Hi all,

I'm new to this forum, so 'hello'!

My DS is 2 weeks off being 12 months old. He is incredibly active, verging on hyperactive at times! He has just started walking, is very 'chatty' and extremely 'busy'.

The problem is...he is a NIGHTMARE to get to sleep (day and night). He is still breastfed (usually loooves the boob) and has basically almost always been fed or rocked to sleep (have tried NCSS techniques, but we can't get past being fed to 'drowsy' state and rocked to almost asleep, then into cot). During the day, I also use the pram or the car to get him to sleep!

Despite having a bedtime routine, I CANNOT get him to 'wind down'. He just gets really hyperactive and progressively more overtired (usually is still v happy despite being red eyed from tiredness). He sometimes gets sleepy during books, yawns, I feed him, then all of a sudden, he sits bolt upright, laughing, excited, very happy and ready to play (although clearly overtired??). Its like the milk gives him more fuel to keep going??

I've tried putting him down at first signs of tiredness. Doesn't seem to work. Tried waiting till he is really tired. That doesn't seem to work either.

Most of the time I have to try 2 or 3 times to get him down (30-60 mins between attempts). Bedtime ended up being 10pm at one stage.

I'm trying him on only one day sleep at the moment and that helps in an earlier bedtime, yet it is still very difficult. He then wakes on average every 3 hours during the night - I feed him, then rock (just a few mins usually).

I'm tired. I constantly stress about how to get him to nap and sleep. I dread bedtime. I'm paranoid that everyone thinks I've created my own monster because I refuse to CIO and because I'm still feeding him so frequently. I'm doubting myself and my ability. To be honest, I'm feeling a bit 'trapped' as I am not going to budge on letting him cry, yet, I'd really like to NOT spend my whole existence trying to get him to sleep! I don't know what to do next.

Any suggestions, explanations or just words of support would be much appreciated!

Thank you!