7 month old playing/crying at bedtime

[KKsMomma]

Maybe this is just another thing that will pass (of course it will), but I was wondering if any of you other mamas have any ideas for me. Maybe you can see something I can't because I'm so sleepy.

DS is 7 months and has, for the past few weeks, been going down for bedtime about 4 hours after his last nap ended, which seemed to work really well. He was not so tired that he had a meltdown but not so awake that he'd want to play instead of sleep. Sometimes, if he didn't fall asleep nursing, he could actually fall asleep in the crib without so much as a fuss, only oohing and aahing.

Now, I do the bedtime routine, and he nurses (last step) and doesn't fall asleep! He pulls off early, crying and rubbing his eyes. I sit him up to burp and he burps.He refuses to nurse more (crying and pushing my breast away) and gestures toward the crib (we use a crib for the beginning of the night). I then put him down, but instead of settling to sleep (which he did before), he looks at me and squeals or razzes. Funny, but not funny at the same time! I pick him up when he starts to fuss and then offer nursing. He refuses, crying. Tonight, I held him and bounced a little on the yoga ball while he cried to see if he'd calm down, but he cried much more. Then, he finally nursed, but only enough to drift off.

He is definitely teething, but that doesn't explain the playing. I have been patting him to sleep sometimes, which takes a long time, and I'm wondering if that's too stimulating and he thinks its a game and that games happen in the crib. I'm also wondering if I'm putting him down too early or too late. Usually it ends up being between 7 and 8, though, which is "supposed" to be the right time. I give him some pureed sweet potato for dinner usually an hour before. Maybe too close to bedtime? Maybe I should just let him play for a while out of the crib?

[AdinaL]

I think I would just let him play for a while in the crib. THat seems to be what he is indicating he wishes to do. You might find that he goofs around a little, then wants to nurse again, and then goes to sleep.  Sometimes my daughter would do something like this - she would get super sleepy, and then wake up for a last little hurrah or snuggles or telling me something, and then she would settle in. She still does it sometimes.

I would guess this is just a phase and it will pass. 

[begoniamama]

my (just turned) 7 month old does something similar - will nurse and get close to sleep and then wake up, shoot off my boob and want to look around the room, play with my hair, etc. So i let him, and every time he does this he instantly wants to continue nursing. eventually he gets tired enough and falls asleep. i do notice that this happens when i think he is a little overtired. sometimes he pulls off not wanting to nurse anymore, and just lays in my lap in the dark cuddling while i sing to him. every night is different, and i'm sure it will pass for you. good luck!

[aleenajoe]

i anticipate he is a little overtired. sometimes he pulls off not absent to assistant anymore, and just lays in my lap in the aphotic cuddling while i sing to him. every night is different, and i'm abiding it will canyon for you. acceptable luck!

[skycheattraffic]

It sounds little like he may be overtired. You could try to bring his bedtime forward say 15 to 30 minutes to see if it helps. At that age DD had a bedtime but we were prepared to start up to 45 mins early if we saw tired signs (rubbing eyes, yawning, general crankiness, etc). By the same token if she was full of energy and showed zero indication to slowing down, we would give her up to 30 mins extra to tire out. She is 16 months now and while she does have a bedtime, the final stages (books on potty then nursing) start between 7 and 7:45 depending on when she is ready for it.