18mo sudden need to sleep in my arms, on my boob, all bloody night long

[likelytoasksillyquestions]

Please tell me this won't last long. :(

He's always been a crap sleeper, waking every hour or two to nurse back to sleep, but usually only a few mins' nursing is enough. More importantly, since he was 11mo he's been happy to sleep beside me, but facing away from each other, not touching.

I am reluctant to move him from my bed or night-wean, and I'm pretty much happy to accept the frequent wakings as a result, but I can't bear the night-long nursing, or the accompanying kicking, squirming, twiddling. The need to bf all night long is reminiscent of his worst teething nights, but I don't think it can be that - he's just finished all his eye teeth and I don't see any other signs that the 2yr molars are on the way already.

I am broken. And irritable. I could cheerfully wrench him limb from limb right now (right now = still effing chewing gently on my nipple).

[likelytoasksillyquestions]

I think this is as much about nursing aversion as anything else, tbh.

There is nobody else to give me a break. And although he's in nursery 5 days a week, which is great, I'm too far behind at uni already to use any of that time to rest or do anything nice.

[redcaryellowcar]

i would suggest you read no cry sleep solution.

[likelytoasksillyquestions]

Thanks. I read it about 6 mths ago and didn't find it especially helpful then, but perhaps it's gained new relevance now, I'll try again.

[DrinkFeckArseGirls]

It's most
Probably a growth spur.

[AndIFeedEmGunpowder]

14 month old DD is doing this too at the moment. Aarghhhh!

[DrinkFeckArseGirls]

Sorry, no solution that I know off

[likelytoasksillyquestions]

Ah, growth spurt could make sense.

I feel v conflicted - in the main I am happy to take his lead in terms of night nursing - atm I am furious and want to stop - but it does feel like now would be a bad time (for him) to do so.
And then once his night nursing is less frantic and needy (if still annoyingly frequent), I don't mind it any more.

[BoffinMum]

At 18 months he can be trained to sleep separately. It takes 3 nights. You basically prepare by buying him a new cuddly toy or pair of Thomas the Tank Engine PJs or something, and explaining this is because he is a big boy and now it's time to sleep nicely in his cot. On the first night have a nice bathtime, quick story, put him in his own cot and say 'night night, time to settle nicely on your own now, mummy off to lounge to relax. Sweet dreams'. Then you walk off and he will start making a fuss. Every time he makes a fuss you pop your head around the door and say Night night, time to settle down now, good boy. Then walk out. You may have to do this 50 times. Stay strong. The next night do the identical routine at bedtime. You might have to pop in 25 times. Use the same script. The third night same routine, pop in 5 times. The fourth night you will think 'he's been quiet all night!' In the meantime just for those days nap regularly for 2 hours to catch up a bit with sleep.

[BoffinMum]

PS if you have a separate space to sleep that will help too.

[DrinkFeckArseGirls]

Know of and off

[Suchanamateur]

18 month sleep regression. Hopefully will pass for you soon. I won't tell you how long mine has lasted...!

[likelytoasksillyquestions]

'Sleep regression' is a cruel cruel joke for a child who has never bloody slept to begin with.

Go on, do your worst. How long?!

[Suchanamateur]

Well. From about 16 months to 18 months it was pretty naff. 18 months till now (21 months) has been absolutely awful and still is. We have done everything 'right' according to the books (including a few bouts of sleep training) and she still is awful.

I know lots of people who had wonky (or even wonkier than usual) bits around this age and theirs tended to settle within a couple of weeks. DD is obviously broken. As am I.

[likelytoasksillyquestions]

Blimey. I hope you are both less broken soon. And I hope mine doesn't go the same way as yours.

[Suchanamateur]

He won't! I have come to the conclusion that DD is a freak peculiarly gifted [hmmm].