10 month old problems

[nicelyneurotic]

I have a lovely 10 month old baby but we have never managed to get her into a good sleep routine.

She won't go to sleep until quite late, 10.30-11pm, has to be fed or cuddled to sleep and wakes up a lot (up to 6 times) wanting a feed or a cuddle. I usually take her into our bed for this and transfer her back once asleep.

Have I left it to late to try a baby book like the baby whisperer? I had a look at Gina Ford a long time ago but have been breastfeeding on demand, and it looked too rigid, so it didn't really suit me.

I'd like to avoid controlled crying as it seems a bit mean! I'd also like to give up breastfeeding but she doesn't take much from a bottle so that isn't going very well either.

Help!

I think the book you want is the No Cry Sleep Solution. I haven't read it myself but it's frequently recommended on here as a way to get older babies out of feed-to-sleep habits and into longer spells of sleep alone.

or, if you can bear some controlled crying (checking on the baby every few mins) then have a look at The Sleepeasy Solution which has clear plans to follow.

Baby Whisperer and Gina Ford routines are IMO more about getting young babies into routines and not creating feed to sleep habits in the first place, rather than fixing habits that are already formed (which sounds like your position)

Good luck!

Thanks minipie
Those books sound just the thing, I'll give them a try.

The no cry sleep solution gradual retreat method was a life saver for us.