Bedtime USED to Be a Dream....

Updated on June 10, 2008
E.C. asks from Plano, TX
4 answers

Hi Moms,
From 4 to 9 months my little one was a dream to put to sleep each night...our bedtime ritual was my favorite part of the day! Now, suddenly, at 9 months putting him to bed is a struggle EACH night. We follow the same routine, only slightly later because he is now wide awake at his former bedtime, and the minute I lay him in his crib he cries. I have tried letting him cry it out as long as I can handle and I have tried entering the room without picking him up and soothing him by rubbing his back. This has worked a couple of nights, but usually only after I have left the room twice. I read "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer" which is why I whole heartedly believe he was a great sleeper before, but now I am at a loss. No changes whatever in his life except for developmental ones, meaning he is now crawling and pulling up...could that be the source? When he is crying I find him sitting up in his crib. And there is nothing physcially wrong either, he just was in for his 9 month check up. Please help! Thanks in advance! I know there have been other posts, so any links to those are also greatly appreciated.

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So What Happened?

Thanks for all the responses! I never thought the CIO method was for my little one, but after reading some of the posters who said they tried it and it worked, and asking my best friend, and asking my boss (I sometimes need a lot of affirmation!) I decided to give it a try tonight because they all seemed to point out that in addition to new physical milestones, our little ones are beginning to understand what they can do to get a response from us. So I decided to take one of the suggestions that said to get out for some fresh air once I put my son to bed, and that's what I did. As soon as I placed my son in his crib, I immediately walked out the front door for a walk with my dogs and left my husband home to check on my son. 20 minutes later I peeked my head in the door and all was quiet on the homefront. I realized then that because I was consistently checking on my son, he continued to cry. And while I thought I was waiting a good time between check ins, I realized I was really only waiting a few minutes. My husband said he had to lay my son down only once because he was standing in his crib, but that's all it took. That is a good step in the right direction for us so its definitely something I am going to try again tomorrow. Maybe while the COI method doesn't work for ME, it may work for my son. :)

More Answers

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C.S.

answers from Dallas on

This happened to our family, too. I think it's fairly common for bedtime routines to get shaken up at 8 or 9 months old. We went with the CIO (cry it out) method and it worked perfectly. The first few nights were very hard. It was so hard for me to hear the cries that I went to a neighbors for 30 to 45 minutes while daddy supervised. We never went back in the room. After 45 minutes or so, the cries would soften and she fell asleep. I remember thining she'd be angry with us the next morning, but she wasn't. By the 3rd or 4th night, she knew what to expect and cried only for 10 minutes or so. After a week, she was able to relax and soothe herself to sleep. We had a Dreamscape on her crib rail (played music, lit up the room) and a silky blanket that she loved until she was 3.

I know CIO is controversial and isn't for everyone. However, it was a perfect solution for us. I think it's easiest to do it before they are a year old because they really get angry when they are 3, 4 or 5 years old and you try to kick them out of your bed.

Good luck, hang in there. I hope you find a plan that works for your family.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.D.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter did the same thing. I was sooooo against crying it out, but that is what I ended up doing. As long as you have made sure he has a dry diaper, isn't hungry, and isn't in pain, let him cry. If you have to cry in the other room, it's ok. Many of us do that. Now at 12 months, Elizabeth is able to self soothe and I can actually put her in bed and she will lay down with her monkey and go to sleep on her own.

If your baby is teething, you may need to give him tylenol or motrin before bed. I think 9 months is when Elizabeth got her first teeth. So that may be an issue also.

GL!

1 mom found this helpful
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P.B.

answers from Tyler on

Could he be teething?

There are some all natural teething tablets (Hyland's brand I think) that really work without numbing the whole mouth (I used them with my wisdom teeth myself).

Just be consistant. It will pass.

P. <><

1 mom found this helpful
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T.W.

answers from Dallas on

When my little one went through this phase we bought one of those crib attaching music players that puts a display on the ceiling. I found one at Walmart and it encouraged her to lay down and watch the bear and bees moving across the ceiling.
Good luck
T.

1 mom found this helpful
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