starting all over again..

[lilly_kitt]

Hi
Tyler is now 18 months and up until 15 months had never STTN, after 3 nights of sleep training we were getting around 11 hours a night which was blissful.  I was never convinced it was a long term thing as anything seems to upset his sleep patterns (cold, hot, teeth, nursery, food).  So we had 3 months of 11 hour nights and pretty good naps.  Then we went away for two nights, his canines are starting to make an appearance and they've moved him into the older toddler room in nursery.  As a result its like we never sleep trained !!!!
At the moment i'm struggling to find the energy to go through it again, and have resorted to the dreaded bottle.  I know I have to stop this again, I know he can do it.  But he's had soo many things to deal with that it was easier to just get him straight back off (bad mum).  Now its affecting his apetite again, its just a viscious circle.
He has a 8oz bottle and meds before he goes to bed (although i've been struggling to keep him awake after his bottle), he then wakes about 11.30, then again about 3 and was up for the day this morning at 6.  To say i'm knackered is an understatement as am also working full-time and hubs is working nights.  He wakes bright and happy, yesterday he completely refused a nap which is unlike him.  Today he fell asleep in the car so I just gently lifted him into his cot which is where he is at the moment.  I just dont know where to start (again).
 

Sarah
x

[*Becky*]

could you post your routine i.e. wake up, nap and bedtimes for us.
Are you giving him bottles in the night?
Canines can be really tough on lo's - have you tried a df meds in the night?

[lilly_kitt]

Hi

Thanks for the response.
6AM Wakeup
8AM Breakfast
10AM Snack
11(Ish) Nap for 1-1.5 hours
1PM Wake
2PM Lunch
4PM Snack
5.30 Dinner
6.30 Bath, bottle and bed

Originally I was giving him a 4oz bottle when he woke, this has since moved to whenever he wakes first. (i know big mistake).  His apetite is terrible which maybe due to teeth and why he's now waking at night, he has meds before bed and then he had more at 3am (with the 4oz bottle)this morning.  Its all gone wonky, I start the night with the best intentions, when he wakes he refuses to be consoled by tapping him on the back or rubbing, shhhing makes him cry harder.

Sarah
x

[~inbalance~]

Canines did this to us too!    DS1 was a fabulous sleeper for months then when they started it was like back to the begninng.

Definitely avoid restarting bad habits like the bottle.  If you don't think wiwo will be appropriate, what about sleeping on his floor?  This actually worked well for us while DS1 was teething canines as he was just a mess and would not settle, and I did not know what to do.  But by staying in his room it ensured he stayed in his bed, and I got at least a bit of rest.

(((hugs)))

[lilly_kitt]

Hi

I tried sleeping on his floor in the past but he thinks its hilarious and just plays peep a boo with me 
Am going to try and cut the bottle tonight, but as he's not eating great anyway I think some of it may be hunger 
Maybe a bigger nightime bottle, I try and feed him up before bed but he's not a big eater.
xx

[*Becky*]

I agree with Martina. Ditch the bottles although it may be hard to begin with. I would doubt it is hunger waking him unless he really is eating next to nothing.

[~inbalance~]

Even if he is not a big eater, nighttime bottles will only make him less hungry during the day.  I know how frustrating that is though, my boys are not great eaters and DS2 in particular eats next to nothing. 

If being in the room with him is no good and not an option, then I would consider wiwo.  Remember that he will likely be hysterical because it is not what he wants, but that is how he will learn to settle himself.

However, don't get discouraged.  We all hit these blips where it feels like back to square one.  But if he slept well before then I assure you he will again.