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My 13.5 month old son has been a pretty reasonable sleeper since he was about 6 months old when I dropped night feeds.  He's always been an early waker (5ish) but as he'd be quiet enough in his cot on his own this hasn't really bothered us.  He's been self settling since he was about 6 months as well – for naps and at nighttime (with the occassional exception).

Two weeks ago though it all just suddenly changed.  He started screaming when I left him at night, and hysterically :(  We've never had to let him CIO and I hate to do it but nothing we're trying seems to be working.  If I leave him for a few mins then go back in, he'll calm immediately but if I leave again he's hysterical once more so this just seems to prolong the screaming.  He'll usually settle if he screams for 10-30 mins but if he's suffering from separation anxiety am I going to make him worse?

At first the problem seemed just to be with his bedtime and he'd continue to sleep through to his normal wake up time, but now he'll wake crying in the night at 1-2am and we have the same problems again.  And daytime naps are sometimes an issue as well although he can still self settle most of the time in the day after a few minutes of crying.

I know that patting him back to sleep does work, but isn't this going to cause a sleep assoiciation which in the long run is going to be hard to break – not to mention exhausting in the middle of the night?

I'd appreciate any advice – everything I've been reading keeps suggesting this is separation anxiety but nothing gives me any suggestions about how to help.  It seems like we have two options – let him scream or stay with him until he's asleep and I don't like either or these!

Help – I just want my happy little man back!

April