For the last week or so, my 3 month old has been going bonkers at bedtime. He is generally s happy, easy baby. Change him into pjs, fine. Put him in sleep sack, fine. Turn down lights and he flips out. It’s like he knows it’s bedrime and he’s upset about it. Once he freaks out nothing consoles him. Holding or rocking doesn’t help. He’s a mess. What is going on???
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I can relate to this, our baby has *never* calmed down from being held/rocked once he decided he was upset. The only thing that ever would calm ours down was nursing or a bottle, which I do not recommend because where that led me was sleep training + night weaning at the same time with a milk monster at 4.5 months and it was straight up hell.
What time is bedtime? Is it possible he's getting a little over-tired and you need to move bedtime up to be maybe 20-30 minutes earlier? If it isn't that, maybe you can just keep the lights really low all around the house from when it gets dark out until when you put the baby down just so the transition is softer?
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No advice - but I was there! For about a month around the 3 month mark, LO screamed bloody murder before every sleep (naps and bedtime). I’m happy to report that it abruptly ended after many weeks. I was convinced it would last forever.
The only thing I can think of that *may* have helped, was keeping the routine. I’m not even super strict about it, but we did generally the same things. I really think he just needed to grow out of it. Sometimes he cries when I put on the sleep sack, but as soon as we start rocking and feeding he’s fine. We can now even put him down awake most nights!
It was bizarre how quickly it stopped and he seemingly grew up. One day he could barely stay awake an hour before he needed to sleep and screamed every time. Literally the next day he was able to stay awake for 2 hours and has been generally a happy camper in terms of sleep for the past 2 months. I hope this happens for you soon! -
I wouldn't stimulate him further - but maybe try an earlier bed time. This sounds like over-tired behavior. But - don't start a sleep habit that you don't want to be stuck with breaking later, though. It could be that he's just having a rough week (I think some people call them Wonder weeks). Stick with the same 2-3 step routine, so that he begins to learn what to expect and watch him to see what might make a positive difference. DS1 couldn't fall asleep unless someone was in the room or near enough for him to hear them (he slept with us until 2 and a half). DS2 couldn't fall asleep if anyone was in sight or earshot from about 3 months of age.
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Try getting a dimmer and leaving the lights on low instead of off?
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Sound machine? Bedtime routine.... I’d also say playing with him in his crib to make it a positive place. That helped a lot with my LO.
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