I'm tired after 23 months of not having an unbroken night and I really want to change them, especially as we are trying for our second baby.
I wondered if anyone had suggestions.
Currently (for the last few months) a usual night for our 23 month old son is to sleep from c.7.30pm through till c.5am and then take a milk feed (in a bottle), mostly going back to sleep till 7-8am. So I know it doesn't sound awful, but often I don't go back to sleep at 5am and that wears me down. Plus the frustration of feeling that our son shouldn't really need a 5am feed. It seems just a crutch.
More often than not though he also wakes between midnight and 2am if teeth are troubling him and he does seem to suffer quite a lot. And then crying can go on for 1-3 hours. During which time we make sure he's ok, give calpol if need be and then basically leave him, going in if things escalate.
He has always been good at settling in his cot on his own (he loves his bed and will often ask to be put in it when tired). He naps well in the daytime (one nap for two hours after lunch).
I wonder 2 things... First whether I should cut down the lunchtime nap (he would happily sleep for 3 hours if I let him but I stopped that because he was starting not settle to sleep in the evening). And secondly, obviously going cold turkey and refusing to offer him milk till 7am. I just worry that he and I will both be knackered if I do that.
I suppose I'm answering my own question in many ways but I was after any moral support from people who've been through similar things, or other suggestions as to what might work. We've always been pretty no nonsense about nights and very consistent - controlled crying, stay in the cot etc - but as he learns to speak I am finding it increasingly difficult to be tough - cries of 'Mummy, Daddy' make me feel like I am deserting him when he needs me... Arrrrgh! The guilt of parenthood... I'd value any input.
Thanks so much