Discussion Board: Toddlers and Pre-schoolers

Hi everyone, my son is 16mths old and I was wondering if how he settles to sleep is normal or if I am being neglectful. everynight when he goes to bed he cries for 5-10 minutes before falling to sleep. He has done this for about 6 months now should I be doing someting as I just leave him I know this is ok when you are teaching them to settle them selves but shouldn't he have stopped the 10 min of crying by 6 mths of the same thing? Would be great to hear from anyone who has some suggestions or to just know that it is normal?

[color=red][/color]Hi there, I think when it comes to parenting and children all things are deemed ' normal' , something is always surprising me about children!! There are 5 things a child needs and will cry for, if it's none of those your child is fine and i guess this how your child is going to settle, for a while at least. The 5 things are , nappy, food, water, hurt, sick, if your child needs no attention for any of those, he will be fine, you are in no way ' negelectful' .

Hi! I agree, there is nothing wrong with them having a little cry before sleep. My oldest boy, now 8, used to cry for ages, just because he did not want to go to sleep. Sometimes I would just shut his door when he started and open it when he stopped. My Mum gave me the most wonderful thing, its a nightlight/tape recorder in the shape of a giant mother goose. the light comes from under her bill and she sings nursery rhymes, all the old fashioned ones you never hear now. My son can still remember the words! He loved it, he would cry when it stopped sometimes, but usually he was alseep before then! But there are many versions of normal, so dont worry about it, if your baby is not hurt, sick or wet/pooed, hungry or thirsty they they will be ok. They just need to learn that they can't always get their own way. But if they are hungry or thirsty, try giving a snack or drink a while before bed.

i gave up on worrying about being normal, id be normal in someones eyes and not in anothers, do what you feel is right, if he is not getting into a state and your tunny isnt in knots listening to him then carry on, i was never good at listening to our daughter cry but there where times where it had to be done, my mum always used to say when i rung her in tears cause Aimee was in tears.. " that it never hurts them to be crying" like everything in your childs life im sure it will pass and he will settle without the tears. good luck

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