Sleep training - how should I do this?

[jennyandfelix]

Hi everyone,

I'm a single mum to a 14 month old. We have a bedtime routine that we stick to (and have done for about 6 months) but he always falls asleep in my arms and then I transfer him to his cot. This does - usually - work well and there's little distress at bedtime.

Tonight I failed to get him to sleep. Our routine was as usual but when it came to sleep he wasn't having it and was writhing and wide awake. He didn't seem tired after 45 minutes of me trying and trying to calm him to sleep, and in my frustration (I have an awful head cold which wasn't helping my patience) I put him in his cot and left him for 2 minutes, then 5, then 10, then 15. By the time I checked in on him at 15 minutes he was asleep. He wasn't crying an awful lot and everytime I went in he was lying down so I think he was tired after all.

We co-sleep mostly, as he wakes in the night and at that point I bring him into bed with me. His cot is in my room so it would be hard to do anything but bring him into bed with me - I think.

I don't know if I should now spend the next week using this sleep training method or revert back to the usual sleep pattern of letting him fall asleep on me. I want to practise gentle parenting and for the most part I think I do well with that, and he has grown up to be a very content and happy young boy. But I'm aware that as he gets older he can't be falling asleep on me every night and on certain nights (like tonight) I find it unbearable.

Does anyone have any advice? As a single mum it can be really tough when your only 'me' time is the hour or two after he's asleep - and that consists of making dinner, eating, washing up and then straight to bed.

[chumbler]

Can you see how it goes? Ie if he falls asleep, great, if not try the 2/5/10 etc

[Queendedede]

Don't panic as it could just have been a one off. See what happens tonight but don't stress before bedtime as he will pick up on it.