Breaking a bad habit with 13 month old

[Babyblabber]

Our 13 month old has never had a problem settling himself for naps/bedtime. At 11 months he got a bad bug which led to lactose intolerance (we think, still waiting on referral) and to cut a long story short his nappies were so bad that we would often have to strip, wash and change him in the middle of the night. he'd be wide awake and quite upset after this so we got into the (very bad) habit of either my husband or i sleeping the rest of the night in the spare room with him. it worked at the time as we were able to tell straight away if he woke again if he needed a nappy change and if not could get him back to sleep quickly, whereas if he was in the cot we'd have to go in and pick him up which would wake him up all over again.

2 months on and we have the nappy situation pretty much under control but he now wakes like clockwork between 1-3am to be taken into the spare room, despite going to bed no problem in the evening. he is standing up and hysterical within 30 seconds of waking. we've tried lying him back down and walking out of the room repeatedly but he just gets more and more upset. he has a soother attached to a teddy which he is also throws out when he stands up so even if he lay himself back down he'd never get back to sleep without this. when we take him into the spare room he's asleep as soon as his head hits the mattress!

any ideas on how we can break this habit? i really don't know what to do! thanks in advance for any much appreciated help!

[anna*]

Hi there!
I know this sounds simplistic, but if you want to stop, you really do just have to stop taking him through there. By all means stay in the room with him in his cot, and let him cry and figure it out. He won't cry forever, but it may feel like forever. But every time you let him cry for a bit and then give in and take him into the spare room, you're reinforcing the habit. Pick up the teddy and calmly pop it back into his cot (don't hand it to him). Help him to lie down if you feel like he's 'stuck' standing up. When he's finally calm and lying down, take a step towards the door. Then another step. I bet after just a few nights he'll stop bother to wake up, once he realises that the spare room is finished with now.

[Babyblabber]

thanks anna. i know we just have to bite the bullet, can't bear the crying though, i'm a wuss!

[anna*]

I know, it's really hard to hear them cry - but keep in mind, he's not afraid or in pain, just tired and frustrated. No harm will come to him while you are with him.