My 19 month old started teething 5 weeks ago and had a terrible time with it. He was waking up in the middle of the night, exorcist style. He would scream, thrash and was nearly impossible to hold but would hit his head against the crib rails if we didn't hold him. I thought he was experiencing night terrors, so I didn't medicate beyond teething tablets before bed ( a mild chamomile supplement ).
Two weeks later he popped a molar, and a week after that another came through. During this time I would have to rub his back, and then leave my hand there, to calm him before his afternoon nap. Bedtimes were pretty rough. I would do pick up put down and then rub his back and leave my hand there until he was almost sleeping.
Before all of this started, our nighttime routine was, dad read him a book, gave him a bottle, then mom read a book, hugs, put him in his bed and I'd leave the room. He'd suck his fingers until he fell asleep. BUT I could just walk out and he was fine.
Now he screams. Every time I leave or he realizes that I'm not in the room.
So I don't know how to get back on track, but this is what I've tried.
I started with rubbing his back, and then removing my hand but still leaning over the crib. When he'd cry again, I'd place my hand oh is back to erasure him, and then remove it, and the. I'd sit in the rocking chair and shush him if he'd fuss until he go to sleep.
Then me being there became a bit of a game, so I tried to stay out of sight and started lying on the floor to shush him. This seemed to be progress for a while, but then he started standing up to watch me. I could get up and say, " it's time to go night night, lie down" and he would. We'd repeat this a few times and eventually he'd fall asleep and I'd sneer out of the room.
The last few days I've been trying to leave the room after putting him down and patting his back. He lies down, cuddles his bunny and blanket, sucks his fingers and seems quite happy. Then I leave the room, but he is instantly standing and crying.
Tonight I tried sitting outside his room and just shushing him, but he was crying so hard that he nearly puked and I just ended up feeling like a terrible mom. In the end he fell asleep after I rubbed his back and just stood beside his crib.
What do I do? Do I leave the room and close the door and then come back in and tell home to lie down and rub his back and repeat until he falls asleep? How do I get him to be ok with me leaving the room.
I don't want to be in his room until he falls asleep every night.