Sep anxiety? and sleep? (or lack thereof!)

[MamaPan]

Hi All
DS has not been a great sleeper for a while now... he wakes up a couple of times a night now...
I used to feed and/or rock him in our arms to sleep... that worked for a while... then a few weeks ago he went through a stage where he would wake up yelling and only want to sleep on our chests (sitting in the rocker) - for up to an hour at each wake up when we would sneak him into the cot...
Now he wakes and we are able to comfort him usually in the cot, he will roll over onto his side and we can pat him... he will quiet and shut his eyes and go to sleep. then we either keep patting a little or sit next to the cot for a bit... but he wakes and starts crying when we leave.. or if he stays asleep when he stirs and sees we are no longer there starts crying. I guess it is still an improvement on the past when we had to feed or rock but does anyone have any suggestions how to deal with this or have any of you been through it?
he is 10.5 months.
TIA.

[Leemar]

Hey Pregpan,

Just wondering have you tried to give him like a cloth nappy or something to hold on to?

Jordan use to and Olivia does go to sleep holding a cloth nappy.

[MamaPan]

Great tip Leeanne - will try something like that....

[AnyDream]

Pregpan I was about to suggest a similar thing. E has this little soft toy (Mamas and Papas little Pip) and she just likes to hold and pat it while she is going off to sleep. I've noticed she settles better and less complaining when Mummy leaves the room!

[monnie]

Maybe it's also a stage...our little boy is 11 months and he sounds identical.

He appears fast asleep but as soon as DH or I try to leave the room, he sits upright and cries!

[mbear]

Hi pregpan
Im still up once a night with Sam - although its a quick breastfeed and back into bed.

Although...... she was waking a few times a night a few months ago - so i introduced a dummy and miffy - a stuffed toy - miffy sleeps in the cot with her- (some mornings i go in and she has her face buried in his !!!) and the dummy has been fantastic. I do have to get up every now and then to pop it back in, some nights i dont do it at all, other nights its maybe twice.......... Last night she slept from 730pm - 6:15am - quick feed, then up again at 8am - a fantastic night. I hope you get some relief........

[Cassius2]

yeah, like the others have offered, Leila sleeps with her sheets firmly fixed in her hand and sucks on the tip of them for comfort as she goes to sleep, then when she rouses, instead of looking for us she reaches out for the blanket IYKWIM?

HTH

[MamaPan]

ok so i am going down the comforter route... we have a little rabbit blanky thing that i bought AGES ago for this purpose... q is how do i introduce it????
HELP!! MBear I want some nights like yours!!!

[mbear]

gawd, i think i jinxed myself, last night i was up 3 times sticking that ruddy dummy in !!!!
Associate the blankie with sleep times....pop it in his cot, show him it, tell him what it is. Soon the penny will drop that when he goes to sleep, the blankie is there with him. It sort of just clicks into place....it did with us and Miffy LOL.

[Junglemum]

Another tip is to wear it down your top for a while during the day, so it smells like you.

[MamaPan]

thanks for the tips - have worn it down my top... and will now just keep it around all the time at sleep time and tell him all about it... hope it works!
Mbear - maybe they swapped - N slept through for the 1st time in about 6 months last night....
dont know why... but hope it happens again soon, i feel like a new woman (whch considering i am on a 6.15 am flight tomorrow for work would be good to continue!)
hope sam is better tonight. xxx