Getting Back to My Routine??

Dear D.,

Before you panic I would make sure he is well. My daughter suffered terrible ear infections and every time I would take her for her recheck she was still infected. Make sure he is cleared up he may still have fluid. If he is and you do not want to make him cry then try to comfort him while he is in the crib with out picking him up. You can rub his back or pat his bottom but try not to pick him up. Are you using saline to try to loosen the mucus? He could be stuffed up still. Try raising his mattress, use a humidifier, and saline until you feel he is symptom free it is hard to tell if that is why he is waking. Sorry, I am out of ideas because I did Ferberize my kids to get them to sleep though the night. Good luck and happy holidays!!

This is an issue for all of us, no matter how we help our kids sleep! Whatever your normal routine is, get back into it and stick to it. Be consistent! I'm a believer in selective cry-it-out methods, but of course I don't use that when my little guy is sick. Then once he's all better, I have to work hard to get him back in his regular groove.

I think it's just all about consistency. If you're going to soothe him to sleep, maybe make sure it's in his own room? And then slowly get back into putting him down awake?

Not sure what else to offer. My son only cries the first night, when we're getting back into a routine. And only for a few minutes. He just needs to be reminded that he knows how to do it, you know? :)

Good luck, and I'm glad your little guy is better now!

Hello D.

Your son might still feel a bit uinder the weather. getting back into a routine is so hard and everyone has their own beliefs on how to do it. Last Feb. my daughter who was 6 months old, got very sick with a stomach flu to top things off we were going away on vacation. Well I basically had to reteacher her how to eat solids... it was a nightmare... and not only had we have to reestablish routines we also threw in a vacation to really screw things up. Long story short, I do believe in crying it out (within reason) but that is what works for me. She had a few nights of crying and then realized she had to soothe herself to sleep. You have to be consistent in any method you chose. Usual bedtime routines is a must. So the bathtime, book thing must happen and hopefully after a few nights of some cries (you have to expect that b/c now he has developed a new habit) he will be back on track. Remember their habits also change as they grow so things mightnot be exactly the same. Also I was once give some wise advice... you make and break their habits and after 3 nights it becomes a habit. Good luck, hope things work out.

D.,
How (most of us are thinking) did you get in your routine in the first place? How did you start? Without crying it out? What magic did you use? I am very curious, and I think therein lies your answer. Likely it was a slow process, incorporating several elements of the evening routine over a long period of time - weeks even.

Your son may still be afraid of waking up not being able to breathe, and that also may play a factor. Try explaining to him that he is recovered from his cold, and won't have to worry about waking up. You'd be surprised what little ones understand and can put into practice - they just have no voice to PROVE it! :)

Good Luck!
M.

Hi D.,
My 13 month old son has been sick for over a week, and like you, we have developed bad sleep habits during that time. I'm trying to take it one day at a time and not worry about his sleep patterns until I feel he's 100% better. (He still has a low grade fever, is coughing, and I can see a molar pushing through.)

This happened to us once before when my son was about your son's age. What happened then seems to be happening now... Each night, as he got better and better, he slept longer without waking up, until eventually he put himself back on track.

One suggestion is to have his father put him to sleep when you're pretty sure he's better. I was the middle of the night cuddler, and I think having Daddy do the tuck in helped my son disassociate going to sleep and middle of the night Mommy-cuddles.

Do you think he is 100% better? My son just got over a long illness and sleep has been crazy, I think he's like 98% better, he's still congested...he's 20 months old though - back in his crib but wakes during the night..and with the holidays its been even crazier! I don't know what else to do myself except keep being persistent with the normal routine I want to get him back on...

D.,
How about a night light either in his room or the hallway. I did that with mine and it worked out well. I agree crying it out is not always the answer especially when it will wake up the rest of the family, five minutes is one thing, but beyond that only makes the baby more upset.
Hugs,
T.