Is this common for 9 month olds?

My DS has just turned 9 months and the last few weeks has been out of sorts. He seems to have forgotten how to self settle, cries at all naps, sometimes cries when playing (for no obvious reason) and the worst, has started waking up frequently at night! He used to feed once a night anywhere btw 11pm - 5am, which was fine as he wasn't really eating much in the way of solids.

However his eating has gotten better, he is feeding (bf) from me four times a day (one side) so I am starting to question whether it is hunger, separation anxiety or what!

On occasion I have had to feed him to sleep for his night sleep, and he feeds to sleep during the night as well. He never used to! Last night it was three wake ups at 9.30pm, midnight and 2am.

Just wondering if anyone else has had this, whether it is just a phase, or whether I should consider the fact that I have to be harder with him

PS He has been sick with a bad cold but I think he is better now. He also has the top two teeth coming but the white has been there for a few weeks now with no sign of actually breaking through!

yep agree with above... also his teeth might be starting to move about and be annoying him.

Agree with HippyMama I would say its probably separation anxiety, T went through something similar, and he just needed lots of cuddles, breastfeeds and reassurance, it'll pass

I would say its teething or seperation anxiety.

No need to be hard on him as he is only 9 months old and like the others said, he is probably feeling a bit anxious when away from you, its normal and he will get better with that :)

Lots of cuddles and also try some bonjela where you see the white as that may make his mouth feel more comfortable if its teething.

You could also put the top you were wearing for the day in bed with him at night as your scent might make him feel more secure etc - This worked for my DD.

Edited by Sheza

I'd put money on separation aniexty- big issues at this age. You can do stuff like tell him you are goign out of the room during and then making a point of coming back and making a fuss of him - this worked well for us. They do grow out of it and like my one, decide that all they want to do is wander away and explore...

Games like Peek-A-Boo/Where's Mummy/whoever are great for separation anxiety!

I often hide under a blanket and call out to DD 'Where's mummy?' and she gets so excited when she finds me! It helps them learn that when you go away you don't disappear completely... Etc

Yup - separation anxiety... I'm in the Feb 2010 thread with Lil_Nic (above) and our girls went thru it at about the same time!! Only just out the other side now......