SCREAMING - is it illness, sep anxiety or developmental???

[UlrikaandOlle]

My DS, almost 10 months used to be a happy chap, and has been a great independent sleeper. Now, he seems so frustrated and angry all the time, if I am not on the floor playing with him, or when eating. And putting him down for his naps or for the night is a nightmare. He stands up and cries bloody murder, for up to an hour... He pulls his ear, scratches his or my face etc. He does calm down for a minute a two when I re-enter the room, but starts again even if I stay by him (I have done some wi/wo kind of thing previously, when he fights sleep, and it has always worked within minutes). I have even put him in my lap to calm him, and re-do the bedtime routine, but nothing helps. He falls asleep by pure exhaustion.

If it is separation anxiety, what do you do? If no, how can I help him to be his former happy self?

[Mum to Ella Rose]

depends. have to be quick as bub is up from nap (born on the 19th btw! ) can you post his schedule? Alex is a screamer now too when he is frustrated. loud and long and high! bursts the eardrums practically...

[UlrikaandOlle]

He has been on EASY from birth and the routine now looks like:

7/7.30am wakes up happy. Bottle followed by breakfast (porridge w banana)
10 sleep for 1-2 hours
12 lunch solids
3/3.30ish sleep 30-60mins
(Bottle either before or after nap)
5.30pm dinner
6.30 Bottle
7pm sleep for the night. No NWs. (lately, he cries out in the evening a couple of times, but goes back to sleep straight away)

Thanks in advance for any input!

[Mum to Ella Rose]

hrrmmm. sounds good to me. in fact it sounds like us except yours is a bit better! Alex still wakes at night for a bottle. so maybe it is developmental? sorry not more help!! xx

[deckchariot]

Is he teething?  That can cause all sorts of nightmares for you and your bub.  Is the screaming worse at nighttime or naptime?  His routine and nap times looks pretty decent for his age, so not sure if it's a nap question mainly or if it's all sleeps?

[katakow2]

No advice here, but it sounds like SA is at least part of the problem.
We're going through the same thing whenever I leave him anywhere or tuck him in (was sleeping independently as well).
I did wi/wo for a while, but it took forever and he got way OT.  Unfortunately, I've resorted to standing next to his crib with my hand on his back until he settles (usually about 2-5 minutes).  I know this isn't very BW-friendly, but he REALLY needs to catch up on sleep.  I'm planning to slowly phase it out when he gets back on track.  I'll definitely be interested in the responses you get!  Sara