How can I get my 16 week old ds to sleep and stay asleep?
Over the last month or two he's been increasingly difficult to settle at night. Took about 35 mins tonight, he then slept for 45 mins and then rewoke and took another 35 mins to settle. Have tried pretty much everything to try to set the scene for sleep - bathtime/bedtime routine since about 6 weeks. Using dummy to try to settle but often spits out. Swaddling still and room v dark/ quiet. He's the same during the day with naps and appears to be constantly tired and rubbing eyes. I resort to doing 2 hour walks with him during the day which is fine if weather ok but it's beginning to get a bit insane if we want to do something other than go for ridiculously long walks! He's defniitely not hungry as usually fed fairly close prior to putting down to bed/ nap.I know I should be putting him down before he gets overtired but I find it really hard to identify this window (if it actually exists). I think he's just now constantly overtired and therefore can't break the cycle.
I've heard about the sleep cycle and tried stirring him prior to the 45 min mark (sometimes he wakes before this anyway so often difficult to pre-empt when sleep cycle is going to end).
Really getting me down now as I have visions that this will last for months and months. Please tell me they grow out of it!....
Have tried the PUPD technique although don't really understand it (?!) and didn't seem to work the few times I tried. I know I need to get him to "self settle" but I just can't seem to work out how I do this other then letting him cry??