Hi there, I need some advice and help. My husband is in the military and I'm dealing with this alone.
My baby is now 10 weeks old. At 3 weeks he developed a milk allergy and we struggled to diagnose it. For about four weeks he would scream and flail, as if he had very bad colic that lasted all evening, and then this transitioned to a 24 hour problem. During this time I held him a lot, he only fell asleep in my arms for 45 minute naps (waking screaming from pain) and at night, he fell asleep exhausted on my chest.
When we diagnosed the milk allergy and I removed milk from my diet he improved a lot. However, he got used to falling asleep in my arms and sleeping on the go or on me. I liken it to accidental parenting - I didn't realize how quickly the habit would form.
This week I began to tackle naps - planning to leave the night time sleep issues until I resolve his daytime problems.
He usually falls asleep at 9:45pm and wakes twice (2:15am and 6:15am) to feed at night. Now remember that he's sleeping on me still. At 6:15am I feed him and he struggles with gas, which wakes him up. We feed, change diaper and have light activity, usually sitting in his chair while I get a bite to eat. Then by 7:30am he is ready for bed again. If I let him fall asleep in my arms, he'll go down for 45 minutes, but he fights being put down. Right now he wakes as soon as he's put down, then I soothe him, often have to pick him up and calm him as he starts screaming and flailing. Usually I can eventually get him to go down, but then is only for 45 minutes.
I need some help. Other points to note, we were using a bassinet and I decided that I'd like him to start using his crib for naps now. I'm worried if I don't make this transition at the same time as trying to extend the naps he'll outgrow the bassinet's weight limit before I make progress!
Any advice would be appreciated. Most importantly, should I tackle the nap issues first and then deal with night time sleep. I'm worried that the longer he sleeps on my at night the worse it will be to help teach him something new but I don't want to change his world in one day.