Sleep going from bad to worse. PLEASE help.

[LetThereBeCupcakes]

My 5MO has never been a great sleeper. I posted last week asking for help but things are just getting worse and worse. It's taking 2+ hours every night to settle him to sleep and he's sleeping for a shorter and shorter time before he wakes again. Last night I finally got him to sleep at 8.20pm. He woke up again just before 9 and the whole process starts again. I'm exhausted but I dread bedtime as I just can't take it any more. I've left my husband upstairs with him and DS is just sobbing and sobbing. Nothing stops him. HV has been useless and just keeps telling me to wean him. PLEASE tell me how to get my baby to sleep. He's exhausted and I feel such a failure for not being able to give him what he needs.

[LetThereBeCupcakes]

I'm breastfeeding. We co-slept until DS was 5 weeks as he would only sleep on me. Have done it again for the past 2 nights out of desparation but I find it very isolating as DH has to sleep elsewhere ( he is a heavy sleeper and ones around a lot so doesn't feel safe co-sleeping) I am in DS' room with him - the cot is pushed right up next to the bed so he can see me. I usually sleep with my hand through the bars so he can hold it.

I have no idea what's causing this. From when he was 5 weeks until the last couple of weeks he went off brilliantly - self settled and everything. He woke 2-3 times per night for feeds but always went straight off again after. He started waking more frequently about a month ago but still went off OK. Now I can't even get him to sleep. I don't know if it's normal. I definately can't go on much longer like this.

[LetThereBeCupcakes]

Sorry - DH moves around a lot

[BonaDea]

Is he sleeping enough during the day! He sounds like he could be over tired and so not falling into a good deep sleep at bed time.

If necessary push him in the pram or drive him round to make sure he is having two good naps (or maybe two short and one long) each day. You won't have to keep doing that forever just til you break the cycle of over tiredness....?

Others may be along with other ideas!

[LetThereBeCupcakes]

We have always had similar issues during the day, bona. I often walk for miles with DS and the dogs or drive around, but he rarely sleeps for longer than 30 minutes at a time, usually 3 times a day. His not sleeping in the day never seemed so bad when he went off OK at night!

[PoppyWearer]

Don't forget that it is hotter and lighter in the evenings at the moment - I've had an awful time getting my almost-2yo DC2 to sleep tonight. An hour or so of moaning and he has just nodded off, but I expect he'll wake again soon.

Hopefully it's a temporary thing. I remember 5mo with my two DCs being very tough.