For the past 3-4 month Alex has been doing so well going to sleep by himself in is own bed. All of the sudden he doesn't want to anymore and puts up a huge fight when it is time for him to go down. He cries and just says over and over again " Mommy I need you, I need you"I don't know what to do. He will carry on anywhere from 15-60 minutes OR until I finally lay with him. I can't understand why he is doing this.

Any thoughts????

Kimmy, Emma does this often, too. So frustrating! I firmly explain to her that I have to go downstairs to [insert job here- clean the kitchen, finish my work, etc.], that I will be right downstairs, and that I will come back to check on her in just a little bit. If that doesn't work, I firmly tell her that it's time to go to sleep, and that she needs to go to bed.

When that doesn't work, I either tell her that if she insists on crying and whining, I am going to shut her door (so she doesn't wake Krishan), or I start to warn her that if she keeps it up, I'm going to take away [insert favorite possession here].

Sometimes I'll give in and read her an extra book or something, but I don't want her taking advantage. She'd "i need you" all night long, if she could.

I also have to threaten to shut his door so he doesn't wake up Johsua. I put a door knob cover on the inside so that he can't open it.

He just finished crying and I think he is finially asleep that lasted 25 minutes. I was not far from him maybe 5-10 feet at the most. The computer is outside of his room.

This is just so frustrating! I am glad though that I am not the only one.

Ellie does this sometimes, too. It is very frustrating. Just keep being firm that bedtime is for bed. I hope it passes soon! :hug99:

Kaitlyn does this to us from time to time too. We just stick to our guns and don't waiver from our regular routine and expectations.


They are at an age where they want to try and push their limits... if you give them so much as an inch of leeway... you're done for... Smart little critters we have ;) :lol:

He is at this moment SCREAMING his head off in his room and has been for 45 minutes! I so don't know what to do. I had to shut his door because he kept getting out of bed and that makes it worse.

I just feel like I am such a bad parent for letting him scream but I don't want to give into him.

:hug99: I've done the same to Ellie and it does stink!

I know this isnt going to come out the way I want to, but I will try to explain :lol: When I went to parent orientation at Aidan's summer camp a few weeks ago, the director there, who has a PhD in Early Child Development, was talking about separation anxiety. She was telling us about how everytime a child becomes more aware of the world around them, they go through a new phase of anxiety. And they don't know how to express it to us. And this can last until they are up to 5 years old or so. Its very normal.

Thanks everyone. It seems to be going a little better. Of course tonight we are having thunder storms which Alex just sudden does not like either so that may be a problem.

I have been letting him stay up just 30 minutes later and when we put him to bed we look in everything so he nows there is nothing in his room and we annouce ALL CLEAR IN ALEX'S ROOM. He seems to like that. I thnk we are also going to be changing his room to tractors since he is obsessed with them. I think it will help too.