My ds is a somewhat rubbish sleeper at night at the best of times but tonight he seems to have decided that he WILL NOT SLEEP. We've been trying since 7pm to get him off and he is still awake. He's dreadfully tired but is just resisting sleep. Just when I think he's dropped off he jerks himself upright and thrashes around. This happens however I try and get him to sleep. I'm currently downstairs watching telly as I was beginning to go mad upstairs in the dark. He's playing happily with a toy whilst sat on my lap. I have run out of ideas...anyone up and got any thoughts?!! What if he never falls asleep again???
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.
Sleep
CabbageLooking ·
03/01/2013 02:14
No advice but I'm up too! DS has a bit of a cold and just keeps waking himself up. He'll go back to sleep in my arms but will wake again after a few minutes in the cot. 
Are you sharing a room with DS? If he's quite happy can you just ignore him or is he too noisy?
exBrightonBell ·
03/01/2013 02:22
He's not happy when he's thrashing around - if I leave him he gets more and more irate. 
He only seems to be happy playing, even though he's clearly exhausted. I wish I knew more ways of trying to help him sleep. The longer this goes on the more I worry that tomorrow will be a disaster as well.
Thanks for the reply - I thought I might be on my own at this hour!
OP posts:
TeaandHobnobs ·
03/01/2013 03:00
When DS does this (thrashing about preventing himself from dropping off, even though he is clearly exhausted), I lie next to him and hold his arms down (gently but firmly) either side of his head in a "surrender" position. That together with white noise and tapping a heartbeat rhythm of his chest helped finally get him off on Christmas Day when he would just. Not. Go. To. Sleep.
Hope he gives up eventually - it's killing, isn't it?
Eggsmummy ·
03/01/2013 03:14
Hi! A nursey friend of mine once told me that they jerk themselves awake when they're overtired, as my 2yr old has always done it! Now when she does it i just wrap a blanket around both of us on the sofa so that she is still, then she seems to give in, then i put her bed wrapped in the same blanket when she eventually drops off. Having said that i'm currently waiting for her to fall asleep in her own bed as i can't sneak her downstairs anymore! She used to be a good sleeper until the cot had to go... 
Please create an account
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.