How can I get my 11mo to sleep through?

[cat1struys]

My 11 month old is still waking at night and I'm becoming desperate to get it sorted as I go back to work next week.

He was born with severe reflux and this apparently doesn't start them on a good understanding of sleeping through.

He has two great naps in the day and falls straight to sleep at 7pm.

He eats three large meals a day and has water and snacks throughout.

He has two teeth. I offer granuals each night (just in case!) and Calpol ....probably more than I should... 😏

He has a boob at 630pm and at least one at night (as I feel he still needs one more boob....or perhaps I'm being lazy and know it will get him back to sleep!)

We have been soothing him (going into room, tidying him up, popping Ewan on, leaving) and that can work 2-3 times.

Last night though...omg. He was like Satan. Screaming inconsolably and climbing up our bodies from 1-3 (offered both boobs, it worked until I put him back in his cot). In the end he came into my bed (hubby banished to spare room) where he stayed on boob (but I don't think he was taking milk). When he was in the cot he was all over the place and whacking himself left, right and centre.

I really want the milk-bar to shut on his first birthday and also with going back to work I need sleep.

Does anyone have any experience of what we can do? I'll try most things but not the crying out method....that's not for us and our walls are thin!

Thanking you in advance...

A very tired mummy

[FATEdestiny]

The first thing I'd suggest trying is moving the bedtime breastfeed earlier. Make happen downstairs, before going up to bed and while still in daytime clothes. Use the feed to mark the end of 'daytime' and thr start of 'bedtime'. It needs to not be at the end of bedtime, but at the start.

Then after the feed go upstairs, bath or whatever, into nightwear and sleeping bag and read a book. Then into the cot fully awake.

Then start your in-cot settling. I would not suggest leaving her but it depends on your parenting style. It will be hard work though. Leaning into the cot, patting, shushing, stroking her cheek, constantly lying her back down. Just keep on going until calm. Once calm don't withdraw, stay leaned in with your hand on her chest as she goes from relaxed to asleep and into deep sleep. Only once asleep do you straight up and leave.

Up to you if you just bite the bullet at the night wake and do the same or feed, if you feel it is needed. But try to get her to sleep in the cot not at the breast at this night feed. Personally, I would stop night feeds and do the same at bedtime as night wakes.

It will be very hard work for about a week but then should get quicker and easier to calm her down with in-cot settling.

[cat1struys]

Thank you so much for your advice. He goes to sleep perfectly at 7pm so I'm not worried about that at all. The bedtime routine seems to work at the moment!

Totally agree about stopping the boob and that I need to be cruel to be kind!

Thanks again, really appreciated

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