7mo old refusing to sleep in cot anymore - at wits end!!

[wibbleweed]

DS2 has never been a great sleeper, always waking at least once for a bf (and now bottle) but now it's a total nightmare. He goes down quite happily by himself in his cot, but then wakes 2 or 3 hours later when we go up to bed (he's in our room) - seems to be sleeping really lightly because we never used to disturb him. Anyway - basically that's that. He builds up to an inconsolable tizz that cannot be soothed unless you pick him up and hold him, or take him into our bed. Even then, once he's gone back to what seems a deep sleep, as soon as you put him back in his cot he wakes and screams again. For the last 2 nights we've given in and put him in our bed, but this is awful because there's no space and my back kills. I just cannot stand the screaming alternative and am also wary of my 3.5yo DS1 and not wanting to disturb him. What should I do? Should I just grit my teeth and face a few nights just letting him scream himself out? Any suggestions/shared experiences (particularly those with positive outcomes!!! ) most welcome - my eyes are literally propped open with matchsticks at the moment! Thanks

I'm sorry to hear that you're having such a hard time.
Would it be possible for you to move his cot into another room.
Many babies are disturbed by being in the same room as their parents. Not only by the noise of them going to bed, but also by being close but not close enough.
Maybe moving him to another room would help you all to sleep better.
If you're worried about not waking up when he cries, you could use a baby monitor.

ooh, wibble, my ds2 was likethat. come to think of it, they all were at some point.

cant for the life of me remember the detail o what we did to improve things... i guess we tried every idea we could think of till something did as is usual... upshot is tho, that with the passage of not too much time, and trying various things (none of which would be relevent anyway seeing as they are diff babies ).. a solution was reached.

they all sleep really well now.

it WILL pass. promise.

(and now someone can come and say something which is actually constructive instead of that vague and useess peptalk)

1st step, he needs his own room, or at least to be out of yours. 2nd step, controlled crying. So far he has worked out what he needs to do to get your attention and so far it's working. At 7months you should be able to do pick up and put down (although we never did) or just the walk in, shush, pat bottom and leave. It's good that he goes to bed well initially, so we know he can self settle, he just needs a bit of reassurance in the night that you are there and will still be there when he wakes up in the morning.

Whatever you choose to do, consistancy is the key - if you do one thing one night then something else the next he won't know which way is up and will just get worse.

Good luck xx

Thanks very much for your encouraging words and suggestions. We'll definitely start by putting him in his own room. The idea was that he would share with DS1, but we haven't done that yet because of the noise. Fortunately we do have another room that's used as a 'dumping ground' and I'm sure we can find a corner for a cot. Don't think a 7mo will be too bothered by having heaps of paper and a photocopier for company!