You will need to reestablish normal sleep associations to eliminate this behavior. Your baby associates falling asleep with closeness to an adult. The child is rocked to sleep at bedtime and the association is set. Remember, to prevent night waking it is important to make sure the same associations are available to your baby in the middle of the night as at bedtime. Find times other than while your child is falling asleep to cuddle after the first three months of life.
Night waking is responded to with nurturing efforts .
Place your baby in bed sleepy but awake. Security objects such as night lights and stuffed toys are appropriate around six months old. Minimizing social contact in the middle of the night will help your child to understand that night is for sleeping not socializing. Fluid is more likely to build in the middle ear. Your child will be more susceptible to ear infections.