My son just turned 13 months and up until a few weeks ago would always wake up happy and play and babble by himself for a while before I got him up. Now all of the sudden whenever he wakes up in the morning or from naps he immediately screams at the top of his lungs until I come get him. He's happy as can be once I get him, but I miss having him play happily for a few minutes giving me time to get up and around before I go get him. I don't like letting him scream for too long because he will wake up my older son. Does anyone have any suggestions on why he is doing this and how I might get it to stop? Thanks so much.
Have you put a few books/toys in there? My son HATED his crib. We moved him to a bed at 20 mos and he slept much better...but 13 mos is kind of young to move.
Just so you feel a little better about it -- my daughter always woke up happy. My son, on the other hand, is 17 months and he has NOT ONCE woken up (morning or naptime) without screaming. I look forward to reading the suggestions you get!
teething??
separation anxiety?? he wakes up and nowis old enough to realize mommy is gone... and cries for you..
Sounds like separation anxiety to me. I'd get him immediately and soothe him. You can play peekaboo games to help him develop the sense that when someone isn't in his sight, they haven't dropped off the edge of the earth. Babies go through this off and on for quite awhile sometimes. He wants you so I'd fill that need. He just doesn't get it and feels scared and abandoned. He'll get better or you'll figure out ways to comfort him if it doesn't. I'd never let a child cry it out. It's a very risky thing for them emotionally.
Christine ~
I would say put him in a regular bed. My son was 13 months old when I put him in a regular bed (it was a racecar bed, so it was low). He hated his crib, and was much happier in his bed after the switch.
good luck!
D.
My son hated his crib around 12 months. He appeared to feel trapped. He hated being held down at all too. He had a 3 in one bed, so we went ahead and turned his crib into the day bed and he was fine. We were concerned about him falling out so we put a body pillow on the floor in front of his bed. He only fell out a couple of times, but landed on the pillow. He very rarely came into our bed.
My daughter HATED her crib. We put the mattress on the floor and she's been find ever since. She's 5 now. She goes to sleep in her own bed, in her own room. Frequently, about 3 nights out of seven, she comes in our room and sleeps on the crib mattress we have on the floor.
If he's screaming so you'll come get him, if the mattress is on the floor, then maybe he'll just get up and come get you without screaming.
Christine,
My son, who is now 22 months did the same thing, he would wake during the night and not want to play in the morning like he used to. We put a sippy cup with water in his crib and that cured it all. He still has some mornings when he cries out and wants out right away but most of the time he is happy to play with the books and toys in his crib. Hope this helps.
