Hello,
My 7 month old just recently taught himself to sit up every time he wakes up in the middle of the night (last night we were up every 2 hours).
A few weeks ago, we were working on having him sleep on his own, and it worked great (for a short time). Every time he would wake up in the middle of the night, he would setttle himself back to sleep (sometimes he would cry), but now, everytime he wakes up, he rolls over and eventually sits up (he's crying through this proccess). Last night, for the 5th time that he woke up, instead of going to get him, I was so tired that I just let him do what he wanted. So he sat up on his crib, played a little with his crib bumpers, and when I didn't hear a peep, I saw that he had fell asleep but not laying down, he was bent over. When I tried to lay him down, he cried, cried and cried until he finally fell asleep.
Have you guys experienced this before?
What can I do to help him get back to "bed" or to stop that sitting up?
Thank you
M.
Thank you ALL for sharing your experiences and giving me your opinions. I have decided to just let him be. I guess the thing that I forgot to mention is that, is doesn't bother me or concern me so that he sits up in the middle of the night. Is that he wakes up screaming and crying and continues to do it until he falls asleep (which can last 10 loooong minutes). Again, last night we woke up every 2 hours with his screams and crying.... I get a little frustrated because I want to know why he's crying/screaming and help him.
Thank you all again, I'm not alone on this
If he's going back to sleep (even sitting up) I would let him. He's probably just excited that he can get up and to a new position but is tired because he should be sleeping which is why he's falling asleep like that. That is cute!
You can't do it, it's up to him. He will learn not to soon. It's just one of the many crazy phases they do. Just make sure he's fine, and let him get himself back to sleep. He will, and it will make him a better sleeper in the long run.
oh yes, my son did the same thing when he learned to sit. My dr. said that he was just practicing his new found skill......which he was. I would let him sit up, do his thing and than fall asleep. It eventually stopped once he moved on to another skill.
I wouldn't worry about moving him, babies sleep in all sorts of strange positions. My 2 year old sleeps with his face buried in his matress with his butt up in the air....scared me at first, but it's the way he's most comfortable.
(plus he's old enough to move himself once he needs air, I'm not concerned about him, so mommies please no hate mail).
Keep an eye on him to make sure he's safe, but unless you feel he could be hurt, let him sleep how he falls. He'll shuffle around to find a comfy spot.
good luck
K.
Hello M.,
I'm currently experiencing the very same thing with my 10 month old. The best advise I can offer is to allow your son to sleep however makes him comfortable. My daughter also slumps over and sleeps on her knees with her tush up upright (which looks bizaare). I understand it's not how you or I would prefer to sleep; however, I have to remind myself their limbs are still flexible and that they won't experience the same <kinks> as we grown ups do. What I have also noticed is eventually my daughter will find her way to lay on her side or at least resume a "normal" sleep position. I hope this message was of some comfort to you. Hang in there. I promise it's all a temporary phase babies go through...
Sincerley,
M.
This is a new "trick" he's learned - don't know if you can stop him from practicing it. But if he plays for a while and then goes back to sleep, there's nothing to be done! If he's uncomfortable, he'll wiggle his way around until he's comfortable. Just leave him be. you've taught him to self-soothe and get himself back to sleep. You don't want to undo that!
Our daughter went through the same thing. I agree with the other moms, no need to do anything. Let him learn to put himself back to sleep. This is a phase and it will pass. Does he have a lovey? You might want to consider introducing a lovey so he has something comforting to help him fall back asleep. Sending you hugs and wishing good sleep for all!
I have no idea but just wanted to commiserate! My sons been doing the exact same thing for a couple of days now and it's so pitifully cute but I want to learn how to stop it! He'll just sit there half asleep crying and I'm afraid he's going to fall against the portion of the crib that the bumper doesn't cover and hit his little head :(
Let him fall back to sleep he will be fine. Even if he bumps his head he will be fine. If you keep going in to check, you are teaching him a new trick..
he needs to learn to find his comfort.
I am sending you strength..
Ours went through that stage also and have grown out of it. I agre with some of the other moms, to just do nothing. I found that she would wake up, sit up and play/talk for a bit, then settle herself back down and go back to sleep - sometimes lying down sometimes semi-sitting. When she was semi-sitting she would always be lying back down by the morning, so she figured it out. Plus you don't want to reinforce needing you to go back to sleep! It is exhausting! Good luck!
You want hm to settle himself back to sleep. He learned it. Then you went in and messed with him. It's very simple. Leave him alone. : )
Hi M.,
My 8 month old daughter was doing the same thing for awhile. She wakes up early in the morning and when she used to sleep in my bed I would sit her up and let her play with some toys while I kind of dozed in and out; of course this became a habit for her. I noticed that she didn't like laying back down without it being a little propped up. I found that sticking a wedge pillow under her mattress (like when they are sick) to prop it up at an angle made her more secure in laying back and going back to sleep on her own.
The only thing I would say is be careful that your son doesn't cut off his airways by leaning forward asleep. Other than that my only advice is he'll eventually grow out of it!
Hope that helps a little!
