Different Sleep Methods

[Fuzzled]

I'm hoping that people can give me some advice as to which sleep method seems to work the best so that we can try it on my 9mo DS.
Background is that from about 2.5mo he was sleeping from about 7pm until 10pm (woke for feed) then sleeping through until 6.30am (approx). The only downside was that he had to fall asleep on us; and he wouldn't nap during the day unless he was on someone.
Then we seem to have hit a brick wall. He now has his bath and last bottle and is ready for sleep at 7.30pm, he dozes off on DH (usually) then gets put in his cot. We then have ups and downs throughout the night - and (due to a badly designed house!) this is wearing as we sleep on different floors.
CC is not an option - DH very much against, but I hear differing reports about PUPD etc and am now really confused.
Can anyone give me a summary of the various options and pros/cons? I'm happy to buy books for the full info of what I think might work, but can't really afford a full bookshelf!
Thanks!

[sedgiebaby]

It depends on the baby and on the mum and dad. You would probably not regret buying the No Cry Sleep Solution for ideas you can pick and chose from. I also thought this was an interesting article www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article729117.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1

[Feggy]

Ooh, nice link shame I can't afford a night nanny
Will have a look at the no cry sleep solution - maybe see if local library has a copy before I buy.
Thanks sedgiebaby!

[sedgiebaby]

Oh no its expensive isn't it, but the technique was interesting in that baby is left crying on their own in the dark - I can't stand the thought of that.

[nethunsreject]

ncss is good, yes!

Would you want to co sleep at all? Not for everyone I know. Or put his cot in your room?

Sleep regression at 9mths very common.

[Fuzzled]

Thanks for the link .
I've looked up the book and ordered a copy from Amazon - seems a little less draconian than some of the other methods I've read about.

[Fuzzled]

And yes, cosleeping has become a fixture for the last few nights - starts in his cot, but I we give in at about 2am, as body can't cope with the screams/stairs anymore.
Just very scared that we're setting ourselves up for years of pain!

[nethunsreject]

I don't know any teenagers that sleep with their parents.

Don't worry about the whole rod-for-your-own-back stuff.

[TheresAHuppoInMyHouse]

Hi Fuzzled, no advice, just sympathy .... my DD is 8 months and has been a rubbish sleeper since about 4 months. I reduced her feeds to one a night to see if it helped, but it's been a few weeks of that now and it hasn't really made a difference. Does yours feed overnight?
Cosleeping can reduce the strain while you're struggling for sleep. I find that 'whatever works' is the best way - not worth worrying about future issues, as we have enough to cope with now!

[keithlemonsbackdoors]

Oooh, sounds very familiar!

We tried PUPD (just made DS very very angry!) then CC at 10 months (out of sheer desperation - he was waking at least every 2hrs to BF & was becoming deranged!) It was horrendous & only worked temporarily.

What (touch wood) worked in the end was putting him in his cot awake after bath, feed, story etc and then sitting next to the cot until he falls asleep but NOT PICKING HIM UP no matter what. He did cry to begin with (because he wasn't used to falling asleep by himself) but I could cope with it better knowing that he wasn't scared & alone. Now (19 mths old) he goes to sleep holding my hand (ahhh...) and very rarely cries about it because he knows what to expect.

hth x

[Fuzzled]

No, he doesn't feed after his 7pm bottle, and hasn't since about 5 mo when we began weaning. I have tried offering in case it is hunger but he just pushes the bottle away (mostly - he's very definite about not wanting food/drink).
He has been very quick about learning to crawl/side stagger while holding on, so I guess if he's got all that running round his head it's no wonder he's up in the night!

[MrsHoolie]

If you don't want to do CC and pu/pd doesn't work then google the 'gradual retreat' method. It's explained in the Millpond Sleep Clinic book.

[AngelDog]

9 month sleep regression info here, here and here (there's one at 11 months too).