Hi, My 10 month old baby has recently been fighting sleep even when he is tired. My mom advises me to let him cry it out. Which I have attempted twice. I have failed and today I am just letting him cry its been an hour and i feel aweful he is a very strong willed child who really is tired right now. I have jumped quickly to his needs in the past and he was a very cooperative and ready to sleep baby before however he is also developing bad habits like going for dangerous stuff and biting. So I would like to know if laying down the "law" is the right thing to do for this? I am not a very ascertive person, but think maybe this is something i have to do. What should I do?
― Nicole Barchenger, Thursday, 26 February 2004 00:52 (twenty-two years ago)
Mom told me this is tough. Some people say you're supposed to let them know that they need to get to sleep by themselves. I remember screaming my head off one night, probably the earliest memory I have. My mom wouldn't come. I hallucinated weird stuff like fire in the hallway and burning up a picture on the wall. I think I freaked myself out enough that I went to sleep or something. My mom says she tried it a few times too and couldn't stand it, she just wanted to come back there. I'm not sure how it worked itself out though actually!!
― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 26 February 2004 00:56 (twenty-two years ago)
He died of a heart attack in the early 90s I think. Most of his best work was before he came to the WWF, though, especially his runs in the old Mid-South territory. He had a really good series down there with Kendall Windham.
― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 26 February 2004 01:02 (twenty-two years ago)
"...he is also developing bad habits like going for dangerous stuff..."
Soon he'll have a Blue Oyster Cult poster in his closet...
― andy, Thursday, 26 February 2004 01:14 (twenty-two years ago)
my son also went through a stage of this, at around the same age. I think it had stuff to do with - teething, too much daytime activity and just being a stubbonr little man! Sounds like yours is teething for sure, what with the biting etc. it does make them very cranky! (as it would )
I never did manage to let mine cry it out, that was too awful. I did use lavender oil in his bedtime bath ( just a few drops is enough ), also got really firm about bedtime and established a definate routine that didn't change ie: dinner, bath not long after that, last bottle on my lap ( sitting in his darkened room ) and a story / song. Then bed. one thing that helped a fair bit was an old music box I had as a child. As I left the room I would wind that up and he would chat a little, but soon nod off.
It didn't work immediately, the routine thing etc, but took about 10 days of determined practice.
it is important to take note of what he gets up to during the day, as too much stimulation can unsettle them easily, and mess with sleeping patterns. Also, some teething gel just at bedtime may help settle him.
I have heard of parents who leave a small radio playing quietly in the room, classical station the best choice obviously.
Good luck! don't beat yourself up over it if you 'give in' to his demands now and then though, it is a matter of 'whatever works best for you'..not following what the books or what other people say :-)
― donna (donna), Thursday, 26 February 2004 05:10 (twenty-two years ago)
I just thougt of more stuff......I gather he is still having a few or maybe only one daytime sleep? or should be anyway? be sure to wind things down when he is due for a sleep...quiet time with a book, sitting in his highchair with some pencils and paper, listening to quiet music together and 'slow-dancing' with him etc etc. is he a routine type of boy? as in can you pretty much tell by the hour when he needs a sleep? Mine was and still is, and I watch the clock a fair bit to see how long he has been active for, slowing it down as sleeptime draws nearer. if yours isnt' like this I suggest you try to number his active hours in perhaps a pattern of 'awake time play etc for 4 hours then slow down to sleeptime' - all day follow the hours and try to regulate the activities.
failing all of this, put him in the car and drive! or in the stroller and go for a long walk! it may not be just what you feel like doing but it usually works when all else fails, as can be a life-saver in times of desperate need! ( although not recommended as a standard daily practice! )
― donna (donna), Thursday, 26 February 2004 05:43 (twenty-two years ago)