10 month old sleep fighter

[mumoftom]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum and having problems with my 10 month old (just turned 10 months on the 22nd August). He has never been a great sleeper. Has been a catnapper from 3 months (and still is). We did some CC about a month ago and his night sleeps have improved out of sight - usually only one wake up.

BUT

He wants to start the day at 4.30 every day. He WILL NOT go back to sleep. I have tried a bottle, rocking, leaving him to whinge etc. No. Our day starts at 4.30am.

AND during the day he fights EVERY sleep. We have a routine that has been in place for months re: the lead up to night night time. We go into his room, shut the door, zip him into his grobag, say night night to some toys, switch the light off, a little lullaby and a rock. But he just fights and fights. He squirms in my arms, cries, bites me. I have to physically restrain him to rock him to sleep. But if I put him in the cot, he screams.

I'm at the end of my tether. I've been doing this for 6 months now and I am well and truly over it. Surely he is old enough to know what "night night" means now?? Should he be able to self settle? I don't know what I am doing so wrong?

When he does sleep, it is usually for 30 mins. Sometimes I get an hour. He is still on 3 sleeps a day because of this and his early rising.

I'm starting to wonder if something is wrong with him? Autism? Something that would make him fight sleep so much.

He eats well, is happy enough whilst awake, is a healthy 10kg and gaining weight.

I'm at a loss. Any suggestions or rays of hope from anyone else who is going through it or been through it would be very much appreciated.

Thank you.

[mellys bubby belly]

Hi mumoftom,

I just wanted to give you many big

I too have a catnapper and I know it's a killer. I don't have any answers for you (hence us heading off to Tresillia sleep school mid-Sept ) but sometimes just knowing that someone else is going thru the same thing can help. And you are NOT doing anything wrong!!! Some bubba's just aren't great sleepers...which doesn't help us poor frazzled mummas...

Sending some big (long!!!) sleep vibes your way...if I get any good suggestions from sleep school I'll try to remember to pass them on!!

[mumoftom]

Thanks so much for getting back to me. It is nice to know I'm not alone!