8 month old will only sleep on my chest at night. Any ideas of how I can get him happy in his cot/

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My ds3 has reflux and ever since he was born would only settle propped up on my chest due to pain etc from reflux. Carried him round in a sling all day until 4 months then put him on my chest at night.
I've tried putting him next to me and feeding him to sleep now he's older and reflux is less severe, but he just won't settle and gets annoyed until he's back on me.
He will go down for a sleep on his own in the day now with a bit of crying (am and pm) but night is another matter.
I've started putting him in his cot at bedtime and he will sleep for about 45mins then wake up and scream scream scream until he's back on me.
Has anyone else experienced similar?
I can't do controlled crying through the night at present due to neighbours who are having a difficult time.
I'm really tired, and don't know what to do.
Given that he's been kept so physically close to me all his life it seems a bit mean to be really firm, but maybe I am just being too soft.
Is there any chance he will just get used to his cot in time and stop screaming after the first 45 minutes sleep
Any words of wisdom would be v much appreciated

I know a lot will not agree. I had exactly the same problem with my son. Really bad reflux, only slept upright on me. Until I let him sleep on his tummy. I didn't sleep for days watching him terrified.....but since 3 weeks until now at 14 months he sleeps on his tummy x

Exactly the same here machasma!

DD1 and DD2 both refluxy tummy sleepers. It was the only way they would get any rest.

He's old enough to be fine on his tummy. You could even raise the head end of the cot too?

DS had reflux and slept on us for months. We tackled the 45 non waking by making sure that he had been fully winded before bedtime and put him to bed early but two hours since his last pm nap.

Could you try some kind of gradual retreat? A night or two curled up next to you (instead of on you), a night or two with your hand on his chest (or back if you decide to tummy sleep), a night or two with you holding his hand...

No idea if it would work, but it's what I would try

Thank you all for your posts, much appreciated...

Little man is a tummy sleeper in his cot, I too Sargesaweyes bought an angelcare monitor, which has been a god send as I was really stressed out about putting him on his tummy when he was tiny. Nice to know that I am not alone too on the sleeping on chest front!!

Iggly thanks, I have raised the cot on blocks, and he doesnt' nap after 3pm and goes down at 8....funnily enough he did sleep until 1030 Fri and Sun nights though so that's a step forward from 45 minutes. I just want him to be happy in his cot without having to be too firm if poss Atruthuniversallyacknowledged I think I will have to try something along those lines soon as you suggest, as he's getting too big and heavy to sleep on me now. I think he's just got used to sleeping draped over me and I make a nice warm comforting pillow...less so now though that I've lost most of my pregnancy chubbiness!

Hope your little ones are over the worst of their reflux, and thanks again x

8pm sounds a bit too late - I'd try earlier bedtime for a week or so - 60-90 mins? The 45 min wake could be overtiredness.

Some babies like sleeping on a sheepskin. It envelopes them and it's warm.