Standing in Crib - Chicago,IL

Could you get one of those clips so you can attach the paci to his sleeper? Or put a few in his crib and maybe he can find them on his own? If he knows you are going to come in, he'll yell til you do...every night. He's playing with you (not manipulatively) but he's bored and wants your company. I think the best way for him to learn that nighttime is for sleeping and not playing is ignore him. I know from experience that it sucks but you might just have to stick it out. Good luck - this too shall pass!

I am repeating what others have said, but I think it bears repeating. My daughter did the same thing when she was just about the same age. She had been a wonderful sleeper and all of a sudden realized that she could stand in her crib and scream her lungs out until I came in to see her. I went in for a few days, but all she really wanted was my company. I love my daughter and love spending time with her, but it is so important that she sleeps. As a result, we let her cry for a few nights. I wish it had only taken one but it took almost a week for it to go away. It was really hard, but it worked and now she is again a great sleeper. Hang in there, I know this is so hard and you don't want to listen to your child cry. However, remember that all of you will be happier and healthier the more you sleep. Good luck!

While he is awake, practice teaching him how to sit.

Stand him up and hold on to his fingers. Sing the song "Ring around the Rosie" and when you get to the part "we all fall down", gently bend his legs and help lower him to the floor. When he sits, clap and cheer, then repeat the song and game over and over (yeah, you'll get bored but he wont!). You will get to a point where, when you get close to the "we all fall down" part he will start to bend his legs and sit down on his own.

We went through this with our son. The issue was solved by an afternoon of 'practicing sitting'.

I have to agree with J G. He realizes (believe it or not!) that when he cried harder and for just a little bit longer than the time before, you came in. He won. And so tonight, he'll cry just a little harder and little longer still until you cave again... so on & so on, making these fits longer and longer each night. Which isn't fair for either of you.

I went through this with my son at 8 months old. There was nothing that was hurting him or making him uncomfortable, he just wanted to be held to fall asleep (which is really sweet until he's been doing this every hour on the hour EVERY night for eight months straight! LOL) Finally, after trying everything else, my husband said we just HAD to let him cry it out. I think I may have cried harder than my son that night! But, it was only that one time and he slept through the night from then on. It really was difficult and it made me feel like such a horrible mom but after it was over, baby & I (and the whole house!) slept better and felt much better during the day! Good luck to you!

Something that worked for us when my son was that age was to switch from the crib to the playpen. We started having him sleep in the playpen for naps and at night until he was able to get back down from standing safely. This way we knew that if he fell back down awkwardly in the playpen it wouldn't be as scary since the sides are soft. Once he was able to handle himself more gracefully he went back to using his crib. Hope this helps.