Sleep Problems with 5 month old...can you help??

[racheeeee]

I am having some terrible sleep problems with my 5 month old son and I was looking to see if anyone could give me some help or advice....

Since coming back from a trip to America we have been having TERRIBLE sleep problems and its starting to get to me. So since coming back DS will NOT sleep in his co-sleeper or the crib that is in my bedroom (so imagine this, I have BOTH bed choices next to my bed) he will ony sleep in bed with me! So poor hubby is in the spare bedroom yet again!! So what happens is regular bedtime routine at around 7.30 ish, has a bottle, falls asleep in my arms at about 8.10... the minute I put him down in the crib...awake! crying! So I put him in the bed with me laying down and he seems to stay asleep. So now what happens is he stays asleep for most of the night in my bed with me and wakes up at various early morning times...3.50, 4,00, 4.30, 5...you get the idea. At 5 am, he is ready to face the day, needless to say, his mummy is not!!!

Needless to say, I am knackered. Last night he was asleep by 8ish on his tummy, woke up again at 1.30 am trying to turn over, I turned him over, he fell back asleep until around 3 ish and was up for good at 5....he used to sleep in his own bed from around 9 pm to at least 7 am....if not later!!!

So here are some things that have changed:
1 - now he is eating solids
2 - obviously, trip and jet lag
3 - sleeping in my bed
4 - he is almost sitting up and tries to pull himself up all the time
5 - he is an evil genius who wants to torture me

and here are some other things...
A. I have tried to cry it out but I don't know enough about it, he cried for around 90 minutes and I had enough one night
B. He hates being swaddled, I have tried it
C. I have blackout curtains, but some light does get through
D. I offer him a bottle, but he doesn't seem to want any milk
E. He is a terrible napper, he might only have two 20 minute naps a day, on me, or in the pram while we are out and about.

I have no idea how to solve this problem and feel completely helpless!!! I know how important sleep is to both Baby and myself....

I am actually thinking of finding a sleep professional to come in and help me!

So the $64,000 question is...how do you make a baby who doesn't want to sleep, sleep????

Thanks for listening to me!!!

Hi Rachee,
I can recommend a really lovely lady who can help you. She's been working with babies for 20 years and can solve just about anything. She doesn't beleive in controlled crying and is really gentle. I used her when my second child was 3 months as he was a dreadful sleeper, he's now much better goes to sleep independently and naps well during the day. I think your son is young enough for you to get him sorted fairly quickly so if you're in London and want her number let me know.
Hang in though it will get better.
Fisha

Would love the name and phone number of that sleep professional as I am struggling with my 6.5 month DD waking throughout the night for no particular reason. Thanks.