Help Getting 10 Month to Sleep

O.K. I'm a softy... With that said, it sounds like he's needing some comforting due to the teething pain. Maybe try rubbing his back, ears or forehead, singing a soft lullaby, etc. Basically whatever is soothing to him and stay until he's back to sleep. There are some great homeopathic teething remedies you can get just about anywhere they sell vitamins that help soothe the gums and with sleep. Those might be helpful as well.

Hope this helps!

Hi J.;

I thought I was reading something I wrote! LOL. I also have a 10 month old and he never was a good sleeper. I still nurse him since he has a blood disorder and it's better for his immune system, with that said....I would still nurse him in the middle of the night in my bed so I could sleep while he's feeding. However, one night I put the shirt I was wearing that day in his crib by him so he could have my sent with him in his crib. It worked that night and a few others. Last night was a rough night for some reason, but keep it up and try one of the methods you believe in for at least a week and stick a shirt in there as well and see what happens. Good luck to you.

Does your son have a stuffed animal or blanket he sleeps with? My daughter sleeps with a stuffed bunny and sucks on its ears to fall asleep. She does have problems putting herself back to sleep sometimes though.

my son was the same way, they will settle down but for the first couple days he will test you, if you give in and pick him up, you will lose the fight and have to start all over again and you may never get sleep. be consistant, he will settle down

Hi J.,
I HIGHLY recommend "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Dr. Marc Weissbluth for help in sleep training/problems. A lot of babies have sleep problems during teething which become a habit if not addressed. I would give my daughter some Tylenol or Motrin before bed if she was in pain. She also sleeps with a very soft blanket that she would chew/suck on. If I went into her at night, I wouldn't make eye contact or speak to her. I would lay her back down and rub her back for a few minutes. I also waited 5-15 minutes before responding, stretching it longer and longer each night. I am assuming you don't want to use the "cry it out" method. It usually gets the fastest results but I could never stand it for long and found I didn't need to resort to this as I started sleep training from birth. Also make sure you are putting him to bed early enough and that he is getting good naps. The discomfort from teething is worst with the first tooth and the molars but it isn't so bad that they can't sleep. What usually happens is nightwaking becomes a habit. Of course he would rather be up with you then sleeping but it is what is best for him. You are doing a great job, just try not picking him up or talking to him. It usually takes 7-10 days of fading to break a habit. Email me if you have questions.
L.

Well I am kind'a in the same boat as you. My son is 5 months old and has been sleeping in his crib since he was 3 months old until about 3 weeks ago. Reason it changed is because I desparately tried everyone's advice to make him take his naps in his crib. I let him 'cry it out' for 45 minutes the first day and then an hour the second day on naps and to no avail he refused to take his nap in his crib so I went back to the old way, I'd nap with him in my arms. But since then he refuses to sleep in his crib. I have to put him in his CARSEAT to get him to sleep. I don't believe in the cry it out, never have and totally regret taking everyone's advice on it now. My son is teething too and I've tried the tylenol before bed too. He use to be a great sleeper, 4-6 hours without waking up. So now i'm back to putting him down each night and he'll wake after about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. I've been doing this for 2 days again and at 2am I finally put him in his car seat so I can sleep. I do sleep in his room while coaxing him back into bed. So my ADVICE is be patient forget the cry it out, when he wakes or whine, go to him, rub his back or belly, in my case it's his belly, give him his binky, sssshhhh him then after about 10-15 minutes if that doesn't work, check his diaper, feed him, rock him. I know it will happen as I'm going through this myself. Please feel free to email me, ____@____.com, and keep me posted or tell me of what you find to be helpful.

T.

You might have his ears checked as well. My daughter, now 9 months old has slept in her own bed since she was 6 months old. She has always been a really good sleeper, sleeping through the night since she was about 5 months old. Suddenly about 3 weeks ago she started waking up through out the night screaming for no apparent reason. I would try rocking her, laying her back down, and then finally after hours of struggling, would put her in bed with us. After a week of no sleep myself due to her being right up agaist me all night, I turned to the cry it out method. It seemed to get her back to sleep, but she would still wake up through out the night and fuss. When we were at her well baby checkup, the doctor said she had ear infections in both ears. She showed no signs. No fever, ate normally, and was a pretty happy baby all day. She would only pull on her ears when she was tired which was also normal. Once I got her on antibiotics, she was back sleeping through the night.

Do you have a swing? If not maybe try that. I do know one thing for sure, you should break the habbit of letting him sleep with you. I know, I know but trust me it gets harder to break the longer you wait.