6 month old won't settle

[user1496587010]

Used to go down fine with a feed, rock & pop in cot with white noise playing. He'd usually stir & have a little grumble but then drift off. Now, not so much. Can be rocked to sleep but any attempt to put him down he wakes screaming. Tonight have tried settling him in sleepyhead on our bed. He cried, for a bit, put his head to one side like he was going to sleep... then promptly woke up & is playing with his feet or my face! Lying next to him how wondering what to do next? Any thoughts? I'm not totally opposed to cio type stuff but feel he's still a bit young & he has a dummy he obvs couldn't put back in himself yet. Thanks.

It sounds like he is ready to stop being rocked to sleep and needs to learn to go to sleep in his cot.

At this age he could also be getting big for the sleepyhead and want to stretch out and move around more.

I would start in-cot settling and putting baby in the cot awake. Stand by the cot with your hand firmly on baby's chest for reassurance, reinserting dummy as needed. Then just wait it out. Maybe some patting or shushing as needed. Some lying back down if getting up. Holding legs within one of your hand can help calm flaying limbs.

Thanks for reply. Husband took over whilst I put the two year old to bed. After an hour combined of trying to settle in sleepyhead husband gave up - not the longest attempt, but to be fair his wails were in danger of stopping the 2 yo settling. Anyway hes downstairs with us happy as a clam. This is what happened last night & he fell asleep on sofa about 10 & he went to bed with us. So a spectular failure!

But at least we're not rocking to sleep I guess!

He's due a move to his own room on Thursday when cot has been dismantled and re built in his own room. Will either get rid of sleepyhead then or move to the bigger one (we already have it from our first). Reluctant to do this until moved as one side of cot is down next to our bed & sleepyhead keeps him secure.

His room has properly closing door (our bedroom door doesn't close) so will be better placed to sit it out with him as suggested without messing up 2 yo's bedtime.

You'd think I'd remember what we did with our first... I just remember it being hard work! She is a good sleeper now though so there is hope.