First post after reading tons of wisdom over the last 2 years.
My son is now 2 and 2 months and still can’t fall asleep himself. Every single night I have sat with him on my knee and breast fed / held him til he fell asleep then transferred him to his own bed once deeply enough asleep. It takes on average 2 hours, sometimes 3. If he wakes when I move him he won’t resettle and we have to start again. Now he’s older he often doesn’t fall asleep on the breast - once he’s ready he just lies quietly on my knee til he nods off.
He just will not let me put him in his cot awake. He stands up and screams the house down. I have never tested how long this could go on as I’ve always given in and picked him up first, but he has done easily 45 mins with me in and out, or 15 mins on his own.
We’ve never done real sleep training properly. I’ve tried bits and pieces from Sarah Ockwell smith and Elizabeth Pantley but never got anywhere with the gentle methods - essentially unless he is in a totally deep sleep so he has no idea he’s being put in his cot, he wakes up and screams. He’s got good language now so he understands what is said but will not accept he should lie down quietly and try to sleep in his own cot.
We’ve tried talking about it and reading books like good night moon and pointing out when book characters go to sleep in their own beds. He seems to get that but doesn’t accept it should apply to him.
However it’s not all bad. Once he’s down he does now sleep through most nights. But I really need to be able to do something with my evenings other than his bedtime. I’d really appreciate any ideas!
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Sleep
2 year old has never put himself to sleep
33 replies
Carolinaa · 14/08/2021 22:34
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