Separation anxiety

[cbell]

My 18 month old daughter has always been exceptionally good, Rarely ever fussed and would usually sing herself to sleep within 10 minutes... absolute heaven. Recently she got a bad cold... actually 2 one right after another. Anyways ever since she now cries when we put her to bed. We try to make sure she gets extra cuddles and then assure her everything is ok and walk out. She only cries a sooky cry for about a minute or less but it is so unusual for her and we're not used to it. During her cold she was fine when we put her to bed it just seemed like it was when she was getting better that this started. She still has teeth to come so maybe there is a connection there.

Is this separation anxiety?

[Dairy Queen]

I don’t think it would be separation anxiety given her age, and that she’s been so good until now. 

You may need to wait another week or so before diagnosing the problem, but teeth or other physical issues may certainly be the cause of her cries.  Extra reassurance and a little patience should do the trick.

Good luck
 

[litomi]

Same here..... DD is almost 19mo. It all started about 5 days ago. She cried and cried when I left the room. So we did WI/WO. It didn't work... she cried until she threw up   She is fighting nap as well. Totally a sleep monster.
She wakes up and cries, screaming "scared!"    The only way is for me to lean down and cuddle her. Once she knows I'm there, she stops and goes back to sleep.
I read in a book that toddlers develop sleep problem (fighting nap/sleep) around 20mo. Is it true? I hope this is only a phase..... she is teething and has runny tummy

[cbell]

It could possibly be teeth because she has 8 left to appear... ugh. And another thing that started happening the last two night was she would cry in the middle of the night for a minutes and then go back to sleep. This morning it happened again, she woke up at 4am cried for a minute went back to sleep until 5:15 and the same thing. She might have drifted for a bit but basically she was up for the day. And naps are the same, she cries when I leave the room but I am pretty sure she doesn't at the sitters. She does so much better at the sitters with everything... sigh.

[Dairy Queen]

Going back to sleep on her own when she wakes in the middle of the night is actually a really good sign. 

When she does cry (not whine or moan, but real crying), it may in fact be pain or disconfort... that only a loving mother can soothe. 

Do you see any swelling on her gums?

[Muriel - Elisa's mama]

hi! well when LO have colds sometimes when put down the pression goes higher and a bit to the ears so may be it is due to that? are teh cold compeltly gone? if not, try to put one side of the bed higer up and see if it helps!

[andibig]

I agree with pp.i think its a combination of things that are causing her to be unsettled.getting back on track after the colds and possibly some teething.

they do hit a big blip of SA at around this age again although its not really the same as when they were younger.sounds like you are doing everything to help her so i'm sure it will pass soon.
hth
ANdrea

[Dree]

cbell - You just described what I am presently going through with my own dd who is about to turn 18mths any day now. I personally think my dd is going through separation anxiety because everytime I leave the room or am out of sight she will cry for me. She never went through it before and it is possible for it to still occur til 18mths. Tracy even says so in her book.

My dd held me hostage in her room for 5 days. I used to give her a night time bottle and hold her in my rocking chair then put her in her crib. 10-15 min later she would be out like a light. Then all of a sudden one night out of the blue I left the room and she was hysterically crying. I had to do pu/pd and wi/wo for 2 hours. I stopped wi/wo and decided to stay in her room until she fell asleep. Somehow I felt the need for her to know that I would not leave and build trust. I did this for about 5 days. Then 5 days later I stuck to pu/pd for 1hr...then  I left the room and she fell asleep. The trust was re-established and she is no longer driving me insane at bedtime...for now. But the separation anxiety is still there. She needs to see mommy..just not in her room any longer.

(((((((( HUGS )))))))))))
Dree