6mth old too active in cot

[manna]

ds2 is 6 mths, and has been sleeping through since 8 weeks, is a general delight etc. however, he's a very wiggly baby, and has taken to turning over onto his front and then wriggling down to the bottom of the cot, getting himself into trouble and crying to be released. he does it once or twice a night, and has no difficulty going back to sleep, although I do! he has also taken to pooing at night, which doesn't help resettling him! he's in a sleeping bag, has cot bumpers etc. Any other ideas? I miss my uninterrupted nights!!

In general those sort of problems are best left to sort themselves out. Whether or not you believe in Controlled Crying, this is one case where the baby is best left. It will only take a few nights and he will learn to re-settle himself.

The pooing is a different issue. Obviously you can't leave him in a pooey nappy! Is he on solids yet? Do you give him fruit or tomatoes in the evening? That does affect some babies and encourage them to poo at night.

he has baby rice and fruit in the evenings. i often do leave him in a pooy nappy, actually! mostly because i don't realise what he's done. Also, am loathed to leave him to cry, as ds1 (3yrs) is through the wall, and having trouble sleeping anyway since we moved and had a new baby, so both of them wailing doesn't sound great to me...!

would you really just leave him jammed in the bottom of the cot, spanning the entire width, on his tummy and raised up on his forarms, wailing? how can he settle himslef? I'm all for letting them settle themselves, but they have to be comfortable to do so, don't they?

Manna, you can buy a gizmo which is like a sort of barrier you can insert across the cot, to stop baby wriggling down. I'm afraid I can't remember what it is called, or where to buy it, but I know I've seen it in several baby catalogues, so maybe try Blooming Marvellous etc. This would stop him wriggling down the length of the cot, but won't stop him turning sideways.

I would just go in, quickly pick up and turn him round, then leave again, with a minimum of light, chat, or eye contact.

You'd be surprised! My two often toured the cot (or bed, in ds's case) and ended up in the most peculiar positions, fast asleep. They always sort themselves out in the end. A sleeping bag prevents feet getting caught in the bars, which is the only situation I think they couldn't sort out for themselves at an early age.

Honestly, it may sound cruel, but it is OK. We generally sleep in very 'ordinary' positions, but babies nad children don't - ds at 4 still often sleeps on his front, with only his knees, toes, forearms and head actually touching the mattress.