Hi all
I was wondering if you could give me some help in getting my five month old son to sleep please?
Since his colic passed at eight weeks, I think it is fair to say that my son has always been a good sleeper however it's the getting him to sleep that is the problem....!
I make sure that he has a set bedtime routine ie bath, books, quiet time and looking for sleep cues. However, the minute I put him in his cot he starts yelling even if he is bone tired. Conscious that I don't just leave him, I started rubbing his tummy and sshhing him to help him sleep. I can be there for up to half and hour doing this before he drops off into deep slumber and on the odd occasion that I think that he's away and have crept out of the room- I've paid for it and had to come back in as he starts up again and ends up screaming and making an awful choking and coughing sound. It's so frustrating as when he is asleep, he never wakes up and takes his dreamfeed in his sleep as intended. I'm not really sure how to proceed with this as I'm worried that I'm becoming a prop and introducing accidental parenting habits- is this right?
The other thing I wanted t ask is regarding naps. My son only sleeps for 45 minutes, usually three times a day. I have tried and tried to get him to sleep after the initial 45 minutes but it doesn't work - the only thing that has worked is trying to keep his arms close to his body as he wakes from his first sleep cycle and to help him into his second sleep cycle. However I have only had success from this once. He is sometimes grumpy after his naps and sometimes not- should I just accept that for him that long naps aren't that much of a necessity?
To let you know a little bit more- here's some info regarding my LO:
6.15 wakes and plays in cot for 15 mins
6.30 drinks 8oz formula
8.15 sleep
9.00 wakes and has porridge and then activity
11.00 drinks 8oz formula
12.00 sleep
12.45 activity
3.00 drinks 8 oz formula
4.00 sleep
4.45 wakes and eats veggies and then activity until
6.00 bedtime routine starts, milk followed by bath, massage, books, lullabies and put in cot
7.45 asleep hopefully (after up to 30-45 mins of settling)
11.00 dream feed given by husband
He is also a big boy weighing 20 lbs at 23 weeks.
Am I hoping too much from him regarding settling to sleep at night and duration of naps? I compare him to other friend's sons of the same age (which I know I shouldn't!) and they seem to settle without many problems.
Please help!!! I am beginning to dread anything to do with sleep!!!!!
Many thanks
Jo
