4 month old - alternative to rocking to sleep

[sunnyfields25]

Hi

I've posted on here about several issues lately, and have had so many reassuring/helpful replies, that I thought I'd pick people's brains on this problem.

DS is 17 weeks and settles fairly well for daytime naps. He has a dummy which I have to keep reinserting as he bashes it out of his mouth non-stop. But other than that he doesn't normally need my help to fall asleep.

I used to be able to settle him in this way at bedtime too, but over the last month or so we've been getting deeper and deeper into a hole and now DS will only be settled at bedtime and after night feeds by being held and rocked until he's in a very deep sleep. At which point we put him in his crib.

This is becoming a problem as I struggle to stand and hold him for the 30-45mins required (back problems), so my husband is doing all the night-time settling. And this isn't really fair given that he's then up early for work. I've tried sitting down to hold DS to sleep but then I start nodding off, which isn't safe.

The dummy seems to loose its power at bedtime/in the night. Whereas during the day it will settle DS, in the night he just cries and it drops out of his mouth. I've tried leaning over him so I'm really close, stroking his chest or cheek, gentle shushing noises, singing lullabies. Nothing settles him though.

So, does anyone have any ideas about an alternative settling method that doesn't involve holding?

Thanks very much

I would ensure the daytime naps are at the right times and duration to avoid overtiredness at night, and I would do PUPD.

Can you feed lying down and cuddle instead of rock? Or get a rocking chair of sorts? That might help with your back problem.

What's baby's daytime sleep Like?

Would using a carrier like the baby bjorn to hold him help? This works for my youngest, gives me extra support for my back and I can manage to get him out without waking Up totally.

Hi, thanks for the replies.

LapinR0se - I've seen PUPD mentioned but don't know much about it and wasn't sure if DS was too young. I seem to remember reading there is often crying involved, and that's something I struggle with.

crazycatlady5 - the rocking chair is a good suggestion but I'm really trying to get away from holding DS sitting down because I tend to start nodding off to sleep with him in my arms.

EightyNine - Funnily enough we have a Baby Bjorn. I was using it for most of the day (and my husband pacing around with it on for most of the night) until a month or so ago. But once DS started getting heavier I had to stop as I couldn't take the weight. I'm quite small-framed and clearly not very fit . I did invest in a couple of other carriers/slings, but concluded DS is just too heavy now for me to carry for any length of time.

FATEdestiny - DS tends to have 4 naps a day. One long one of 2+ hours either early or late morning, plus another 3 shorter ones of 30-45 mins each. I don't usually need to rock to sleep during the day, he will settle in his Sleepyhead with a dummy. Just need to sit next to him for 20ish minutes to keep the dummy in his mouth as he keeps grabbing it and yanking it out (only to then cry because he's lost his dummy!). The dummy loses its power at bedtime though and it's not enough to settle him. Only a pair of arms will do, it seems!