T.T.
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just let him sleep with you and it looks like youd get sleep
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Hello! My 8 month old has recently changed his sleep habits for the worst. He used to always sleep in his bed, and might wake up once, but go back to sleep. Now, he refuses to sleep in his bed. At first, he would wake up within and hour or so of going to sleep. I would rock him, and he would go back to sleep, only to do it again and again. Now, he wont even sleep in his bed!! When I put him down, he pops right back up and starts screaming!! I would rock him back, he would be so out cold he would be snoring. I would lay him down, get in my bed, and up he would be screaming again. I tried letting him cry it out, but he got so upset, he woke his brother up in the other room. He does have an ear infection, but has been on antibiotics for two days now. Also, when I was at the point of exhaustion, I did put him and bed with me, and he would sleep fine curled up next to me. (was laying flat, not tilted). I would wait until he fell asleep, put him back, and up he was again. I am barely getting two hours of sleep at night, unless I sleep on the rocking chair with him on my chest. Not a habit I want to start.....Any suggestions, ideas as to what is going on?
just let him sleep with you and it looks like youd get sleep
It sounds like he really needs to feel your presense and feel safe and secure. This is very common. At this age, it is very common for kids to suddenly have that need. Also, changing their sleeping patterns is very common. There's really no need to worry about creating a habit at such a young age.
One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was "The best place for baby to sleep is wherever baby will (safely) sleep." He'll sleep next to you in your bed? Great! Both our boys did and occasionally still do.
Our boys (5 and 2 1/2) begin every night in their own bed and my older son always has (My younger son never had a crib, so when he was a baby he always slept with us. He moved into his own bed at 17 months.). If they wake in the middle of the night, we just help them climb into bed with us and then everyone goes back to sleep.
Co-sleeping can be a godsend!
I know you said cry it out didn't work for you, but it's realistically the only way you are going to get him back on track at his age. The more rocking, etc. that he gets, the more he is going to think he needs it. If he wakes at night, I would go to him once for a diaper change and a feeding, and then straight back to bed without being rocked to sleep. He will fall asleep - maybe you will have to come up with a temporary solution to make sure he doesn't wake your other child. Sorry, but ignoring his protest cries is all that will reverse this.
You can try one of the heartbeat bears. My son was about that age when he would wake up when we laid him down and once he heard the hearbeat he would go back to sleep.
I would suspect teething
