Hello world,
I am a relatively new mum – Axel is 6 months old this week. My major issue is sleep. My darling is a night-waker and I am sure I have contributed to this problem by not making him 'go thru the night' without feeding him. I guess this stems from when he was very new and cried A LOT all the time. At six weeks I was at breaking point and finally buckled to the pressure from two 'super Grannies' (my mother and her close friend) who were helping me settle Axel, by settling him on his tummy (believe me, I am well aware that this is not recommended by SIDS people, and I have always been nervous about it, but as he was very active and strong, he seemed already able to hold his head up a little at this age, so I just rolled with it and he has been settling on his tummy ever since). Most times I can get him to settle quickly during the day, often on his own now, but sometimes with help still. At night, though, it can take anything from 10 minutes to 90 minutes to get him to sleep and sometimes now he will sleep from 7.30pm to 1.00 or 2.00am, then thru till 5.00am, at which time he is resettled until 6.00am. Then other times he will wake at least four more extra times during the night and I will have to resettle him. My plan is to cut out the 1.00/2.00am feed all together, and use PU/PD to resettle him. I am concerned, though, that I will have to pick him up from his tummy, then turn him over into a cradle hold, then turn him over again when I put him down. I've decided now, that Axel needs to learn to go to sleep on his back and resettle on his back, so he will not wake up when he rolls over at night. But he has NEVER slept on his back for more than 45mins since he was one week old and it seems to really frighten him to do so. I am worried that I will create a trauma if I force him to sleep on his back? Is there anyone out there who can help me! I have not had more than 3 or 4 hours sleep in a row since he was born and I am wondering if it will go on forever.
Sorry the entry is so long
Karen