DS2 15mth. Has never really slept well. This is the scenario:
If he has a 1.5-2hr nap in the day (ending before 3pm) he is tired at 6.30, so I give him milk (his only formula of the day) and put him down by 7pm in his cot in a room where his older brother later joins him. Generally he's almost asleep after the milk. This is his last feed until breakfast at 7/7.30am.
He will then wake at 11pm or 1am.
I have tried to resettle in his room (giving him his dummy may be enough). This may work, but only short term and he will wake again 2hrs later at the latest.
If I take him to bed with me he may resettle for the night (until about 6am).
In both cases it is possible and common for him to wake at 1am or 3am and JUST BE AWAKE and unwilling to sleep again for 2 HOURS!!!
Also, if he has a late nap (asleep after 3.30) it can take until 9pm to settle him atall.
I am planning to drop the dummy this weekend. I think when he's coming out of sleep cycles he can't get himself back down without it and needs to learn how to go to sleep on his own.
Am also considering giving him milk at 6.30, then doing book and putting to bed awake and gradually easing myself out of the room so he learns how to go to sleep alone.
What do you all think? ANY OTHER TIPS?