Baby sleeps next to me, plan for return to work

[basilflower]

My baby is 10 months old and is a terrible sleeper.

For naps he will either sleep next to me (attached to boob), or out walking in sling or sometimes pushchair. Dh can also get him to sleep if out and about.

At night time I feed him to sleep, put him in cot where he'll stay for half an hour ish, then he comes into my bed where he spends the rest of the night either attached to boob, snuggled up to me, and lately spends some time sleeping a little bit away from me. I guess he still wakes roughly every hour, but I don't look at the clock.

I need to return to work in 2 months. Does anyone have any practical advice (that doesn't involve sleep training) to help him make the transition from spending most of his time with me, to having 3 days without me, and hopefully some better nights sleep as otherwise I'm worried I won't be able to function at work. He'll be with my dh when I'm at work.

Thank you!

My ds1 was like this. He has never napped anywhere other than me/sling/car. Other than nursery where he went in the cot like a dream. Ds2 has also never napped in a cot and he starts nursery tomorrow. I'm less worried about his sleeping this time! It's amazing what they will do just by copying other children.

Agh! Just seen he will be with your DH. Is he your only baby? Just bung him in the pram and walk then if it works.

Have a look at the book 'The Natural Sleep Solution'. It has done gentle approaches to changing associations with sleep (including breaking feeding to sleep). You've got time to put them into action.

I'm not so worried about the day time napping, as yes dh will just have to do lots of walking. It's more the night time.

I've read the no cry sleep solution, and the gentle sleep book, nothing is helping so far. I'll check out the other book too, thanks!