Crying When Putting down for Naps and Bedtime

I think this is totally normal! He is getting older and wiser. He is testing you. Yes even 13 month old babies know that they can test their parents. How many days has he been doing this for? Is he finally falling asleep? If so, for how long? It could be a number of things. He could be teething, going through anxiety, testing you and your husband. Have you tried giving him something for his tooth aches (Tylenol or if you prefer homeopathic medicine)? Every time my daughter would get a tooth I would give her some type of relief. She would sleep much better, but still would struggle during the night time. If you see some sign of relief, then you know that he is teething. I would say that if he is finally falling asleep and staying asleep then it isn't an ear ache. You'll know if your child has an ear ache. They don't sleep and they scream all the time. They tend to grab at their ears as well. If it's anxiety, you can try comforting him. This all depends on what you can handle or prefer. If you think you can handle hearing him cry then I would say do the "cold turkey" method. Just let him cry it out. It will only last for a week or so of crying, but then he'll learn to soothe himself back to sleep. If that bothers you, then comfort him. Rock him, sing songs, rub his back.

Good luck and hope you figure out what the problem is!
ak

Hi. My son has gone thru this periodically. It can be a number of different reasons, but mostly it's not a big deal and it will pass. Reasons could be wanting to see what he can get away with. If you'll come when he cries. A change in routine. Just keep putting him down and eventually it will go back to normal.. Good luck.

It's rather simple really. If you just stick your finger in his mouth and feel around you can tell if he is teething. If he is, go to walgreens and buy some baby orajel and rub it on his gums right before bed, ... he will be very angry for a minute, but after a while he will calm down. This crying he is doing is normal. He isn't experiencing any seperation or anything like that... he is just testing you. He doesn't want to go to bed, or if he really is tired, just doesn't want to sleep anyways... don't let the crying fool you. My son did it too... as a matter of fact, every one i know children did it to them... around the same time too. My son is sixteen months old and he still does it from time to time, but the crying has become far and few in between. It will get better in a few months. Promise. As far as what you can do... nothing. Only if it is a teething problem, give the orajel... other than that... nothing much. Try cold objects too.. like pedialite popsicles... they love to chew on them. It will make the pain go away long enough to get some rest.

My first thought is ear infection. Often the ears don't really bother them until they lie down. Does he have a slight fever? Has his eating been off at all? You may want to take him to the doctor just to be sure.

Hi,
All of my kids went through that after the age of one. I think since they are mobile by then and getting into everything, they just don't want to go to sleep. It's like they're missing something! Just let him cry it out. He will fall asleep and after a while, he'll realize the tantrums aren't working. That's what we did. We also did that for sleeping through the night.
Eleven years ago when my son was 3 months old, another mom at daycare suggested letting him cry through the night. That they only wake up because they're used to it. Sure enough, it worked!
It will get better!!!!