Won't sleep in his cot!! HELP

[MrsRicheyJames]

My son is now four months old and is still sleeping with us!

As a newborn, he wouldn't sleep at all. We were lucky if he slept for more than an hour in any 12 hour period. The only way to get him to go to sleep was with me.

And so the bad habit started. It was either that, or I had some sort of breakdown!!

He still sleeps with us at night. But I've had enough now. I want him in his cot. He won't go in it at all. Not even through the day. (mind you he doesn't actually nap. At ALL)

I was told to put him in when he's tired (which is all the time) and go back every five mins. I could do that all day. He'd still cry and refuse to sleep. He'll go in the buggy when we're out, but I want him in his cot. Napping like a normal child!!

Any suggestions would be great!!

[Elasticwoman]

Four months is still very early. Mine all went in the cot eventually but slept with me at first. He'll get sick of sleeping with you eventually, don't worry.

I suppose you have tried transferring him to the cot when he's fast asleep?

And is the cot in your room? Might help to put it there if it's not. Again, cot can go back in his room when he's ready. Don't rush him! At least he's sleeping, after being a wakeful newborn. Thank heaven for small mercies.

[MrsRicheyJames]

As soon as I begin to move him he wakes. So that's a no to transfering him.

No. The cot isn't in our room. That's not a bad idea actually. I'll give that a go. Cheers.

How did yours sleep though the day?

[Elasticwoman]

Well, my first child dd1 slept badly during the day - mainly because I didn't realise they won't just nod off wherever they are after the newborn stage - but she did take naps, only they were unpredictable. Also, she was probably hungry, which I didn't see at the time. When she went on to solids at 5 months or so, she put on 19 oz in a week. She still has a huge appetite and is not a great sleeper.

DD2 was a great sleeper - regular naps morning and afternoon, slept through the night from early on and when she did wake, was easy to settle.

DS (No. 3) Yes, quite good daytime sleeper.

Do you have a garden? A lot of mothers get the baby to sleep in the pram/buggy and then park it in the back garden while they go and have lovely babyfree time in the house. I did that even when it was snowing (pram had weatherproof cover, baby well wrapped up.)

[Jomaja]

A woman from my antenatal group had the same problem and her ds had cranial osteopathy done. Since then he sleeps much better during the day (which he would only do when on walks) and in the night.
Maybe that's something to consider?