Day Sleeps

[Hoody]

Honestly i have no real advice. My DD2 is 6 months and for the first 3 i really struggled i too have a 2 yo so am hearing you on them wanting attention too. With my DD once she hit 3-4 months she really settled and now i cant believe how good she is iykwim. I just thought i'd pop in and tell you- your doing a great job and things will settle down. I did find that wearing my DD in a sling was a great help when i couldnt put her down and my 2yo needed me to.

[~Trish~]

It's so frustrating isn't it?! They do grow out of it, but who knows when! My 7 month old still has trouble sleeping past the first sleep cycle some days. We still have good and bad days. My first DS was 6 months old when he sorted himself out.

A trick that I found worked with DS2 - He sleeps in 40 minute cycles so I would go in a couple of minutes before his cycle was about to finish and watch him. As soon as he stirred (not cried, he would do a little sigh and a stretch) I would pat him on his tummy (I kind of ducked down so he couldn't see me LOL) for around 60 seconds, then I would leave. Sometimes went back to sleep, sometimes he wouldn't. The first time I tried it he slept a total of 1 hour and 45 minutes so I was pretty happy!

Just know it is really common. Babies go into lighter sleep at around 40 minutes into their nap and sometimes need help settling back to sleep. I know how much harder it is with two kids!

Best of luck

[Abbys Mum]

Thanks for that, I'm glad I'm not alone.

[Ezz]

oops posted twice!

[Ezz]

It really does get better!! I worked on getting DS to self-settle from the time he was 3 weeks old, but he really only "got it" consistently when he was 3 months old. I set up a sleep routine (wrapping, dummy, soft music, dim light, etc) & I encouraged him to self-settle. I would give him the dummy & pat him until he was calm, then walk out of the room. I would go back in if he cried & do the patting/dummy thing again. I kept doing this until he fell asleep (then would do it again in 40 mins to re-settle him if he woke up). You need to persevere with it - they do get it eventually. Partly I think it's just a developmental thing though - they won't do it until they are ready (but they won't do it at all if you don't teach them the skills - but that's just my opinion & experience ).

Have a look here and here to see the threads about my DS.