Whether it's sleep regression or something else, I need help.
My DS is just over 17 weeks old and for the past couple of weeks has been having rough nights, which are JUST about starting to improve a little. Naps during the day however are a completely different kettle of fish.
First of all, after he starts showing signs of being tired, he'll often go almost straight into Turbo Force Scream Monster in less than a couple of monsters. So then before he can sleep, it takes me a good half hour of soothing to calm him down, and god forbid I actually put him down in his crib/bed/somewhere else that is safe for him to sleep. I'll then give up and let him fall asleep on me. I'll then ninja him down, but he never EVER sleeps longer than 30 mins and he wakes up screaming every time. Every. Time.
DH and I both try soothing him back to sleep, using white noise, shush-pat, dummies, the lot. But he'll continue screaming until he's been picked up and walked around with. Sit down with him and he starts up again. He'll calm down enough for feeds and nappy changes and he might even look at his own hands long enough for me to have a sandwich. Might. But then it's repeat the whole process over and over again until bedtime. He goes down relatively easy though he will have a very short screaming fit. He'll then dream feed between 10-11pm, once at 3am, and then up anywhere between 5-7am.
I'm emotionally drained. I can't take him out. I lie awake most nights dreading the following day, knowing it will be spent shushing and walking around the house.
How on earth can I get him to take longer naps? He's waking up already over tired and he goes from slight grizzle to ear-busting screams in next to no time and it's wearing me down.
Help.