My 17-month old won't sleep in his crib... new baby on the way?

Question

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My son is 17 months old and a very poor sleeper. The slightest sounds wake him up and cause him to cry for mommy and daddy. He will continue to scream and cry until we pick him up and bring him to our bed. We have tried to let him cry it out many times but he does not fall asleep. We have tried sleeping on his floor, but he still cries. He will cry all night long.

We need to break this cycle before our new baby is born in October. Any advice from parents?

Answer 1

try sleeping next to him, my daughter never slept in her cot but now i bought her a single bed and she sleeps in it fine

Answer 2

try putting him to sleep while the TV is on or play a CD or some musical baby toy.

if they fall asleep to noise they will sleep better... and not wake up so easy...

Answer 3

Put a box fan in his room to tune out small noises. And, cry it out DOES work, but it sounds like you don't do it correctly. It needs to be done consistently. When using the cry it out method, he may cry for 2-3 hours straight before falling asleep and he may wake a few times to test you, as well. If the other methods have not worked, then your only other option is crying it out. Give him a bath, read him a book or two, give him a kiss, put him in the crib, and leave the room. Do NOT go back in. He may cry off and on for a couple of hours. Each night, the time spent crying will decrease because he knows it's not working. Right now, he's playing you like a fiddle--he knows you'll just come get him and bring him back to your bed. He's seventeen months old, not twenty--what are you going to do when he decides to stay out past curfew when he's seventeen? Give him twenty bucks?

Get a crib tent so he can't hurt himself and get yourself ready for a week or two of sleep training.

Answer 4

my son is 15mths old and has been sleeping in his own toddler bed for almost 2 months now. his sleeping has improved a great deal, and he's much happier and proud to have his big boy bed. its a good idea to do this soon, because you'll want the crib for the newborn. I think that as soon as children are old enough to walk and talk, they shouldn't be in a crib any longer. let him fall asleep on his own, don't stay in the room with him, don't cater to this behaviour, be stern. tell him its bedtime, let him cry it out for a while before stepping in. take him to the doctor, if its nothing wrong with him, then its simply behavioural.. he could just be hungry in the middle of the night, most kids around his age go through growth spurts and appetite changes. my son only behaves like this at night if he's hungry, so I give him a snack, cuddle and put him back to bed. make sure he eats something before bed and has a big breakfast.

Answer 5

I put my daughter in a toddler bed right after she started walking well.  You definately do not want to wait until October to fix this problem.  Make sure that you establish a bedtime routine that lets him know it is time for bed.  Do not vary from it.  Make sure he is fed, diapered, feeling well, etc..so that you know there is no real reason that he will need you after you put him to bed.  He knows what he has to do to get you to put him in your bed.  It works and he continues to do it.  It is going to be heartbreaking for a couple nights and you might not get any sleep for a couple nights, but you are going to have to let him cry it out.  Eventually he will see that his efforts have failed.  If you must have some contact with him: do not turn on the light, do not go over and pick him up, don't stand by his crib and try to reason with him, don't let him latch onto you and throw a fit.  Stand at the entrance of his door and very calmly tell him that it is time for bed and you will see him in the morning.  Good Luck!

Answer 6

My son was 17 months old when my youngest was born and i put him in a bed ( a big boy bed!) and had no problems what so ever. Its worth a try if he likes feeling like a big boy with his own bed just like mummy and daddys!

Good luck xxxx

Answer 7

try and keep a night light on and wwen the new born comes if they share a room he might not cry becuz he wont be alone