So we had ELEVEN wakings between 8pm and 6.30am...

[TheKitchenWitch]

and I need to do something, this is not good for anyone.
Ds2 is 9mo. He's never been a solid sleeper, catnaps during the day and numerous wakings through the night.
But since he's crawling and walking (holding on), the nights have got immeasurably worse. Every time he turns onto his stomach, he pushes himself up and then gets up, holding the side of the cot and crying.
Cannot settle himself, so I either rock or bf him back to sleep.
He definitely wants to sleep though.
During the day he's happiest being carried or, conversely, being given free reign to explore. Playpen is tolerated for only short periods of time.
I cannot let him cry, so any suggestion of just leaving him to settle is out of the question. I want to show him he can just get comfy on his tummy like he used to!
I've got the Elizabeth Pantley book but tbh don't have the energy to read it at the moment.
Any ideas, tips or advice gratefully received!

[FATEdestiny]

Firstly - stop counting. It's doing you no good to keep track.

Many babies need to learn that in order to sleep, they need to be still. This is particularly important in the ages where babies learn to crawl/stand/walk. Just because he can do these skills does not mean the cot is the right time for them.

I used to use the 'firm hand in chest/shoulder/back' method. So settling baby to sleep in the cot, but staying right there next to the cot reassuring to sleep. The firm hands help them learn to be still. Any wriggling out from my hand would result in me lying baby back down and re-settling.

A tightly tucked in blanket achieves much the same effect to pin down a wriggly older baby.

Stopping breastfeeding or rocking to sleep and instead doing all settling in the cot (with you there obviously, not leaving him alone) will be key to teaching him to go to sleep independently.

[TheKitchenWitch]

I'd started the log as that's what it says in the book, I think to help form a strategy (or something).

He cries and cries if i don't pick him up, and then he wakes up properly. But I agree, he needs to realise he doesn't have to start moving!

I'm going to sleep in his room tonight (having him in ours hasn't made any difference, I just end up bfing him to sleep) and as soon as I hear him stirring I'll try shushing and putting my hand on him. I'm hoping if I'm there I'll be able to get him before he's on his knees.

Ds1 was nothing like this, I mean, he'd wake in the night but not every bloody hour!

[TheKitchenWitch]

Aha! HAHAHA! Just woke up (9pm) and I managed to settle him again by just shushing and doing the hand thing!
THERE IS HOPE AFTER ALL!
fingers crossed for the rest of the night....

[FATEdestiny]

"the book"

I cant imagine what benefit any book considers there being in knowing how many times baby wakes. Pointless task that will just make you feel worse.

In actual fact while you are dealing with multiple wake-ups, deliberately and consciously not keeping track is far better for your sleep. I would remove clocks so that you don't know times or lengths of wake ups. Certainly don't count number of grumblings in the night. Must be awful for your own sanity in the night and the quality of your own sleep.

He cries and cries if i don't pick him up

He could do with something to suck. Dummy?

[AnnaT45]

What time do you put him to bed? My daughter did this and I read a lot about it. It seems she was overtired so I out her to bed at 5.30 and she slept through! Couldn't believe it! It seems counter intuitive but give it a try perhaps?

[TheKitchenWitch]

I've just got the No Cry Sleep Solution, and from dipping into it she suggests keeping a log so that you can see what the problem is and when it occurs, which should help with developing a strategy to deal with it.
The keeping log thing is not a problem, it's actually been quite helpful as I can see a bit of a pattern developing.
Anyway, I slept in his room last night and did the shushing/hand thing as soon as he stirred and it worked! Not every time, but more often than not. And he then slept for a longer block afterwards (3 or 4 hours according to my log) rather than waking again after an hour.
I shall continue tonight!

He won't take a dummy, I've offered him one but he chews it (both ends) and treats it llike a toy. Tbh, I'd rather not invest time getting him to take one now as I suspect I'd have a bugger getting him off it! Plus I can see myself being woken throughout the night whenever he couldn't find the blasted thing

yy to putting him to bed earlier too - if for some reason it gets a bit later, he's definitely worse in the night. Between 6.30 and 7.00 seems to be ideal.

[Thattimeofyearagain]

Good luck for tonight .