Standing in Crib

My girls are 11 months and when they started standing in the crib I would feed them and rock them to sleep. When I put them in their crib they would often wake up and try to stand. I put my hand on them so they can't stand and they usually fall asleep before they remember what they were trying to do. Sometimes I have to pat their back at a quick pace and continually slow the pace. Don't give up because you deserve that quiet time.

I remember this happening with my own. I think I laid them down again and they got the hint after a few times. I also used to let them play in their cribs when I was straightening up in their room, when they would have lots of time to use the rails to stand up and play (and like one other mom suggested, learn how to get down again!)

I had the same problem with my guy. I read that sometimes they dont know how to get down themselves from a standing position, and there legs get tired, so I would go in and lay him down and pat his back and say goodnight. Sometimes it took five or ten tries but he eventually went to sleep without standing again. He now knows how to get down himself and is back to being good at sending himself off to dreamland. Good Luck.

My youngest is 13 mo. and he has been doing that for a while. The first couple nights is the hardest like everyone says, but he is just crying to get your attention. If you give in and go in every 5-15 min. he'll never go to sleep. He can figure it out pretty fast. The first time with my son he didn't know how to get back down and he basically fell from standing but it didn't take him long to figure it out. He still stands when i try to lay him down, but within a min he will be laying down half asleep already. I've found that with him, if he sees me at all when he's laying down but not sleeping yet he will scream and cry because i'm not picking him up, and he still does this, so i just have to stay out of sight until he goes to sleep. I also like the baby einstein music (they have several cd's) and that helps him calm down too.

I think most babies go through this. As hard as it can be to listen to the crying, I really believe the best thing for all is to have a nightly routine (bath, reading, whatever) and follow that the same each night. After finishing up the nightly routine lay him down in his crib and tell him good night with lots of mommy love...

The more you go in the room, the harder it can be on him. Each time you go in he thinks you are coming to pick him up. You think you are helping because you are letting him know you feel bad and giving him love. He is probably confused and frustrated more because you come back and leave without him.

I have 3 kids, two are 4 yr old twins. They did go through this same thing. After a couple weeks they caught on that we were going to keep the same routine and they settled in and went to sleep when it was time for sleep.

Good luck to you...

My son did the same thing. I always put him in his crib sleepy, so even if he stood up he would realize how tired he was and eventually lay down on his own. I had to turn off the monitor for a while and turn a deaf ear to his crying. It worked out and now it's not an issue any longer. Good luck! ;)

I think it depends on what you're comfortable with. I would try a couple of different things. Maybe go in every 5 minutes after you put him down and physically lay him down so he knows that that's what he's supposed to do when you put him in the crib. As for me, I would probably just wait it out and let him cry until he gets too tired to stand anymore. I would trust that he will eventually get tired and give up. It might take a few days, but if you are consistent and don't go in, he should soon realize that when you put him in the crib, it's time for a nap, and standing up isn't going to change anything. Good luck to you.

My son went through the same thing at the same age. For some babies just letting them cry it out for long periods of time works for them but it seemed that after an hour he was still screaming at the top of his lungs. I knew I had to figure something else out because this wasn't working for us. I did a lot of research on the internet to see what experts said and compiled what I believe seemed the most logical for my son. So this is what I did and after one week he learned how to lay himself down and we haven't had a problem since and he is now 1.

1-When your baby wakes up if his atmosphere is different then when he first went to sleep he will stay awake until it is restored. So I started giving him his night bottle in his room and then just when he was about asleep I would sit him up in his crib so he would know that when he went to sleep he was in his crib. I would wait for him to lay himself down but after a min. I would help him.

2-For the first few days my son would cry once I left the room. It was suggested that instead of leaving your child to cry it out for long periods of time you let them cry for just 15 min. and then go back in and check on them. When I would go in I would lay him down, rub his back a little and then leave the room to check on him again in 15 min. The most time I spent with him to lay him down was 5 min. So the point was just to help him lie down, calm down a bit and then leave. The first few days I would have to go in 6-9 times every 15 mins. til he would actually go to sleep.

(If he wakes up in the middle of the night wait 5 min. before checking on him. And then go in after every 5 min.)

3-I kept a log on what I did and when I did it after each time I went in to check on him. I noticed that each day got better and by the time day 5 rolled around he was lying himself down after his bottle and I never had to go in during the night. It was heaven!

Hi, C.. I have nine-month old twin boys, and they have both recently discovered how fun it is to stand up in the crib. When I put them down initially, I always lay them on their backs, and they inevitably stand up and cry a bit like your baby. I will often go back in once, lay them down again, then leave. If they continue crying, I leave it alone. They usually figure it out, and I k now it is better to let them do that. Your guy will figure it out, too, once he's tired enough. I wouldn't worry too much. Good luck!

I have 3 year old twins that both did the same thing as your baby. I read that when babies are trying to master a new skill that they will practice and practice until they get it. Your child is probably getting close to standing and walking (right). My boys would stand in their cribs and think they were so big, but they had not yet learned to sit down and that's when their tears of frustration would begin. So if you can help your child learn to get down. Take their hands and help them learn to walk down the slats in the crib until they are sitting. After he masters his new skill he should return to sleeping through the night. Have patience this too will pass. Find joy in his new skill discovery and pray for patience when you've had a long day! Best wishes

What I did with my nine-month old was wait around the corner and when she stood up, I walked in, laid her down with sweet words, patted her on the back and walked out of sight again.

I repeated this probably five or six times and she hasn't done it since! Some children are more persistent than others! My boys (now older) took longer to learn this lesson, so don't get discouraged! It really will work!!

N. in WY

I haven't dealt with this cause I am a co-sleeper, but a friend of mine had a son who would do the same thing and what worked for her was to go in lay him down and whisper "sshhh it's nig-night time" handed him his bottle or pacifier and would leave. She would wait 5 minutes walk back in and repeat the process. Within a week he just layed back down on his own. She wasn't capable of just letting him cry it out, she wanted him to know that she acknowledged he was upset, but she also knew he was capble of going to sleep on his own. She found she would have to reteach him with each new milestone, but it didn't last as long after the first time, maybe a couple of days. Good luck.

Let him figure it out on his own. When he gets tired enough he will liedown and go to sleep.

first couple times.. go in and lay him down and say sweetly night night and cover him with the blanket close the door and go do something else.. with the moniter turned down low very low...check back by ear or a visual..remember he is looking for a response from you as to what works for him..the first couple of times coming in and doing the nite nite routines was just to erase your guilt feelings of thinking you are not confident and a good parent...he he... he will figure out and or get tired and sit down and fall asleep but you wont be trained by him to go get him and pick him up..of course if he is sick all this advice goes out the window.. comfort but be consistant... Nanny L.

Hi C.,
It could be that he is just being stubborn and needs time. Have you tried playing soothing music when you put him to bed or singing him a gentle song as you do the process? It could be some separation anxiety and those things might help, but it could be that he is starting to teethe and/or his ears hurt when he lays down (does he fight it when you lay him down in your arms or on the couch?). Fluid in the inner ear can hurt.

Those would be my suggestions to try.

It's amazing how much power these tiny little people can wield, but you said it yourself, patience and letting him settle himself down. Can you imagine though that he's learning so much about his body and his ability, and he might be or just about to be an early walker! Keeping the bed time routine short and sweet is best, so you don't begin to have a long drawn out evening. Blessings to you and your family, A.
p.s. you might already know, but now that he stands in the crib, make sure the railing is no lower than his armpit.
Some babies can climb quite well.

plan on it taking a few nights. When you know that he is standing go into the room and pick him up under his knees and lay him back down say something like nigh-night (deosn't matter what you say as long as it is the same thing every time) and then leave. With my oldest I counted laying her back down 100+ times the first night. You will notice it takes less time to lay them down the second night and then the third is even less. You can stay in the room as long as you can not engage your child. you may even try giving him a small push so that he falls on his bottom and realizes that he can get down by himself. If you want more info I got my technique from the baby whisperer...tracy hogg. It was and still is my baby bible.
hth
A.

I have rised nine kids of my own, and your baby knows he's tired but not necesarily what to do about it from standing. I would lie him down, rub his back for a minute to soothe and reassure that he's not "alone in the world" and with some repetition he'll get the drill and settleback down to a new routine.
Soothing talk or songs from a parent will reassure and settle your baby into the bedtime routine. This will have to be reinforced again as you merge in each stage of development, like when he learns he can climb out of that crib. Bedtime is bedtime and in a crib or a "big boy bed" as a toddler, the routine needs to be reinforced; lay him down, rub his back and sing him a song, and leave the room. He'll learn it with repetition, be reassured and go to sleep feeling safe.

I think that having a regular routine and being very consistent is the key. When my daughter was about 2-6 months she always slept through the night, I would nurse her to sleep and lie her down. We wouldn't hear another sound from her. Then we moved and she got all messed up! We started doing a routine (which we never did before this) of bathing her then nursing her and lying her down to sleep. She would still cry and I did okay at first but gave in (I couldn't stand to hear her so sad!) We went on vacation when she was 9 months and when we came back she was WORSE. We had been out of town for a whole month and with all the lack of sleep I was able to just lie down and listen to her "cry it out". Which I'd never been able to do previously. It lasted for an hour the first night, 20 min the second and 5 the 3rd. Since I was CONSISTENT and never gave in, it worked! Now I can lay her down awake for naps and bed time and she doesn't cry at all, she just lies down and goes to sleep. It was definitely SO worth the few nights of screaming that I didn't want to do before, I wish I would have done it earlier, it's so nice to be able to just lie her down awake, saves tons of time. So just be strong, it will pay off!!

i rmember reading that these little guys can get up and then get "stuck" so to speak so if you don't mind listening to him cry, i guess you could see if he figures it out on his own or, you could help him until he gets it himself, either way he will figure it out as he learns how to manuever himself better, good luck!

Mine does the same thing! I just make sure that it is her nap time and that she is really tired before I put her in her crib. She will stand at the rail and cry, but realizes how tired she is within 5-10 minutes and will lay down on her own. Don't be afraid to let him cry...I know its hard, I had to get over it, but it is worth it for you to keep your sanity. Rocking and coddling will not help at this point because they are so active and want to stand and move. Be brave and be patient. He will figure it out! Good luck! Mother of 3 and one more in 3 weeks!

All my kids have done the same thing. If they didn't stop crying and were still standing, I would just go in and say, "Shhh...It's time for sleeping now." Then I would lay them back down and say "Good night." and leave the room. After a while, they learned that it was time to sleep, and if they stood, they would eventually lie back down themselves and go to sleep when I wouldn't come back in to them.

Hello C., If you find reading supportive, I recommend, "The No Cry Sleep Solution," by Elizabeth Pantly. She has one specifically for babies and covers almost every scenario.

Trust what you feel in your heart.

~T.

My oldest did that, too, got up and couldn't get down. I spent a little time standing her up in the crib and then moving her hands down the rail and bending her at the hips to show her how to get down. After that, she could do it on her own.

We always went in and reminded the boys it was time to sleep and laid them back down. I would make sure there's no distractions that he can play with. At that age, we had a very boring crib and surroundings. GL

If he figured out how to stand up, he will figure out how to lay back down. If you go in there, even in an all business manner, he will figure out that his crying will bring you into the room.

As long as he doesn't learn to climb up, he won't hurt himself.

Hang in there, this is a new phase. Stay strong.

Good Morning!
My little girl did this and still does at times and she is 16 months old. I will lay her down and go in a check in on her in a little bit and she is standing up in the crib. I would just go in and gently lay her back down, make sure she had her blanket and binki and usually after 1 or 2 times she would go back to sleep. Also, I have a little cd player in her room and ever since she was born, when she goes to sleep for the night of just for a nap. I play a Disney lullaby cd that plays for an hour. There are two available and they are awesome, very soft and musical only, very sweet.
Hope this helps.
T.

Lie him down initally, if he stands up ignore it, he will lay down when he is tired. It is a new and exciting thing he found. My son used to jump in his crib, thought that was so fun, but would pass out in no time and lay himself down.

Hi C.
He'll figure it out. Just continue with any bed time ritual that you've established already. Bath time, read, music is what I do. It's just new and different, but kids adjust. Don't go in there after bed time to re-soothe, unless it's significantly later. When you do just talk to him in a soothing tone, do not take him out to comfort or talk to him, I wouldn't even go in the room, stand at the door, you might have to do this more than a couple times. I remember one time I was watching one of those nanny shows and she had the parent sit outside the door where the child could see them and wait for them to go to sleep without engaging at all, not even looking at them, just being there so the child could see them, it would last for sometimes hours in the beginning but after a week or so they didn't have any problems. But it doesn't sound like your problem is to this extreme. It's important they learn how to put them selves to sleep, and the ritual is part of that so try to be consistent. It doesn't always have to be the mom either, my husband and I take turns. Good Luck, H. G

Hi C.!

That is fantastic news that your son goes to sleep on his own. Here are some ideas. During the day, practice with him a lot from standing to sitting/laying down. At night you can either go in and lay him down and leave the room or you can leave him to figure it out himself. Once he understands what he is doing, it won't take long for him to put himself back down. As you said..just be patient. It is just another milestone that will soon pass. Goodluck!
C. :)

I read a great book on sleep issues for my second child (the first was a breeze, so we weren't prepared!). It's called Good Night, Sleep Tight, the Sleep Lady's guide to helping your child fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up happy. If you are at work all day, make sure the quality time you spend with baby before bed is good. Don't let him get too stimulated. After a regular bedtime routine, start out next to his crib (in a chair or on the floor) for three nights, then work your way out (Read the book, the process is called the "sleep lady shuffle"). The best thing to do is to lay him down once to show him how, then let him work it out from there. Some babies wake up in the middle of the night and stand up to "practice", and if you always put him back down, he will need you every time--exhausting!!!
Good luck!

There are a number of schools of thought here, I can only give you mine as a mother of five and grandmother of eight. It is important that we give children the opportunity to learn but they must first be given instruction in order to learn. A nine month old may not be mature enough to understand how to get himself out of the situation he is in. He has learned that he can change a position by standing up, he however may not understand how to get out of that position. You can show him how to get back into a kneeling position to a laying position. I would do this several times with lots of praise and encouragement. Then allow him to do it on his own, be sure to praise his efforts. Once he has learned how to do it, it may become a game. Then you can show him once or twice, to re-enforce the learning (most of us can't learn something from a one time experience) and then let him do it on his own. Once you know he is capable of performing on his own, don't worry about him. He may just want you to take him out of his crib. You are the only one who can tell the difference between his "fear and frustrated cry and his "I want my own way" cry. Rely on your intuitiveness and prayer as his mother to guide you, you'll be surprised how much you help you will get!

It is like any other experience in life, like learning to ride a bike. You can't just hop on and go for it. You have to be taught how to get on, and have someone holding on to the back, running along side you until you feel secure enough to do it yourself. It takes a lot of time and patience, but then, that is the challenge and the joy of motherhood. Teddy bear hugs and Butterfly kisses

Don't put him down yourself! He needs to learn how to put himself back to sleep. it may take him a while, but he can do it. don't get discouraged.

I totally know what you are going through. I have an 8 1/2 month old who has figured out she can stand in her crib too. I still breastfeed so I breastfeed her to sleep. But when I put her down for naps, and she didn't breastfeed, she stand up in her crib. I usually just let her get tired enough that she goes back down and eventuall goes to sleep... this is usually after 20 minutes of so. LOL.

HI C.,

This is really common. What has happened is that your little guy has figured out how to stand but not get back down. Definitely try showing him a couple times how to get back down. Just go in...don't play with him or talk to him...just demonstrate it. Once you have done that a couple times he may understand. If not, then just let it go. He will figure it out. If he pulls to a stand during the day, try showing him then.

Pretty soon he'll be walking...so good luck!