[my2kidies]

Hello, I have a 9 mo old and 3 weeks ago he got an ear infection. Since then he will not go to sleep in his bed at night. His ears are all better and he still want sleep. I've tried giving him Bendryl and he cried last night for an hour and half. The doctor says he is stubborn and wished me good luck. The Benedryl did'nt have any effect on him. When I go to lay him down he crabs me. As soon as I get him he goes right to sleep and then I let him sleep with me. He's been crying every night for a week.

[Fr_Chuck]

No, you will not listen to him fuss long enough to go to sleep in his bed,

He has learned, he crys, he gets picked up and put in your bed.

[Wit and Itch]

It is very possible that he had a bad dream induced with pain of ear infection.
Give him some time. First try to lie next to him in his bed until he falls asleep. He should forget his bad dreams in a couple of weeks. It will help if you read him a happy story, or sing him a song.
Don't give him medicine unless you absolutely have to. Bananas are good before sleep.

[1badchoice]

Though I empathize with your being torn between your child's cries and having him sleep in your bed... you have to do something that is hard. Don't let him sleep with you. Even if he falls asleep when you hold him... put him in HIS bed. If he cries... comfort him briefly without taking him from his bed... and leave... keep lengthening the time between going in to comfort him. Be sure that there is some nightlight. It will be hard to go through but look at this as a week long endeavor. It hardly ever takes longer than this if you follow through. Being a parent is one of the hardest jobs in the world. This is just the beginning of decisions that are not easy but must be made for the child's benefit. He has just gotten used to sleeping with you... This is truly the optimum time to change his behavior. If not stopped now you could really be looking at years of him sleeping with you. Cathy