Pre-midnight:
1. Put him in his crib. Try the lullaby and rocking when he starts to complain (ie straight away). Pick him up when he screams.
2. Repeat step one for either as long as I am able or until he screams the second he goes in.
Post midnight:
3. Jiggle, sway and lullaby/ssshing - keeps him quiet if nothing else. For up to half an hour.
4. When asleep/almost asleep put in crib, keeping with lullaby for 5 mins. Pick up if crying and awake. Until I can't stand any more (2-3 attempts).
5. Try feeding again.
6. See if he'll stay asleep in my arms if I lie down in bed - if he wakes, try feeding in bed, try up to 3 times (with up to half-hour of jigging and lullaby in between).
7. See if it's a light issue - will he feed to sleep with the light on?
8. If that hasn't worked then chances are it's getting up time anyway, give up altogether and go into kitchen and make drink for me and DH. Watch DS grin at me for half an hour before falling asleep.
He does get some light, fitful sleep at night but I don't and I find it impossible to sleep during the day so am just supertired after a brief nap once DS does sleep. Please note I also have a very bad back from the car accident a while ago.
I found that getting up 15 mins before Erynn is due to wake and giveing her a night feed is the best way of doing it. I was doind a dream feed at 10pm but then she would want another feed at 2am so we have been waiting til 12am then she wants another feed at 4am which we have been gradually pushing out by 15mins. DH and I have a book that we write down the times of her feeds and have used it ever since we bought her home from the hospital. Its great because it allows me to see any patterns which are emerging. Erynn feeds 3 to four hourly during the day but her bath and bottle is always between 5.30 and 6.30. I have also noticed that keeping her up for more than an hour was making things worse. Erynn is back in bed after 45mins and she self settles and snoozes for a couple of hours at a time. Just remember that keeping a little one up for over an hour can be too much for them. I read an article in a magazine that said sleep begets sleep.
Ryn,
How much sleep does he get during the day then and how much sleep over a 24 hour period? Does he have anything wrong physically/medically ie. windy tummy, reflux/colic which might be keeping him awake? Also, is he getting adequate feeds during the day to ensure he is ready for a long stretch of sleep at night?? My MIL would suggest to you starting solids at his age to help him sleep/settle (1tsp rice cereal a day, gradually increase). I am going to start my 3mth old on this soon despite recommendations to start at 4-6mths. Being a boy, I think they need HEAPS of food as they grow so fast. They "used" to start solids at 3mths or when baby reached 10pounds+ when I was a kid. Who knows, it could be worth considering for your boy.
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