband was the one that would hold the babies on his chest all night and I promise you that as they got older always felt safest on Dad's shoulder or we'd have a older child crawl into bed to hear dad's heartbeat when scared. On the other hand one son has never put his 1 yo in a crib & has always had the baby in withthem which created a problem when I take care of the child as she is used to being between both parents and has always had a parnet nap with her (because of odd work shifts). I have 1 child that slept with his feet on me and his head on dad ( it felt til his 6th birthday-- but it wasn't).
There are big stuffed animals tht make sounds of breathing,heartbeats, or water & wind noise and are good to put into the crib, we have used a fan for "white noise" that makes it more comforting becase if they wake up they hear comfort sounds.Put a rolled up blanket up against the baby so it thinks that someone is there. You are so not alone many parnets have this experiance and some becasue they want to -- my daughter in law tells me its the in thing to co sleep with your child instead of putting them to their bed-- but heck we just called it "sleeping with mom and dad" You can also trry just reading to your little ne while he is in his bed--just hearing your voice is soothing. My husband read his school books, Louie LaMour' westerns, and scriptures what ever we had that we were reading at the time until they settled down. Just so they know they haven't been left alone. Good Luck mom you are doing fine and just keep at it -- remember that this is a child and will take his cue from you so if you are the leader and in charge and not the child he will always be following the example that you set for years to come. Keep us posted

I have slept with my baby in bed next to me since day one and have learned that you need to listen to what your baby is telling you. There is always a reason (be it hunger, fear, anxiety, development and growth, separation, etc...) that your baby has a change in his sleep pattern. Don't worry about "where" your baby is sleeping so long as BOTH of you are confortable with the arrangement. Now, this may mean that YOU are not getting your ideal amount of sleep but if your baby is content then you need to do what is working for him at that point in time. My daughter is 14 months old and since she was born she wakes up at least 4 times every night. That is just her. She is a very, very light and restless sleeper. Luckily, by having her next to me, I am able to soothe her back to sleep quickly. Not ideal for me in terms of my sleep but I know that this won't last forever. Sorry that I do not have a solution for you...just wanted to let you know that you are not alone and that you need to follow your gut and do what works for your family! Oh - and my daughter still naps on my chest. LOL