Can't cope!

[BiffleRoo]

DS (20 months) has never been a good sleeper. We had over a year of waking anywhere between every 20 minutes - 2 hours at night.

He finally settled into a routine of sleeping through from 1900-0400, taking a feed, then going back down until 0600/0700 which was AMAZING!!

Just before Xmas it all went to pot and he is back to waking every 30/40 minutes. His milk intake through the night has gone through the roof and I'm exhausted.

I have 2 other children and am 6 months pregnant. DH has been away since beginning of January so I am doing this on my own and I'm completely broken.

I don't agree with controlled crying/cio methods. He won't settle if we do sleep. He isn't cold/hot/wet/ill/hungry .... What do I do?!?!?!?!

[Lost27]

No tips but I feel your pain. Dd o's 4 months and so far this evening has let me sleep for 15 mins. She wakes up every 5 or 10 mins wheb I put her down. Tbf I can't complain as this is the first time she has ever been this bad but so so tired. Just want an hours sleep !

With my ds we did use cry it out technique when he was 6 months after we knew he was not hungry etc. Only took about a week and then he slept through and has been the most perfect sleeper ever since.

[crispiecrunchie]

Hello Roo, I'm also up just now as both mine are awake! I'm far from an expert and you will be well aware of this but at 20 months I think he should be physically fine to go all night without a feed. Is it possible to have dh settle him for a few nights instead. It would be tough but I guess it's not sustainable if you'll soon have another to feed.

What have you tried so far? That might help others give you advice.

[crispiecrunchie]

Hey lost my five month is the same though he slept from ten until quarter to one tonight so I feel positively refreshed. My 2.5 year old who is usually a fairly good sleeper now us awake chatting

[Eminybob]

Lots of sympathy to you. I feel the pain of your sleep deprivation, although mine is because of my own insomnia. (I actually slept better when DS was waking often )

Anyway, DS is a similar age to yours and although generally a good sleeper does wake occasionally in the night. I haven't given him milk in the night for coming up to a year now, but when he does wake I either gently rub his back until he falls back to sleep, or cuddle/rock him. Have you tried other methods of getting him back off that don't involve milk? He might stop waking once he stops getting milk when he does.

[BiffleRoo]

Thanks for the replies. Have tried not giving him milk but he just screams and to be honest I'm just going for the path of least resistance at the moment just to catch 20 minutes sleep here and there. DH is away so can't help at all and have no family nearby.