Toddler clings to me when I put him down...

[bicah]

I have no idea what is going on, or what to do. It has only happened a few times, he almost always just goes right down. But, he does have a cold so not sure if this is a factor. His cold started Friday and that night he woke up every 1/2 hour just talking then fell back asleep, but around 1 am, he was up crying, we went in a couple times and he did fall asleep then at 3:30, he was up and slept on my husband for 1 1/2 hrs before he was up for the day. So this could be a huge factor also. But, my problem is, I put him to bed at 7 and he is tired (and sick), and after I do a couple songs and rocking i get up and he clings to me and screams. I dont know what to do first off because I dont want him crying for a long period having a head cold, and I also dont want him to get used to sleeping on us. The other night it was a battle, we would go in and out, in and out then I finally just had to have him cry for 5 minutes even though I knew how his nose would be, and he did fall asleep. The next two nights were completely fine. Tonight, it was just the intial putting down and by the time I got downstairs he had stopped. But, this breaks my heart. Do I baby him and keep rocking him even though I know when he is feeling better he will be used to it, Or do I keep with going in and out but keeping him in his bed??? Please help, my heart is breaking here...
Also, he has done this occasionally when he wasnt sick, my thoughts are he may have had a nightmare or soemthing the night before so I put a nightlight in to see if that worked. It did..until now.

[lilmonkey]

Hope your lo feels better soon.  Whenever dd is sick, I give her as much of my attention/cuddles as she wants.  It is very tough to see them sick and not want to make things better for them.  It can be very exhausting both during the illness and after when I was trying to get back on track.  Just within the last 4 weeks, dd had the rotavirus and a nasty cold.  I had spent some nights in bed (she sleeps on a double mattress on the floor) with her b/c she was too sick to go back to sleep on her own.  I think that it is perfectly fine for you to help him through the night. 

Once thing that I have learned a while back is to NOT bring them into bed with you.  Go to them and comfort them there.  Is your lo in a crib?  Get yourself an air mattress so you don't have to walk back and forth.  If the nw is b/c of illnesses or nightmares, then go to him.  I know that when I'm sick or having bad dreams, it is always nice to have dh next to me. 

Once you think that illness or nightmare has passed, then go back to your usual routine of getting him to sleep on his own.   Good luck.

[Layla]

If he is still sick, you need to attend to him when he cries. I agree with not taking to your bed or letting him sleep on you & instead getting a mattress and sleeping in his room. You can comfort him in his crib but don't rock him & when he wakes at night re-assure him that you are there and comfort him (maybe patting or rubbing his back).

Once he is over the cold & feeling well in general, you can do wi/wo to get him sleeping independantly but at the moment concentrate on making him feel better and comfortable at bedtime. Don't let him cry, especially if he has a blocked nose.

hth
Layla