Two steps forward, one step back

Oh dear. We’re encountering a few familiar themes this week:
Separation anxiety – check!
Sleepless night – check!
Sleeping in a cot – check!
Lovebomb time – check!

We were doing so well last week. Little Man made the move to the Wobbler room in creche, and he seemed to love it straight away. Even this week, he is happy going in each morning, and he has been laughing and smiling each evening when we collect him. But…we’ve noticed a change in him in the evenings this week. He is clingy, and whingey, and very prone to tears. And then last night, he woke several times from 11pm onwards, and was wide awake for over an hour from 1am onwards. It’s been quite a while since we had to deal with that! Not only was he awake though, he was upset as well. All he wanted was to be cuddled.

After last time, we recognise the signs – no matter how well he may seem to be adapting to the new Wobbler room, it’s still triggering a certain amount of separation anxiety for him. I wonder if it’s not so much separation from us that’s bothering him, but the separation from the carers in the Baby room. He was very attached to them, and to the other babies in the room, and I think he’s probably missing them.

So we took some steps to rectify the situation this evening. First things first, back on with the side of the cot. When Little Man is really upset at night, he sits or stands in his sleep or half-sleep state, so right now his chances of falling out of a bed are much greater than his chances of climbing out of the cot during the night. The full transition from cot to cot bed will have to take a step back until Little Man is settled again.

Second things second, it’s time for another lovebomb! The lovebomb solution worked so well for us last time around, that it’s definitely going to be the first thing we try this time. So forget the chores and housework this Saturday – instead the most important task on the to-do list is to spend time with Little Man, and help him feel secure again. Let’s hope it works as well this time as it did last time!