Newly hysterical at bedtime

My DD has been a perfect sleeper since 8-12 weeks. Normally she is perfectly happy to go into her cot and sleep both during the day and at night.

BUT since yesterday she has suddenly got hysterical when going into the cot. Not whingy or even upset that builds up to hysterical - she goes straight from being happy to the full on screaming like someone has stabbed her. She was fine yesterday for her day sleeps then started this last night but it has carried over to both her sleeps today and now tonight. It seems like severe separation anxiety as she clutches at me (or her dad) and I can settle her if I'm half in the cot with her. I managed to get her to have an afternoon nap only by letting her sleep on me today. I have never had to do this before.

She's completely normal apart from this. No problems if we walk out of the room when she's playing and she's perfectly happy to crawl off out of the room on her own to explore the house. She probably is teething but has never been like this with the others (just a little whingy). There's no signs of earache and she can lie flat if I lie down next to her.

Any suggestions as to how to manage it? The odd occasion that she whinges in bed we tend to let her go for a few minutes but normally she settles herself in under 5 mins. If she goes longer it's because there's a problem (lost her pig, teething, leg out the cot etc). But this is something completely different and I am not happy leaving her to scream like this. I can't actually remember her ever crying like this before. Do you think it'll pass - should I just sleep with her for a few nights? I'm just worried that that will make the separation anxiety worse.

Oh no poor you and K

It does sound like it could be separation anxiety. If it were me, I would try sitting on the floor beside her cot with my hands on her chest while she falls asleep. If that does work then you could slowly work on reducing the amount of the time you have to be in the room.

GL

Ohhh huge hugs hun

Gosh, I don't know what to suggest Could it be worth trying something new, like a musical mobile, to act as a distraction when she goes into cot. Maybe if you started it going a few minutes before, and then when she goes in, she has something soothing to focus on?

Oh, forgot to say... I totally think you're doing the right thing at the moment though. It's so unusual for her to be like this, she obviously needs the comfort and extra huggles

Agree with whats been said, I guess the other thing is do you mind developing a habit like rocking to sleep etc?

Could you perhaps try some cuddles and stories before going into the cot?

LilNic - her evening routine is bath, stories in her room then breastfeed and cuddles then into the cot. She's happy in the cot provided you don't leave her (eg if you read to her in the cot there is no problem). I definitely don't want to create the habit of rocking to sleep but I'm hoping the "look we come back after 5 mins" thing will eventually reassure her and she'll stop getting so upset.

Thanks Jano. I'd heard about this happening around 9 months but wasn't aware of it being common at this age. I'm sure we can all survive a week or so.

Could be worth checking ears - even if she seems ok, sometimes things are worse at night.

Other than that, take comfort in the fact this started really quickly, it will be a phase. Give her some extra cuddles and wean off slowly.

Yep it settled for us after about a week if I remember right. But it was bloody awful in the meantime and so unlike her. We persisted with what I outlined above (5 minute cry, cuddle until settled, 5 minute cry etc) even although sometimes it sometimes took 3 or 4 goes to get her settled. I also started putting music on again (which I hadn't done for AGES) and I think that she got a little distracted from that as well.

I agree with someone elses post too to get their ears checked. Apparently they can seem fine upright but when they lie down it hurts them.

Hope things get better for you. It seemed like such a backward step for us until we got on top of it again.

Thanks! will keep up with our resettling and hope it ends soon! ARGHHH If it continues another week Ill be back to the doctor. Thanks again