My 5 month old only has tiny catnaps during the day. Generally 20-30mins tops. I really wouldn't care that much but then he's super tired all the time and wants to go back to sleep. He just grizzles and obviously needs sleep. So, fine... but then I have to spend even longer than his sleep will be rocking him to sleep.
Why wont he stay asleep?? I'm spending ALL day dealing with him and sleep. I have another child! And an autistic one no less. He is spending all day by himself watching TV FFS!!!!! I'm supposed to be spending time with him teaching him to interact. Not ignoring him all day.
ETA: Oh, I've started trying to teach him to self settle. But that requires teaching him to sleep unwrapped which isn't going super well. And he either grizzles in his cot for ages then starts crying. Or I rock him almost to sleep and try and put him down and he wakes right back up.
I don't know if I should persist with the self settling idea. Maybe he's too young?? Maybe I should be doing it differently, or doing something else?
it's horrible when they won't sleep hun, and incredibly frustrating.
a few things i used to do with ds2 (who was a really bad sleeper) was:
carry him around in a hug-a-bub and let him sleep on me- this allowed him to get used to sleeping for longer periods and not be so over-tired.
put both boys in the pram and walk around until ds2 was asleep and then park the pram under a tree and take ds1 to the playground to spend some one on one time with him
For some reason he hates the sling though. We had a hug a bub but he's too heavy in it now so I use the ergo and he'll sleep in it after resisting just as much as when I'm rocking him, then wake after even less time. Max 20 min sleep in that. I could try carrying him on my back maybe as he gets pretty disturbed on my front when I move around.
I've also done the pram thing but it feels cruel because he has to cry it out in there. Also, we have a P&Ts and his legs barely fit in the lying down mode now so I have to use the sitting up seat for him, but he's too little to sleep sitting up. Ugh. All harder than it should be!
I used to put DD in the sling and start the vacuum cleaner. I think it was around 5 months where she became super alert and overstimulated really easily. The consistant background noise was enough for her to fall asleep. I had the cleanest floors How long has it been going on for? Is it a wonder week? Pixie would also have a period of being unsettled after a massive weight gain because she was feeding up for a growth spurt. To this day if she's going on an eating spree I know she's going to be super tired the following week and it's a lot easier for her to be overtired if I miss the initial tired signs.
The other girls have given some great suggestions. I was also going to suggest background noise. But if he sleeps in his cot for a little bit, maybe put a cd on of a heartbeat or oceans etc anything to drown out the noise. Also try deep breathing when you are holding him to your chest, will help him slow his breathing and relax him.
The rocking chair was my best friend around the same age with DS, could you perhaps take your other son into the room with you and set him up on the floor with some activies so he is at least away from the tv? It might not be as quiet in the room but it doesnt seem like total quiet is working for you bub anyway.
GL and try to remember one day you get through is another day closer to him growing out of it
I don't always shut my older son out but he has no concept of being quiet and bangs and crashes and keeps the baby awake so he's no help. I end up getting cranky at both of them. He's not always watching TV, he'll play really well by himself reading or something but he's not supposed to be by himself so much.
We have just started playing ocean sounds in the room. Hasn't made any difference yet. I'm wondering if he has sensory issues too and maybe a weighted blanket will help.
This has been going on for a while now, but I guess I'm losing it more at the moment as it seems to be getting worse and I'm also on a new diet to try and help so I'm on carb & chocolate withdrawals. thanks for the reminders that it's normal.
My DD is the same. Nothing seems to work.
DS was the same. He would sleep longer in the hug-a-bub when he was little, then nothing worked.
So I just gave up and I'm pretty much ready to give up with DD too now. Unlike DS who really didn't want to sleep, she does and is so grizzly and grumpy most of the day. But just can't sleep longer than 40 minutes tops (20-30 is pretty normal too).
Honestly sometimes I think you just have to wrk around it. You can't spend all day trying to get one child to sleep, you know?
Why wont he sleeeeeepppp?????
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How long has it been going on for? Is it a wonder week? Pixie would also have a period of being unsettled after a massive weight gain because she was feeding up for a growth spurt. To this day if she's going on an eating spree I know she's going to be super tired the following week and it's a lot easier for her to be overtired if I miss the initial tired signs.
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