Help - Sleep become a problem at 18 months

[Janey500]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this board but I need help. I have been following Baby Whisperer techniques since birth and Oliver was sleeping from 7.30pm to 7am with no waking up until about 2 weeks ago.
I used to be able to put him in his cot, say night-night, and then could leave the room with him still awake and he would settle himself to sleep in 5-10 mins.
Now he cries when I try to lie him down and then screams when I try to leave the room. The only way I can get him to sleep (nap or bedtime) is to stay by him until he is asleep and then creep out of the room. More often than not he hears a creak and is wide awake again - so back to square one!!
I have been reading about WI/WO, do you think it would work as he is screaming before I even get near the door to leave the room.
Don't know whether this is relevant but he has also become more clingy in the day.

Thanks in advance.

Jane

[Layla]

Hi Jane & welcome !

If he's more clingy during the day, could be that he is going through separation anxiety. You can still do the wi/wo method or you could try the gradual withdrawal method. Here's some links that will help you

https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=80750.0
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=63896.0
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=80822.0

Can you tell me what his daytime schedule looks like?

If he was a good sleeper in the past, the wi/wo method would work well.

hth & let me know how you go
Layla

[Janey500]

Hi Layla,

Thanks for reply. Olivers routine is :

7am Wake and milk
8am Breakfast
10am Snack
12/12.15 Lunch
1.15/1.30 Nap (1˝ hrs)
3pm Snack
6pm Dinner
7pm Bath
7.30pm Bed

Past couple of nights and naps we have sat on a stool at the end of the bed until he is asleep and then crept out. First time took 1 hr, then ˝hr and last night 15 mins. He is still waking in the night and then won't settle for ages. We usually end up sleeping on the floor in his room so we can calm him when he wakes.
Not sure whether to stick to this or try WI / WO. 
Still not sure whether it is separation anxiety, he follows me everywhere and on occasions through the day, he can be playing and then he almost jumps and panics and comes running over and clings onto my leg as though something has frightened him. The only thing we can link to all this starting is that me and my husband had a week off work 2 weeks ago so were with him all day every day (he usually stays with my mum 3 days a week).

Think I'll try for a bit longer and hopefully try not to stay in the room after his night wakings (its hard when you've got to work the next day and need your sleep - think i've had it too easy up to now and I do like my sleep!!)

Thanks again

Jane

[mari]

It could be seperation Anxiety but I also think that his nap and bedtime is a little late, it could be that he is overtired by the time naptime comes and he might fight it then, also, as his nap is cut short due to overtiredness he is still tired come bedtime, does that make sense?

I would do a nap of 12-12.30pm and then, if you can get a good 2+ hours from him do a bedtime at around 7pm, I know that it's only half an hour but it could make all the difference.  You may need WIWO as he won't be usedt o the routine but as he was a good sleeper previously you should have him sleeping again soon.