My wee 11 month old has never slept through and has consistently wakened frequently in the night since birth. He also since birth has resisted napping and will only nap on me or my husband. No matter what we try he has always protested sleeping. Both onset of sleep and maintaining sleep have been so difficult for both him, husband and I.
We have a constant night routine, low lighting, white noise machine etc etc. He is constantly teething the poor guy (has 13 atm) and hes been very poorly recently so I think thats not helped him either.
Husband and I have been living through sleep deprivation for the last 11 months but we are getting to breaking point. How do you cope, carry on, etc? How can I help my wee one to sleep better? I'm cool with the overnight wakening however he doesn't go back to sleep without a lot of support so we are all getting little sleep.
Notes:
- He has reflux and a cmpa, from 0-4 months be couldn't lie flat due to the pain. Once he started on prescribed milk and omeprazole this got better. He slept on me and my husbands shoulders a lot to be upright due to the pain. His cot was tilted also.
- He eats three solid meal a day plus snacks and is a fab little eater.
*Avoid naps after 2/3pm where possible. Bed routine starts between 7/7.30.
*His cot is in our room, when things are bad we co-sleep. Isnt in his own room as he cant fall asleep as it is with us there.
*He has bottles around 3 times overnight
- He needs to be held really tight to fall asleep, have tried controlled crying, after 2 hrs crying he slept for 20 mins, woke up and cried for a further hour. Seems redundant and cruel for him. (yes, I picked him up etc when he was really distressed then placed him down when more settled)
- Tried wake windows etc but he didn't like them and fought his naps still.
*I watch like a hawk for sleep cues, doesn't make a difference.
*He cries and cries before naps and going for his night time sleep.
- He loves the dancing vegetables on YouTube, the peas are his favourite 🕺 ✨