Non-CIO moms, I need advice.

What did you/do you do when DC will not go to sleep?

DS has been regressing as far as sleep is concerned. He used to be a HORRIBLE sleeper, wake up 4-8 times a night, only go down by nursing to sleep, etc. Then my DH was on vacation for a week so he put him down for every nap & bedtime for that entire week (he walks around while cradling him in his arms) and DS turned over a new leaf. After that week it would only take 10 minutes to nurse him to sleep, as opposed to the 40 minutes to an hour PLUS it took before He would wake up once in the middle of the night to nurse, which he's always done so I was fine with that.

Now, 2 months later, he's picking up his old habits again. Some nights he just doesn't want to go to bed, and no amount of nursing, rocking, walking around, or laying down with him will help. Tonight was literally almost 2 HOURS I got so frustrated that I moved the PNP into our bedroom (we co-sleep) and let him cry for 15 minutes because he was so overtired and I couldn't deal with it anymore. He fell asleep standing up in the corner, so I went in, picked him up and laid down with him for 10 minutes and he went right out.

How do you deal with this? He's waking up to nurse around 4:30 or 5am still, but now he won't go back to sleep by nursing. He wants to stay up and play, and I don't know what to do. He needs more sleep, I need more sleep, and I need my sanity back.

ETA: I really, really don't want to do CIO. I feel bad enough about letting him cry for 15 minutes tonight! I'm fine with co-sleeping for another year or so, but I don't want him in our bed forever either. We're starting to TTC very soon, and I don't want 2 babies in our bed!

Message edited 5/17/2011 9:01:29 PM.

Re: Non-CIO moms, I need advice.

bump

Re: Non-CIO moms, I need advice.

I just learned to live on less sleep I guess. She slept with us so if she wanted to be awake, fine.. just be quiet LOL

Seriously there was a stretch of time we all woke up at 5am because she was up. We just all became serious about naps. Even the adults. Food prep etc suffered most. No fancy thought out dinners, what is the fastest easiest we can eat was the goal. SLEEP was the only priority.

We made it boring. If she was up outside 'sleep' time fine.. but it won't be 'fun' it won't be rewarded. It was hushed and boring. It didn't put her back to sleep but it was a serious difference.

Just took time.

Re: Non-CIO moms, I need advice.

We bought this book b/c a friend of DH's recommended her. It didn't work for us, but it's totally worth a shot!!