Help - Sleep Strike (Standing in Crib)

Jodi0804 · #1 September 6th, 2010, 05:56 AM

Hi Momma's!

We are in desperate need of some advice (and sleep). It started last Monday. He wouldn't take either of his naps for the sitter. Its was his second week back and he napped fine the previous week. She said he'd stand and scream. She'd let him go a few minutes (he has always fussed a bit before sleeping). At first it was just naps but now its ALL THE TIME. We had him to the doctor Thursday to be sure it wasn't an ear infection or anything and he is fine. He is only sleeping a total of 7-8 hours rather than the 12-14 he needs.

We've taught him how to sit down from a standing position and we've seen him do it while playing and in his crib. So what do we do? He always went to sleep awake and self soothed. Now he just screams and stands. We've let him cry, tried to comfort, sat him down - it doesnt work. The only thing that sometimes works is rubbing his back (which we dont want to start a habit of). Sometimes we can just stand by his crib and he looks up to see if we are there and we have to sneak out. Everyone in our house is overtired and miserable. Any advice? Do we just let him figure it out?

He can crawl and walk about 10 steps, doesn't have any teeth yet (although we are wondering if teething is an issue), and still doesn't take a sippy cup or bottle. He has a seahorse and a lovie in his crib with him to sleep.

Micksbabe · #2 September 6th, 2010, 08:05 AM

We are having sleep issues here too!! for about 5 days now naps are horrible and because she is so tired from not napping it takes us longer to get her to sleep at bedtime. I am thinking it has a lot to do with brain development (I have read that they go through a huge brain spurt around week 37) and teeth and she is just about to crawl, so maybe he is getting teeth, or just learning something new??

I hope it doesn't last that long, Hunter seems to be getting a little better the past couple naps, she is only crying for 15 minutes instead of 40

I hope Billy gets over this hump soon for you

KCMomma · #3 September 6th, 2010, 10:11 AM

Oh this sucks. I know how you feel. Just when you think you got him in a routine..>BAM he pulls this. How do you feel about full on CIO????? I hated that we had to do it, but I absolutely promise you it works. Have you read "Healthy Sleep Habits for Happy babies"? That is my suggestion. The beginning may be really rough, like crying for an hour or more, but it won't be like that forever. I'm sure you do, but do you have a set bedtime routine? And nap routine? I'm a firm firm believer in routine and CIO...worked wonders for us. Hope he cooperates very soon!!!!

*Mommy2Camden* · #4 September 6th, 2010, 10:44 AM

I'm sorry I wish I had some answers, BUT I'm going through something similar. Now that Camden can stand, he will no longer fuss himself to sleep, but rather stands and screams and chews the rail. I would say your little guy could DEFINETELY be getting some teeth, and that could be contributing. (Camden just got his 2nd one) I hope it's just a phase for both of our boys!

Jodi0804 · #5 September 6th, 2010, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micksbabe

We are having sleep issues here too!! for about 5 days now naps are horrible and because she is so tired from not napping it takes us longer to get her to sleep at bedtime. I am thinking it has a lot to do with brain development (I have read that they go through a huge brain spurt around week 37) and teeth and she is just about to crawl, so maybe he is getting teeth, or just learning something new??

I hope it doesn't last that long, Hunter seems to be getting a little better the past couple naps, she is only crying for 15 minutes instead of 40

I hope Billy gets over this hump soon for you

He is definitely more cranky than normal and chewing on everything so hopefully a tooth pops through and offers some relief! It seems a lot of babies this age are having issues - Glad Hunter is getting better!

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCMomma

Oh this sucks. I know how you feel. Just when you think you got him in a routine..>BAM he pulls this. How do you feel about full on CIO????? I hated that we had to do it, but I absolutely promise you it works. Have you read "Healthy Sleep Habits for Happy babies"? That is my suggestion. The beginning may be really rough, like crying for an hour or more, but it won't be like that forever. I'm sure you do, but do you have a set bedtime routine? And nap routine? I'm a firm firm believer in routine and CIO...worked wonders for us. Hope he cooperates very soon!!!!

The other night I lasted one hour and five minutes and couldn't take it anymore. I had to go in, made his sit, then lay. I had to repeat this a few times and it finally worked. Its weird because sometimes he is fine, other times he is not. Its the worst in the middle of the night. Last night he woke at 3 to nurse and didn't go back down till after 5

. He is taking his second nap of the day currently which is great. I'm hoping once he is back on track he won't be overtired and back to normal. Your right though... all was going so well and then all of a sudden! He has a very strict bedtime routine. I'm going to stress to the sitter about naps as well.

I'm thinking if it continues we will have to do full on CIO. He seems very strong willed like Paige!

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Mommy2Camden*

I'm sorry I wish I had some answers, BUT I'm going through something similar. Now that Camden can stand, he will no longer fuss himself to sleep, but rather stands and screams and chews the rail. I would say your little guy could DEFINETELY be getting some teeth, and that could be contributing. (Camden just got his 2nd one) I hope it's just a phase for both of our boys!

Yeah he has been chewing on the railing like crazy (and everything else he can find). I hope it gets better for you guys too. Lack of sleep is really hard on everyone!

KCMomma · #6 September 6th, 2010, 05:29 PM

Yes, we struggled with naps and my MIL (who watches her during the day). She had a very hard time with CIO for naps. Very frustrating, but being consistent if very key. But I will tell you this that just when I think that you have it figured out, they change it up. Paige goes down at 7pm every single night (with the occasionally late night out with friends) and takes 2 naps (morning and afternoon). Now sometimes the morning nap is awesome (1.5-2 hours) and sometimes it's like 45 min and then the afternoon nap will be good...we just go off of her cues. But I still have my MIL put her down twice a day no matter what. Sometimes she will just "talk" for like 50 minutes in her bed but I just keep her there. I hope he snaps out of it super quick for you!!!! Good luck girl.

NortheastWifey · #7 September 6th, 2010, 06:41 PM

Ugh, sleep issues suck! We've had our fair share, too. It took a looooong time for me to succumb to CIO, but we finally did because we had an extended period of time dealign with what you were describing and absolutely nothing was working. We did a modified CIO, though - we would let her cry for 5 minutes then go in and check/calm her down - and then that night only go in every 10 minutes after that. It was so hard for me. Then the next night we waited 10 minutes the first time and 15 any other times that night and so on. I think you're supposed to keep extending the time, but I never felt comfortable going past 15 - and she was almost always asleep by then, too. Hope you find soemthing that works!

Lyz · #8 September 7th, 2010, 05:42 AM

I was never big on CIO and so I am fought it and fought it....BUT, we have no started the 5 minute rule (during the night) and most time she'll go back to sleep before then. Otherwise, we will get up and try her binky before the bottle. Most nights she is just looking for her binky and can't find it. Other nights she wants a bottle.

She does the stand in the crib thing too and it's frustrating!! Yesterday she fought me on her afternoon nap but I left her in her crib (she actually just played and talked) and 30 minutes later she was passed out.

maybe you could try this: If you just continue with showing him that it's nap (or night) time by laying him back down if he's standing up, rub his back for a few seconds say quietly "it's nap/night time" he should get the hint after a few days.

fromustobaby · #9 September 7th, 2010, 06:13 AM

i dont have the standing issue, but weve started a modified version of CIO also (go in in 5 minutes, then 10 minutes after that and sooth, then keep going in every 10 minutes until he is asleep)...I hate the idea of it, but the kid was waking up every hour for the last 2 months, it was crazy, no one was getting any sleep...

just this weekend we started CIO...ugh, its breaking my heart, but i'm also finally getting sleep at night...and he's finally getting sleep...

right now, he went down for a nap, and only cried for about 30 seconds...
I think its getting better, but its so hard...

CandaceDianne · #10 September 7th, 2010, 06:21 AM

My first thought was maybe he was teething? It wouldn't hurt to try giving him some tylenol one night he has a break down, since it may be teeth it would probably help soothe the pain or even trying oragel. GL!

MommaLee · #11 September 7th, 2010, 07:35 AM

I wasn't going to comment but....

What happens if he doesn't nap?

I'm only asking because I have a 3-monther that doesn't like to nap but she is always smiling and content. We are lucky if she gets 12 hours of sleep a day. To see that ya'lls older ones get more sleep than mine just seems odd to me.

CandaceDianne · #12 September 7th, 2010, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MommaLee

I wasn't going to comment but....

What happens if he doesn't nap?

I'm only asking because I have a 3-monther that doesn't like to nap but she is always smiling and content. We are lucky if she gets 12 hours of sleep a day. To see that ya'lls older ones get more sleep than mine just seems odd to me.

Lilyan just started getting into a better nap routine. She was a happy, content baby too when she wasn't getting much of a nap during the day. She may just not require a lot of sleep. I would ask your ped if you are concerned, but I think if she is happy and content she should be fine. But I am a new mom too!

Micksbabe · #13 September 7th, 2010, 08:41 AM

Yah so much for getting better, Hunter woke up at 10:30 last night, I changed her, fed her a bottle, gave her teething tablets and she still was up crying until 1:00am!!! I am trying not to pull out my hair but it is getting so frustrating!!! I hope it is over soon, she used to get up once or not at all, it better go back to normal soon!!!

Does Billy seem to be getting any better?

MommaLee · #14 September 7th, 2010, 08:47 AM

I'm not concerned about her sleeping habits at all...maybe I just don't care about having a routine. As long as I get to sleep during the night and she is not a BEAR I'm a-ok with whatever. We'll structure things when she gets older.

My thought was....if he is okay without napping, why make him nap unless he is a bear without one.

KCMomma · #15 September 7th, 2010, 10:01 AM

Even if the babies seem ok they still need sleep. When they sleep their little brains are developing so sleep is hugely important. I found this on Babycenter
Age Nighttime Sleep Daytime Sleep * Total Sleep
1 month 15 1/2
3 months 15
6 months 14 1/4
9 months 14
12 months 13 3/4
18 months 13 1/2
2 years 13
3 years 10 1/2 1 1/2 (1) 12
* number of naps in parentheses

How much sleep does your child need? | BabyCenter

I bet if you stick with the routine Jodi, he will get back to his normal sleep routine. Hang in there girl. They are ever changing!

Jodi0804 · #16 September 7th, 2010, 03:17 PM

Thanks for the breakdown Gwen - I know he needs sleep and its really important for babies. We have a very strict routine and always stick with it. I would be fine with him not napping if he was happy. But he is just the opposite - he is a total bear because he NEEDS those naps. They have gotten better. We are still having to go in and lay him down. Mostly now we have to stand there so he can see us and he goes to sleep (better than the back patting we were having to do). Our next step is to stop that and go back to normal!

I know CIO is so hard but some babies its the only thing that works. Glad that some of you are getting some more sleep now. He had his 9 month appt today and the pedi says his bottom 2 teeth are close so we've been giving some medicine to help.

Hope Hunter gets sleeping for you soon!!

Celry · #17 September 8th, 2010, 01:41 PM

I hope you get sleep soon. Once those teeth pop through he may calm down.

I am not against CIO. We tried it and it was a huge failure. A&E just fed off each other. We tried putting them in different rooms, but that didn't help. They are 2 extremely stubborn kids. For me, it's easier to grab them and nurse them back to sleep. That way they are up for just a few minutes as opposed to a few hours. We tried modified CIO and straight CIO. We also tried staying in their room, rubbing backs etc. so my point

Every kid is different, and CIO may not work. Find something that you're comfortable with and that works for him and go with it.

karenwalter · #18 September 8th, 2010, 02:40 PM

I was thinking teething too. Maybe try some tylenol before bedtime and see if that helps. It's so hard when they don't sleep. Hang in there.

Jodi0804 · #19 September 8th, 2010, 05:15 PM

Thanks everyone!!!! He is getting better each day. Today he went to bed with no fuss, not back pat, nothing!

The sitter said she has to stay by the crib for a little but its much better than last week. We had some trouble in the middle of the night last night but I got him back down. Hoping it continues - we are just sticking with our strict routine.

I usually dont wait at all in the middle of the night because I know he is hungry. I just get him, change him, nurse him, and put him back down. We found out that he is under 3% for his weight now so I'm certainly not ready not to nurse him in the night (and its usually only once anyways - sometimes he even makes it from 7:30 - 5!)