Tanturms and tears at naptimes & bedtime..... normal??

[LŠuren]

Hi
Calum is just over a cold, he is now back to sleeping 11 - 12hr at night, BUT he now takes a total tanturm when put in his cot for naps and bedtime.

As soon as he gets near the cot he goes ballistic (even if he was previously sleeping)

Is this normal at this age??   There are only a few occasions where (like tonight) he cried and cried when we put him in the cot and after 4 or 5 mins (with us making our presence felt at the door) he eventually settled down, stopped crying and played with his night light then went to sleep.

I am not doing anything differently on the wind downs that he had a tanturm and ones where he settles fairly easily.....   

[yaya]

do u stay in the room with him lauren? Maybe if he needs ur reassurance he will benefit from u being there till he gets his confidence back??

[JennĐ]

Lauren, sounds just like mine at that age.  Going to bed means mama is leaving.  Separation anxiety time.  We did/do a few extra minutes of cuddle in front of the crib.  Then a few more in her room, slowly ease out. 

[LŠuren]

I do and he gets worse, as soon as he hears the floorboards squeak he sits up and starts screaming again.

Tonight DH told me to stay out of the room (I had been sitting on a chair next to the cot), so I stayed at the door (or upstairs in general) and he stopped screaming and settled a bit.

[LŠuren]

Thanks Jenn

I tried to ease out for his nap this afternoon.....

...picture this....

sitting on my bum next to the cot (to reassure him at his level), then slowly trying to edge out the room, avoiding creaky floorboards, but STILL trying to move my feet and hands and keep bum off the floor and aim for the door - still without the floor boards sqeaking.....

... I failed twice and had to restart .... it took 30 mins 

[Jaime]

Lauren, have you seen this:
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=62612.0

more details about separation anxiety - agree with PP that that's what this sounds like

[LŠuren]

Thanks Jaime.
He has had it before but this SA is just another level, I feel trapped in his bedroom.

I will try this link tonight.

[JennĐ]

Yup, I can picture that.  My downfall was my knee kept cracking.     Then I learned to walk out stiff legged.  Of course, it's stupid o'clock at the moment and I'm doing periodic wi/wo with She Who Has a Cold. So SA moments come and go.   For a giggle: silly kitty is standing IN the water dish to get a drink.      Just to take your mind off stuff for as sec...