Mobile Baby

[yorkshire]

My 9 month old boy is now finding it hard to go to sleep at some nap times I think as a result of his new mobility skills.  I still use a firmly tucked in blanket to keep him secure as this seems to help him sleep but not sure if I should stop now he is moving around.  When he is having one of these type of episodes, he pulls himself to sitting or onto his tummy and seems to get stuck and cries. I have been going in and putting him back on his back and re-tucking him in and although it often makes him cry a lot he finally (usually) goes back to sleep though sometimes I have to stay there with my hands resting on his knees.  If I just leave him to move around he doesn't seem to be able to go to sleep, he just keeps crying/mantraing.  Am I doing the right thing putting him back down or should I just leave him?

[Caroline-Charlies Mummy]

Hello,

I remember this stage well, it's so frustrating.

Tbh, I think you just have to ride it out. The best advice I got was to use as much A time as you can to practice, practice, practice his new skills. This should hopefully make this stage go a bit faster.

It sounds like what you are doing is the right thing - going in and reassuring. The hands resting on him sounds good - if it's helping him to go back to sleep, all well and good, b/c you don't want him to get out of his sleep pattern, then set himself up for a dose of overtiredness.

One thing though, I'm not too sure what you mean about the firmly tucked in blanket, but it's possible that you should re-think this, now he is mobile. If there's any chance that he could shuffle around and get himself stuck, worst of all get his head stuck, then it's not worth the risk. Have you tried a sleep-sack, or even just some really warm pyjamas/footed onesie?

[yorkshire]

Thanks very much.  Maybe I will try losing the blanket.