Separation anxiety

In the last two weeks my two boys (7 mnths adjusted) have developed separation anxiety but especially A and especially at night. I can get him down to sleep for bedtime when I nurse them to sleep before bed, but I'm trying to not feed them at night. A is disappointed with that, but he's okay if I give him a pacifier. (Before I thought of a pacifier he sucked three deep bruises into my upper arm) A just really wants a connection to Mommy or Daddy, and has to have at least two of his hands touching a parent's bare skin at all times. My chest, neck and arms are covered with scratches and bruises from him kneading and feeling the skin. I've tried getting him attached to a lovey, either his blanket or his teddy bear, but no luck yet. I've been forced to take him to bed with me after his first wakeup of the night. Not the trend I'd like to encourage! If I leave him in his crib, he becomes hysterical and will scream for over an hour (that's as long as I've lasted). It doesn't matter if I'm standing right there, patting him and talking to him, he must be held to calm down. DH is an acceptable alternative for rocking and holding, but A will be full asleep and set in his crib then wake up 10 minutes later and get hysterical again. Anyone go through this? Does it just get better or did you solve it or are you still stuck with it?

 

I've had the girls go through needy phases and it stinks for mommy but it passes. :hug:

 

One of my almost 7 month old twins in doing the same thing. My husband can get him to sleep the first time and then about 10-20 minutes later he's awake and screaming. I've tried soothing and patting to get him to stay in his crib and go back to sleep, but it usually takes me taking him to bed with me to get him back to sleep. He has to have his hands touching my skin to go back to sleep too... maybe it is just a needy phase?!? After the second time going to sleep I can usually get him back in his crib and he stays the rest of the night. My other little boy is having no problems thankfully!

 

YES!! One of our girls used to be a much more sound sleeper and is now waking frequently at night. She is consoled by DH rocking/patting/blankie/pacie/etc. for a short time then wakes up again. If I respond to her cries she screams and kicks until I nurse her. After a full feeding, she will lay quietly in her bed and fall back asleep on her own. I wouldn't think she would really be hungry b/c I nurse every 3 hrs all day and 2 solid meals/ day but she still does this 2-3 times every night.

I have decided it is an attachment "thing" so last night I put a tank top I wore yesterday in her crib to see if my smell would soothe her. She woke once and her sister woke once (which woke her up) so she still got fed 2 times but we all slept better than we have in a week...coincidence??? Who knows!! I am leaving the tank top in the crib to try it again tonight, though! :spiteful:

 

lovemy3, I'm going to have to try that shirt thing!

I'm glad to hear that others are having this phase, and it sounds like it's right this time frame. It just seems so extreme!

 

Luke was like that for quite awhile. Always had to be touching me & slept best if he was in my bed where he could have a hand on me at all times. It was so frustrating. He's better now, but still quite attached to me, even at 3 years old. I finally gave him my pajama top & got myself a new one. It was a fuzzy velour top & he always loved to rub it between his fingers when he was falling asleep. He still sleeps with his "fuzzy" in his bed at night.

 

I am going through this right now with Jude. I literally can have her back to bed in 2 mins. It is like she wants to make sure I am there - 2-3 times overnight! We are still doing a full nurse around 3:00 a.m. Zoe just sleeps through it all. Amazing.