Standing in the cot!

Hi everyone,

My DD is 12 months in a few weeks and ever since she was about 3 months old, has been the dream sleeper. She has the same routine every night. Bath, dinner, play, wrap (or sleeping bag from 6 months) and bed. She has always used a dummy to go off to sleep and discovered how to put it back in her mouth if it fell out from about 6 months of age. When we put her in her cot she is wide awake, she turns her head to the side, shuts her eyes and goes to sleep. No word of a lie, this is how it's been.

But for the last week, she refuses to go down at all. When I put her in her cot and leave the room, she cries (or yells), stands in the cot and bellows for ages until I come back in to settle her. We have since discovered she will only go off if we put our hand on her tummy so she knows we are there and wait for her to go off to sleep (about 10 minutes of standing next to the cot).

WHY THE SUDDEN CHANGE?? Is she suffering from separation anxiety or maybe testing the boundaries, or is she just more aware of her ability to exert her independence???? She is sleeping through the night, so I'm not worried about that or anything, I would just love to know why this has happened so suddenly. Is it a phase?

We are having twins in 6 months, I can't be standing at her cot when I've got two other babies to comfort and settle too!!!

Any help would be appreciated!!

Julesy:pray:

Hey Julesy

I had the same problem with my little man...and the one thing that really helped was a gro bag...its harder for them to stand up ;)

if your little one is happy and settles with a hand on her tummy, then perhaps keep doing this...its the age of separation anxiety so she just wants to know that you are around. I'm not suggesting that this is the only way to get her to go to sleep from now on tho :), try this for a few nights...and then move your hand away but keep standing next to the cot, then after a few nights move half way between the door and the cot, then stand at the door...you get the picture

It is really important at this age to give your baby the security they crave, but to also feel that you are able to establish some boundaries for yourself (especially with twins on the way...congrats!)

hope this helps...and yes it is a phase that soon passes, keep relaxed and she will soon realise that bed time is still just that

xx yogababy

Thanks Yogababy,

I had a feeling it was probably separation anxiety. I don't mind standing at her cot, she is so lovely when she is asleep (aren't they all?!?!?), but I am worreid that it will become habit rather than necessity, and I can't have it this way with twins on board.
As you say, I will give it a few more weeks then try to 'wean her off it' so to speak. FIngers crossed.

Julesy