My DS was very similar. I think he tended to go 3.5 to 4hourly overnight though so not quite as frequent a waker as your DS but we did have nights like you've described. He was the same during the day too - could self settle after going into his basinette/cot awake and could sometimes self settle mid-sleep and roll into the next cycle but not often. He tended to do an initial long sleep in the morning and then a series of 40mins naps all afternoon/evening. By bedtime he was usually overtired from not having a decent nap. We didn't co-sleep.
About a month ago I was tearing my hair out and seriously considering sleep school etc. I tried 'comforted crying' a couple of times during the day to try and help him extend his afternoon naps - staying with him etc. but he got very upset and I couldn't continue doing it. It wasn't working, even with me holding, rocking, singing etc he was awake and he wanted to get up.
In the last fortnight, he has just started to sleep longer both during the day and at night. I am still feeding twice a night but he is going closer to 5 hours between feeds, sometimes a bit longer and sleeping 1.5 to 3 hours for his day naps too. I have no idea why - I'm not doing anything differently to when he was younger except that he is older now. For him, 7 months was the turning point.
I know how hard it is to be in that place where you're trying to decide what the best thing to do is. You want to do the best thing for him, but also for your other kids, DH and of course yourself! Sometimes what's best for one family member isn't always best for others. I used to swing between thinking that he'd sleep longer in his own time and that if he needed comforting at night that was ok (his needs come before mine etc) to thinking "what if he's struggling to learn how to sleep/nap and he needs my help?" and thinking that I couldn't cope for too much longer with the broken sleep. It's really tough to know what to do. In the end I just kept getting him when he woke during the day and feeding him back to sleep at night. Now that we seem to be out the other side and I can see definite improvement, I'm really glad I waited him out and let him do it in his own time.
Just trust your instincts hun. You're an awesome mum and sound like you're doing a great job. Based on my experience (and I am probably biased!) I think you're doing the right thing. As long as you feel you're coping with the broken sleep and the demands on you during the day with your other kids that is. He will get there eventually. I hope it's sooner rather than later. xx
ETA - I found No Cry Sleep Solution, Sleeping Like a Baby and The Wonder Weeks books great for ideas and information.
Last edited by ~Kaz~; October 29th, 2009 at 01:19 PM.
: Adding in books
Although I know it doesn't feel it, LOL.
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