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SLEEP => Night Wakings => Topic started by: msbubble1 on August 25, 2009, 00:44:53 am

Title: Sudden n/w for 8 month old possibly seperation anxiety - HELP!!!
Post by: msbubble1 on August 25, 2009, 00:44:53 am
My lo (8months) used to sleep the night until last Wednesday since then she wakes frequently at night. After getting her back to sleep several times her last waking she will not go back to sleep for 3 hours or so. Our whole routine is now out of whack due to her being overly tired all day and wanting longer naps then before. I suspect n/w are cause by separation anxiety b/c she will start fusing as soon as I take a step away from the crib and get more and more upset the further away I go even if I am within eyesight. For her naps I still only have to sing to her and put her in her crib and she goes to sleep without me in the room. However, for her night time we have been doing shush/ pat for months.
She has separation anxiety during the day and gets upset if either her daddy or I leave the room even if she is playing with the other one.
Here is what our routine was until last Wednesday.
E- 7am
A- until 8:15am
S - until 10am
A - until 11am
E - 11am
A - 12:30
S- until 1pm
A - until 3pm
E - 3pm
A- until 3:30 or 4
S - for 30 min
A - until 6:30
E - 6:30
Bed at 7pm

We also lowered her crib last Wednesday since she is starting to pull up so I thought maybe she was upset because of the changed perspective of her room.
Any advice is appreciated. We haven't gotten much sleep the last 4 nights.
Title: Re: Sudden n/w for 8 month old possibly seperation anxiety - HELP!!!
Post by: lukemom on August 25, 2009, 00:58:20 am
My Lo was doing the same thing (napping good, but aweful at bedtime, ever time I walked away he would scream his head off) and I also thought it was SA, but my husband recommended maybe increasing his A time and that seemed to help us. How long is your LO A times?  Sorry but I couldn't make it out from the routine you posted.  :)  Hang in there.  So frustrating sometimes, but it will pass.  :)  There is a thread/post about how to deal with SA, but I'm am not sure how to post the link.  I'm hoping one of the other computer savy mommies can post it.  LOL!!!
HTH
Title: Re: Sudden n/w for 8 month old possibly seperation anxiety - HELP!!!
Post by: msbubble1 on August 25, 2009, 17:44:44 pm
A time varies. First thing in the morning it is only 1 hr since she is so tired after that. A time is 2 1/2 hrs the rest of the day. So total A time a day is 8 1/2 hrs.
I worry that over the long run I will start accidental parenting just to get her and me back to sleep. But last night seemed to be an improvement only woke once but was awake from 2am until 5am.
She seems exhausted today and seemed tired last night but almost as if she was scared to go to sleep cause she didn't want me to leave.
Title: Re: Sudden n/w for 8 month old possibly seperation anxiety - HELP!!!
Post by: msbubble1 on August 25, 2009, 21:08:53 pm
Quick question. Is it possible for LO to be afraid of the dark? She has a nightlight, so it's not pitch black at night. Being afraid of the dark is what one of my coworkers said it was.
Title: Re: Sudden n/w for 8 month old possibly seperation anxiety - HELP!!!
Post by: lukemom on August 27, 2009, 00:51:55 am
That's so funny about being afraid of the dark!  I thought the same thing about my LO because we left a little light on for him a coupe nights in a row and when he woke up at night he just babbled instead of crying and put himself back to sleep, so maybe that's part of it.

I found when I was trying to extend my Lo A time, i ahd to start with the second one, so the one after his first morning nap, cause if he had a bad night it was hard to push that first one.  Maybe you can try that?  Slowly though, like 10-15 min at a time.
HTH.