Hello dear knowledgable mumsnetters -
My 20 month old is what I?ve come to know as a ?high needs baby?. I had a really difficult time with her when she was a little but to be fair, things are a lot easier since she is mobile and able to communicate. I love her dearly but I?m honest in saying that I?m only now starting to enjoy being a parent.
One thing I?m still struggling with is her sleep. We have a set bedtime routine which consists of a bath, story, bottle and bed. Until recently, I have been cradling her to sleep against my chest until she is really sleepy, lay her down in the cot and pat her bum until she?s asleep. I now lay next to her on the bed in her room until she falls asleep (with a lot of fighting) and then move her over. One of the issues is that she just cannot sit/lie still - not even for a minute, thus the reason for the cradling up to now. Having her pass out from exhaustion takes hours and I just don?t have the strength for that most days. Once asleep (usually at about 8), she wakes at 10 exactly. If I?m still up, I?ll enter the room, lay her down and pat her bum until she settles. If I?m asleep, I end up putting her bed with me. I resorted to co-sleeping at 6 months following months of desperation. It helped in that I don?t have to get up to see to her but doesn?t mean she sleeps much better. She wakes approximately every couple of hours for no apparent reason. I?ll lay her back down next to me and most times, she?ll go back to sleep pretty easily.
She?s an intelligent little girl and I?m sure with the right coaxing, I can teach her how to sleep on her own or at least how to fall asleep on her own again. I am not interested in crying it out methods - it?s just not the method for me. Can anyone tell me what worked for them?