My 9 m old just started crawling 3 days ago. For a week 1/2 though he has been very restless during sleep. He'll either not sleep during naps and/or choose to roll around, try to pull up, crawl backwards and get stuck, ect. At night once he rolls to all fours, he screams and acts like he doesn't know how to get back over to his back. Last night I went in to roll him back over 4 times. If I didn't he would scream/cry so hard that he would hyperventilate. He also gets up at 4:30 rolling around, crawling and will not stop until I am ready to get him at 6am. Please tell me this is a stage where they like to explore their new found freedom but will grow out of it and SLEEP. He used to sleep so soundly and through the night but now NO MORE.
yep, it's a stage that he just needs mama to help him get down when he is scared in the night time. i think if you just continue to help him through, he will not need your help anymore once he's not scared of the position he's gotten himself into into the night. It will probably be a couple weeks.
TB-
Unfortunately kids tend to have sleeping problems whenever they go through a new developmental stage (crawling, standing, walking, talking, teething (more pain than), big growth spurts, etc. If you're not already doing this, just be careful not to reinforce his waking up by being too soothing or fun. Sounds strange, I know, but it's important to just roll him over in a very matter-of-fact manner without holding him, talking to him, smiling, or even making eye contact if you can help it. He'll know someone cares enough to help him, but he won't have much of an incentive to cry if he doesn't actually need something if he knows that he won't get rewarded. As long as you keep interactions short and to the point, this is a stage he will grow out of. Also, his not napping will feed into his having a harder time sleeping at night. Sleep begets sleep, as they say. The idea that your child will be so tired that he will crash at night just isn't true. Our son started eliminating his nap at 11 months. We got a rec for a sleep expert from our pediatrician's office. The sleep expert fixed out problem in one phone call and didn't even charge us! We were soothing our son too much before nap time (rocking him, singing, etc.). She got us to just darken his room, read him one book, put him down, and tell him we loved him and would be home the whole time he was resting. You might want to look for a sleep expert if the naps don't return soon.
K.
Yes, it is a stage. The responses below are right on.
Yes, its a stage! he is learning new things and wants to practice practice practice!
definitely a stage...you know what i tell myself every time one of my kids (ages 5 and 9 months) does something weird for a little while? "he/she won't be doing this when they're 18. it's only a stage." truly, it is. good luck. he's making a major developmental leap right now (getting mobile!) and he's excited. it should all calm down soon.
It is a stage, but unfortunately you have at least two more....When he starts pulling up, and when he starts walking. They will be crazy sleepers for 2 -3 weeks min. when they start these new milestones. Be strong!!!! Also, at that age, my son started taking one long nap and taking it much later than I thought he would. Maybe try to make his nap later in the day?
