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Help moving 10 month old into his own room

3 replies

TwistedBoycey · 12/03/2011 12:55

Hi all,

Hoping to get some advice as we are trying to move our 10 month old son into his own room. He is more than happy to nap in there in the mornings but he still wont sleep long on a night. He plays in there, we get him ready after his baths in there too but doesn't seem to settle on a night.

He has a routine which consists of bath and bottle and then he usually drops off around 9pm. We leave him downstairs with us until we go up to bed around 11pm then transfer him into his cot bed. He usually sleeps for a couple of hours then starts crying. We have tried going in and soothing him which may get him back off but then he'll wake up again and 5 mins later and start again. Unfortunately, for an easier life, we have been giving in and bring him back in bed with us where he sleeps soundly - but we don't!

We're really struggling to get him in his own room and need tips. Should we leave a lamp on - use a baby mobile with lights and sounds? Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Seona1973 · 12/03/2011 15:44

I would start by finishing off bedtime in his room, in his bed rather than leaving him downstairs with you. It must be quite disorientating to fall asleep in one place and wake up somewhere completely different. Once he gets used to falling asleep in his room then he should settle better in there when he wakes in the night. A nightlight could be useful too.

burmesegrumbler · 14/03/2011 22:24

My nine month old has slept in three different countries, six different houses and eight different rooms..the first night is always tricky in a new place, but the key has been to to stick to the same routine wherever we are. We co-slept the first eight weeks, then cot in our room until she was five months and then her own room as I discovered after falling asleep on the sofa one night that she was capable of sleeping through the night if she wasn't disturbed by my nocturnal rustling.

Our routine is teatime no later than 5.30, bath within 40 mins of finishing tea, song on way to bedroom, say night night to something before we enter the bedroom (a picture/cat/daddy/toy), last feed in the bedroom with lights dim for a calm atmosphere, calm book, lights off (no more talking) pat/rub back if wind didn't come up during story telling, cuddle, then stand up still cuddling and pop down in the cot.

I ensure the room is generally very calm, only simple, neutral, plain stuffed toys near the cot, no bright colours/night lights/music. I even keep the monitor out of her sight line as I had found she would focus on the L.E.D glowing in the dark and not be able to switch off and sleep and I had to get rid of the night light at 16 weeks, even now if she spots the little lamp she grins ear to ear, she used to think it was her best friend and would babble at it for hours!

If she doesn't take herself off to sleep when her head hits the mattress after our usual routine, I stand just outside the door and listen to see if she is having a sleepy whinge or a proper cry, but I don't go back in for five mins. If it's just a sleepy whinge I let her continue for up to 10 mins until she quiets down and drops off. If it's full on crying, standing up and sitting up in the cot, then I go back in immediately, left alone for even five mins to cry at this point she gets into such a tizz it takes forever (several hours) to calm her down as it usually seems to mean she is either still hungry or has wind. I pick her up, give her a kiss, but don't say a word or switch the lights on, I sit back down, pat her back gently 50 times or until she stops crying, then pop her back down if I don't feel it's wind or hunger. I keep doing this until she finally gives in and goes to sleep. It has worked very well - although the past couple of nights she has been challenging! I think it does get tricky around 9/10 months when they realise life goes on while they are sleeping and also my DD seems to have a bit of separation anxiety at the moment generally which I think is affecting bedtime too.

Good luck!

jesieb · 15/03/2011 18:54

I agree with pp about routine and consistency at bedtime.

What time does he wake in the morning?
How often and for how long is he sleeping in the day?

He sounds 1- confused and 2- over tired to me.

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