crawling ruining naps & driving me insane !!

[verytired]

DS has just started trying to crawl and now there is no stopping him. The problem is that he tries to crawl while he is asleep. He usually falls asleep as soon as I put him in the crib. Then he rolls onto his stomach and 30-45 minutes later the crawling starts. He usually ends up in a corner of the crib, half awake & very frustrated. I go in & re-settle him and we keep doing this over and over again. I think all this activity is also making him very hungry at night - he woke up to eat 3 times last night. He is 6.5 months old & usually BFs 4 times during the day+1 DF+ 1 night feed. I am letting him practice his crawl as much as possible when he is awake hoping that he will just exhaust himself before bedtime/naps, but its not working.
I have heard that this fairly common but i just wanted to know how long this will last. I have a full time job and the sleep deprivation is killing me!!! Someone please tell me this ends soon 

[Vicku]

Oh, bless him, he's really keen isn't he?
We had the same for a while, and it does pass as they get more used to crawling. However (I don't want to scare you or make you feel worse now...but) it's the same when they start pulling up to standing. The important thing to ensure sleep doesn't suffer in the long run is how you deal with those wakings. I know it's frustrating and tiring, but you're doing the right thing by going in, lying him down again and resettling him, showing it's sleep time not play time.
Be careful with night feeds though. Are you sure he is hungry 3 times at night, or could he be using the bf to help calm him down and go back to sleep?? If you genuinely think he's hungry, mabe you're right it's the increased activity, or a growth spurt. In that case it'd be better for him, and you, if he caught up the extra feeding in the day. Is he on solids now too? Could you try increasing the calories he gets during the day to try and reduce the night feedings?

[Sarah - Enfys' Mum]

It gets better!  But like pp said, make sure you don't fall into any AP traps in the meantime. 

[shelliz]

Hi there and HUGS!

 What an early crawler you have there   It will get better.  He has to master those skills you know and what better place to do it than a squishy crib mattress   I totally agree on not falling into the AP trap. Up his calories during the day if needed and try to keep on with things as you have been doing.  The wakings will slow down again (and then pick up when he starts pulling up and walking )   Months from now you will look back in amazement that it has all FLOWN by!