We've had some terrible bedtime dramas recently, my DS and I. He's 11 months old (9 months corrected) and used to sleep brilliantly, but hasn't for a while. I used to bf him to sleep. Read Pantley on stopping the feed-to-sleep association and had some success with her advice. His naps are a struggle but he usually can be cuddled to near-sleep and then drift off (but often not in his cot, but on a mattress on the floor in his room, where I feed him).
In the evening I try to do this: 6-6.30pm quiet time reading books, then bath, then breastfeed (trying not to let him fall asleep), burp (really tricky sometimes), song and bed. If he grizzles I stroke his belly for a while and leave the room when he seems calmer.
That's when the fun starts. He will complain, then scream. I do the pick up, shhh, pat, put down thing, maybe rub his belly for a bit. He goes ballistic. I repeat, and repeat, and repeat. He will usually get more tired and even drowsy, but as soon as he is in his cot he screams. He's often scratching his head madly at that point (doesn't during the day). Sometimes he even falls asleep for 5 or 10 minutes, then gets so frustrated with still not being 'properly' asleep that we have to start all over again. Yesterday the whole thing took 1 1/2 hours, and he then needed to be settled again 40 minutes later and woke up 4 times during the night. (Before anyone suggests letting him cry: CC will never work because he can throw up at will and often does out of frustration.)
I've been wondering whether moving his bf to before his bath might help with the obvious wind/ stomach pain, but am weary of making him throw up even more (he's a refluxy baby). In which order do you do feed, bath, story, bed? Can babies actually learn how to fall asleep on their own? Does anyone have any great gems of wisdom to share? I'd be ever so grateful.
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.
Sleep
Talk me through your bedtime routine please, ours isn't working anymore
11 replies
Gurke · 24/08/2013 22:44
OP posts:
Please create an account
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.