Screaming and Clinging 18Month Old with Sleep Issues

It's so hard. My first child was like this...a high needs child. I loved that book Raising Your Spirited Child. My son took till 2.5 or 3 till he finally would sleep through the night. I tried everything then and now I know it was just his personality. I didn't have a single friend with a child like this and no one understood what it was like. Anyway, I'm sending you support!My son now at age 7 is just wonderful

Well I hope I don't get too much grief over this one but my babysitter puts a drop or two of lemon juice on the kids tongues when they scream for no reason or say a "naughty" word. She warns them 1st so they have a chance to correct themselves. Also, she doesn't do it unless it's being done with malice (she probably wouldn't do it if they are screaming b/c they are excited). Personally, it has worked wonders for my son!

I have a clingy kid. She started out as a clingy, noise-sensitive, nervous baby. We are now reading a book called, The Challenging Child, specifically the chapter called, The Highly Sensitive Child. I hear there is also a separate book called The Highly Sensitive Child which I am going to look for. So far the book I have has described my child to a T. If you truly have one of those sensory sensitive, clingy babies I would try reading one of those 2 books, because "normal," traditional methods will probably not work, and may make things worse. We have found the first one to be quite helpful.

My 3 year old still screams when she gets excited, so when you get that answer let me know:)
I mostly just tell her inside voice if you want to yell go outside.
She then goes in the yard & screams.

The racking to sleep is easy, just put him down, kiss goodnight & close the door. It may take a bit but they will get used to it. Consistency is the key, same time, same routine.
I know lots of people say cio is mean, but if you are on your own with 3, you gotta do what you gotta do.

Hi T.--
Show him whispering, and different quiet, silly voices. He'll still scream sometimes. :)

Clinginess means he feels more secure when he's right with you. Do you have a baby carrier/sling, like a front or backpack? That might help, so you can have your hands free while still carrying him. I don't think you need to "break him" of anything. Babies are sort of wired to feel better when they're closer to their moms--more so at certain ages than others. Rocking to sleep is a kind thing for you to do, and doing it again in the middle of the night is too. Tiring, and kind. :)

Have you ever heard the expression "a need fulfilled is a need extinguished"? What I'm getting at is, the more you pull away from his clinginess, the more he'll seek to cling to you---denying a need doesn't make it go away. (Unless mom always says no or doesn't come, and baby gives trying to get her to come help, but I think that's a very sad alternative.)

I remember some days I felt my back would break from the baby clinging to me, and that I would lose my mind from not sleeping, but it didn't and I didn't. And I feel proud that I can look back on having done a lot of kind things for my daughter at that age, many of them in the middle of the night. :-) I'm sorry to hear that your husband is away so much, that can't be easy.

The first reaction of Mom towards a clingy child is to separate herself. The opposite is really best in any relationship that encounters insecurity and especially a mother-child relationship. Your child sounds like what Dr Sears labels a "high need" child in his book The Fussy Baby Book. I'd recommend it if you have time to read.
Instead of pulling away in effort to cure his clinginess, it's best to be overly reassuring. It helps establish security in his world where he has very little control over anything. My daughter was my "velcro baby" as I called her since she clung to me until about age 2. She now is an independent, adventurous, and secure 6 yr old. I'm so glad I quit reading all those hocus pocus parenting books out there and just started meeting the unique needs of my "high need" child. Patience and lots of reassurance (and yes, rocking to sleep) is best. Midwife Mom of 3

I have an 18 months old son and a husband who travels a lot for work. My son always had sleeping problems and at one point when my husband was on his trip I decided to sleep train him. I let him cry for 5-10 min then walked into his room and tried to come him down but do not pick him up. It took me about 5 nights of no sleep at all and it worked, but the problem is when my hubby got back it all started all over again. He can not take the crying, so he goes to his room and brings him bottle and even sometimes picks him up. Its tough, we always have arguments because of that. He is so stubborn. Toddlers love routine, so if you set a routine he will get used to it. You can try to let him cry a bit and see if he can soothe himself back to sleep. It might take a while....All you need is consistence and patience. Your husband is away, so nobody interferes like it is in my case. Good luck