Re-training my 12month old to sleep after wdw!Help!!

[Jennygt]

My DS has always slept in his crib and would go down with no problem untill a week at WDW sleeping in the same room with us and getting rocked to sleep alot in his stroller, plus he was sick when we got back so he fell asleep on me for a few days. Now he will not go in his crib even a little awake without screaming for me. I am trying to let him go for about 10-15 min then I go in. He can stand now so I lay him down and try to give him a stuffed toy and sing to him, this does not work as he screams more when I leave. Last night was about 20 min, today was almost 1 hr! I feel so guilty that I trained him to sleep on me but what can I do now but try to re-train him. I am crying almost as much as he is!! I guess we will get past this but this is my first and it is killing me to hear him cry! Perhaps I shold not lay him down, mabey he thinks that I am going to pick him up. I hope tonight will be better!!!

 

[jodifla]

My DS has always slept in his crib and would go down with no problem untill a week at WDW sleeping in the same room with us and getting rocked to sleep alot in his stroller, plus he was sick when we got back so he fell asleep on me for a few days. Now he will not go in his crib even a little awake without screaming for me. I am trying to let him go for about 10-15 min then I go in. He can stand now so I lay him down and try to give him a stuffed toy and sing to him, this does not work as he screams more when I leave. Last night was about 20 min, today was almost 1 hr! I feel so guilty that I trained him to sleep on me but what can I do now but try to re-train him. I am crying almost as much as he is!! I guess we will get past this but this is my first and it is killing me to hear him cry! Perhaps I shold not lay him down, mabey he thinks that I am going to pick him up. I hope tonight will be better!!!

Ugh. This is hard!

I think the best way to proceed is think about how you want it to go for the long term. Make a plan and stick with it the best you can. Consistency is the key!

When we feel off track, I'd make sure we were in our typical nightime routine, which was for us, bath, bottle and a book. Then I'd put him to bed, drowsy but awake.

I did the go back into the room thing every 15 minutes. I woudln't pick him up, but I'd rub his back when I went in. I'd try to be soothing. I'd stay about five mintues, then go back out.

I always had a music box, which seemed to help It played for 15 minutes or so.

Good luck! I know this was hard....

 

[Minniemouse07]

Our 22mo ds sleeps in his crib next to our bed... with one side down.

Dd (now 6yo) had her crib in a separate room and I'll never do that again. She was a HORRIBLE sleeper as an infant/toddler and didn't sleep through the night until around 3.5yo.

Ds has always been an arm's length away from me and sleeps like a rock! I'm okay with it... he won't sleep there forever and too soon he will be 6yo like his older sister and want to be in his own space!

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I, too, felt with my first baby that there was something "wrong" with a baby not being able to go to sleep on their own, due to everyone else saying so. Then I discovered the internet and realized that what felt right to us- co-sleeping- was really ok! You have to do what works best for your family, but there's nothing wrong with *not* allowing him to cry it out.

 

[LadyShea]

We also co-sleep, but occasional breaks from routine, illness, growth spurts etc. do still affect DS's, sleep and I understand and have experienced your frustration.

I loved, loved, loved Elizabeth Pantley's No Cry Sleep Solution. It gave lots of ideas to try, regardless of your family's sleep arrangements, and just the stats regarding kids with occasional or constant sleep disturbances made me feel better as a parent and less alone.

 

[kandb]

How about if you lay on the floor next to his crib and put your hand in the crib and he can hold it? They say if you are going to do this, just don't talk a lot to the child, just let them know you are there. Perhaps he will then become comfortable. We let our children co-sleep until it was time for a toddler bed. I could not CIO, just felt that they wanted me and I was ignoring their cries. Good luck, Linda

 

[workinmomof2]

We have a chair in the room and sit in it while they relax and fall asleep. Eventually we are able to leave before they fall asleep. It takes time though. It could take months. My oldest son would crawl into our bed after his little brother was born and we were to tired to fight with him. We paid for it. The chair worked great for him and it is currently working for the youngest who just got into his toddler bed and will not stay in his room. Just be patient and consistant.

 

[Jajone]

I feel your pain. We had just gotten DS to sleep through the night in his crib and take regular naps and then we went to WDW. I truely believe in the theories of Dr Weissbluth's "Healthy sleep habits, happy child." The more you continue to return to him the longer it will go on. Children need to learn to put themselves to sleep. Who wouldn't want someone to rub their back all night?? You must have been doing something right that he was a good sleeper before vacation, go back to what you were doing and trust that. Good Luck!

 

[AngieWin]

If it makes you feel any better both of my boys went through a change in their sleep cycle not too long after turning one, even without a trip to Disney. I would re-establish a bedtime routine, bath, book, whatever you do, and make it consistent.

I have always put my boys to sleep gently, cosleeping/rocking/laying with them. Not a fan of CIO either.

Good luck!