I have a 7 mo who hates sleeping. He fights sleep for every nap and at night (and also some of the night wakings).
I can't sleep for longer than 3 hours in the night (from 11pm to 7am), or relax for longer than half an hour for the rest of the day.
DS is very active and it seems that his brain never turns off, hence the problem to fall asleep. He only sleeps in the baby carrier, and moans loudly before finally falling asleep. Lately he's been kicking as well, so I had to tie a pair of pajamas trousers around my waist and hold his legs (he doesn't seem bothered). Talk about containment.
I've tried to leave him to fall asleep by himself. If not held, he just moves and moves, sits up, laughs and it can last for hours. Over 3 hours, I've tried. He gets desperate and after that time he needs to feed and ends up sleeping on the boob.
Never did controlled crying and will not do.
I think it's a matter of his brain working overtime, very very agitated all the time. It's like living in a sleep regression, and appears to be getting worse. I don't know how to help him relaxing.
He goes to sleep at 7:30pm but still wakes several times until about 11pm - then he only wakes to feed, also a good few times. Sometimes he wakes crying or screaming. Apparently is not wind.
I do all the night routine, bath, low lights, light music. Sometimes it helps and he sleeps in 15 minutes in the baby carrier in a good day. Only to wake up again some time later.
Doesn't sleep for longer than 40 minutes in a nap. I followed Elizabeth Pantley advice and stayed by his side at the end of the sleep cycle, patting him and so on, so he could go from one sleep cycle to the other without waking. Worked for a few days, and he slept for 1 hour and a half a couple of times. Not anymore.
Any suggestion? Any sympathy? God, it's frustrating.