[Guest_3Keiki_*]

Ok I am such a mess with this I will give you the basic info and see where we go,
Just before the move DS2 (16 months) started to climb out of his cot. After a couple of falls I took side off and hoped for best, well now I am up 2, 3, 4 times a night, in and out of bed, knocking on door crying out, crying for ages some nights. he does not cosleep well - never has and only one of my 3 that doesn't - it is a a trial to get DD out of my bed and DS1 still climbs in occasionally.
I don't know what to do, I can't put the side back he will hurt himself, I can't keep him in or convince him that is his bed now, I am tired and out of ideas.
And I won't even start on the tantrums will save that for another day

[Guest_3Keiki_*]

Please oh wise and wonderous women of EB I am desperate

[Riotproof]

Hi there, I would put a safety gate at the door, and then work on whatever settling technique you want. Did he self settle in teh cot previously? In that case, you might just try popping out for a a time (gradually increasing) to get a drink of water, go to the toilet, etc..

[Alpha_Chook]

I really have no advice but wanted to say I am dreading taking the side off Eamons cot. I hate the thought of him walking around the house all night and coming in and out of our room etc. He isn't climbing out of the cot so he can stay there till he does!!

[Guest_3Keiki_*]

He has never been th ebest sleeper - but yes would self settle in his cot before.
I can not take many more nights of this he seems at 6s and 7s he wants to sleep but can't it is all too much but I simply cannot risk him having a bad fall from cot.
The thing is he wakes and starts to scream and scream and scream.... it takes forever to settle him and letting him have a walk around doesn't seem to help he is screaming in the living room then...
This is when riding solo sucks so freaking badly

[Becky Thatcher]

Can he lay in his bed and you put a mattress on the floor and rest or sleep there until he goes to sleep?

This post has been edited by LindsayMK: 21/12/2012, 10:21 PM

[Guest_3Keiki_*]

LindsayMK, I have actually got the cot mattress just on the slats on the floor now so it is a little raised but not a lot with a few doonas on the floor that I lay on but he just cries and lays on me, gets off walks around, cries, lays on the floor, tantrums, hits me when I try and hold him, cries, although by this time both of us are crying - seems like a good idea to join in) cries falls asleep and by then the sun is peeking in..... I got nothing......

[Riotproof]

3keiki, I would start sitting in the room near the bed while he falls asleep. Play on your phone or something. Then gradually, you can move towards the door and eventually do the leaving for a few minutes trick. He is young to be without the side, but it's a safety issue. 18 months is a peak separation anxiety time and what you posted really does sound like that. For him, going to sleep is the ultimate separation from you, he doesn't realise that you will be there in the morning.
You could also try tightening your bedtime routine to be more predictable and adding in keywords. I say to DS ".. and now the story is finished, it's time for nigh night, I will see you in the morning". He even says the "morning".

The other thing you might try is sleeping bags, DS couldn't ever climb out of his cot and I think the bag stopped him. It depends on whether you think he will try no matter what.

[gettheetoanunner...]

The other thing you might try is sleeping bags, DS couldn't ever climb out of his cot and I think the bag stopped him. It depends on whether you think he will try no matter what.

Oh man, you must be totally exhausted.
I second the sleeping bag.
Pop him in, cot mattress on ground if need be, side back up to hightest level.
He can't climb out that way.
Use same words and same routine, every night

ETA: Friend of mine introduced her boy to a sleeping bag at a later age and introduced it a s a 'fun" thing -camping out in the cot, using a torch, eating marshmallows, etc.

He wouldn't sleep without one after that.

Might be worth a shot?

Also - hope you both get some relief soon. The whole sleep-deprivation and distressed child and mum thing gets pretty freakin old, pretty freaking fast.

This post has been edited by gettheetoanunnery: 21/12/2012, 10:38 PM

[Riotproof]

Oh, and I forgot to say, do you think there is any chance of an ear infection? I totally missed my son's first one because I blamed it on teething. It wasn't until he had some discharge in his ear that I freaked out and took him to the Dr. I felt so guilty.