Bouncing himself to sleep

Alexander has been doing this for at least a year now. He sits on his bed and bounces on the mattress until he falls asleep. It can get really loud and he has woken us up many, many times in the middle of the night with his bouncing. We have already replaced one mattress because it was completely destroyed from all that bouncing. Does anyone else have a child who does this and do they eventually grow out of it?

 

I think he's to be congratulated on learning to self soothe so early! I know it's a pain, but think how much worse it could be-he could be begging to sleep with you guys, or lying in bed screaming. (BOth of which I have experienced with my SS, and he's 9!)

Good luck!

 

Mine are a little younger but I have one that pounds his legs up and down on the mattress so hard you can hear it across the house. I figure, if he's not hurting himself and it helps him go to sleep...I can deal with hearing "thud, thud, thud" repeatedly for about 5 minutes.

 

My daughter used to thump so hard when she was small that I called her "Thumper". My son now does the same thing but his is much louder and harder. I think it's just a comfort thing. My son only does it periodically.

 

I have one twin who does this. He is going to have strong arms with all the push ups it entails!! HE is either bouncing his upper boddy or his feet as he falls alseep. I was a bit concerned....metioned it to his Ped, she asked some other development questions and since those are all great she thinks it is self soothing or Rocking himself.

I have a friend whose son does this and I talked with her. Her son is 8 and still does it sometimes....her husband did it as a child (but their son is adopted) so she has some experience and I was told they do grow out of it.

Cindy

 

My oldest DS does something like a kick or thump with his legs while laying down, but Ive never seen him do it until he falls asleep. (maybe thats b/c it bugs me and i tell him to stop) I honestly never thought of it as soothing for him b/c he's never done anything like it before and he's almost 5.
My twin daughter tries to sit up until she falls asleep. lol. I guess thats her way of fighting it.

 

Mine were heel slammers for a long time and occasionally would kick or headbutt the gate side of the crib repetitively. The sounds were very loud in the kitchen (directly below their room) and I remember my friend who doesn't have kids getting saucer eyes and asking if I was sure they were OK. :lol: They don't do it anymore. I'll hear them rustle around while they're falling asleep and occasionally kick the side but it's not like it was so I think they grow out of it.

 

I have a headbanger! He will smash his head upon the bed to soothe himself back to sleep. The doctor swears it won't do mental damage, so we just go with it. He can bang his head REALLY loud!!

 

QUOTE(twinboys07 @ Nov 7 2008, 08:34 PM) [snapback]1061601[/snapback]
I have a headbanger! He will smash his head upon the bed to soothe himself back to sleep. The doctor swears it won't do mental damage, so we just go with it. He can bang his head REALLY loud!!


I have a head banger too. Nathan thumps his head as he is falling asleep and waking up. DD hates it when we go somewhere and we make her sleep in the same room as him. He recently switched to a feather pillow out of necessity (MIL forgot to bring their pillows back and that is all i had at the house) and I like it. It starts out nice and thick for him and it flattens as he thumps. The pillow muffles some of the sounds of the thumping. Brandon is a leg kicker, but nearly to the extent as Nathan's head banging. William won't go to sleep unless he is completely covered up, head and all.