What to do about changes in DS's sleep pattern??

[dietre_g]

I am up at this ungodly hour because for the last 3 nights my DS has been challenging at bedtime. DS is almost 10 mos and he normaly goes to bed fairly easily around 8:30 and rises near 7am. But, these last few nights, I have had to rock him to sleep (argh!) and wait for some time until he is in a deep sleep before I can put him down. If I go for the crib too early, he wakes and wails until I pick him up. I have tried letting him cry it out (for 3-5 mins), but because he can pull up - he gets himself standing and gets extremely upset. He is now also waking up in the middle of the night (like now) to nurse - which is not normal. The pacifier is not working and he is learning to sign so he is signing for milk. I have been trying to avoid nursing him through the night because he normally sleeps with no problems and I don't want to start a habit that I don;t want to support. Whay the sudden change in sleep pattern? How do I get him back to going down on his own and how do you keep a cruiser from standing at night?? What should I do??
TIA

Dietre F.
Mom to Evan Gregory
Born 3.15.05
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[barbarhow]

Sounds like he might have an ear infection. My DS used to do the same thing and his dislike/refusal to go flat in his crib was always my first clue. Can you get him in for an ear check today?
Barbara-mom to Jack 3/27/03, a Red Sox fan
and Anna 5/12/05, my little Yankee fan!

[dietre_g]

Thanks. My pediatrician has Sat hours, so I will give it a try!
He is napping ok during the day (like now) and goes down without much fuss - it is only at night...

Dietre F.
Mom to Evan Gregory
Born 3.15.05
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/10029.gif
http://lilypie.com/baby1/060315/1/6/1/-5/.png

[SweetTooth]

Dietre,
No advice, but empathy b/c I've been in the same situation. My DS is 15 mos & has gone through phases of falling asleep easily & staying asleep & at other times needing lots of rocking & then waking throughout the night. Last night it was 4 times :(

It sounds like your DS is going through lots of developmental changes, standing, signing, etc., and when kids do that they often have difficulty sleeping. That is also an age when I think many kids go through separation anxiety & need lots of comforting. So if he ends up not having an ear infection, maybe it's a combo of those things. Just a thought.