Hi
I have a two month old who sleeps beautifully and a 21 month old who has yet to go through the night :( After almost two years of not sleeping, DH and I are at the end of our tether and need to do something.
We currently cuddle to sleep, which he's needed since moving to a toddler bed - the cot is no longer an option as he can climb out and I'm worried about injury. He goes to bed around 7/half 7, after a bedtime routine that includes a bath, cup of milk and a story.
Getting him to sleep can take up to an hour and he wakes 2 or 3 times in the night, needing to be cuddled back to sleep each time. He doesn't like being in our bed, so we have to lie on the floor with an arm round him in his bed. It can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours for him to fall properly asleep, by which time we're knackered and aching from the awkward position.
The only thing I can think to try now is controlled crying - so leaving him to settle himself, but going in briefly to love and reassure after 5 minutes, then 10, then 15 etc. It feels horribly cruel - he's so little still - but we're at breaking point and to be frank, if we don't get more sleep we'll end up splitting, which would be hugely traumatic for everyone.
Has anyone been through this and can share any tips/help me feel less guilty? I love my children so much but at the moment am exhausted and so being a pretty rubbish mum and an even worse partner :(