Cuddle crying baby to sleep

[Newbornmumma]

First time mum here! Really needing some advice on sleep. My DS is nearly 6 months old and has had horrific colic/ silent reflux/ CMPA. Because he’s needed so much comfort he has always been very difficult to get to sleep, and we have managed by taking all naps in a baby carrier. I need to break this habit now as it’s getting so hot and he is just getting heavier - it’s impractical.

for the past 24 hours or so I have resorted to getting him to nap by waiting until I know he is tired and then cuddling him to sleep, pretty tightly, and sushing. Of course he is very unhappy at first and really goes for it, but does sleep after about 5/10 mins. I really hate causing him distress, is this really bad to let him get so worked up in my arms? My hope is that after a week or so he won’t cry as much as it will get predictable. Thoughts?

He’s in your arms. He’s going to be fine. Slowly reduce the time you are holding him. Maybe in a couple of days put him down, and pat him and reassure him but don’t hold him. Then over time you can work towards reducing how much shushing/patting you do. It’s how we got our kids to sleep better, without any particularly traumatic sleep training.

You are doing fantastic. He's with you, you are not abandoning him to cry by himself, you have recognised that your sleeping arrangements no longer work for you and are introducing a little change at a time to get where you want to be.
If you keep it going and reduce the amount of time you shush him for etc you'll be able to put him down without meltdowns in a little while.

Keep us updated please, my DS is almost 7 months, some nights he breastfeeds to sleep and others on a bottle but some nights still needs rocking, buttt hes already over 11kg so not sure how long i can keep it up.. I’m hesitant to do cry it out, he’s so strong willed im scared the crying will last forever..
i try to just lie next to him and then he tends to almost fall asleep but then starts crying when he does so i use a bottle to help him fall asleep.. anyway, maybe i should try just continue comforting him.. lemme know how it goes!

Hi! I actually can’t believe how successful it is going. He cries (loudly - it’s upsetting) for about 2-5 minutes but then sleeps so soundly. Beforehand I had him in the baby carrier and had to constantly move, bounce on the exercise ball etc to keep him asleep. This way I can get things done and have a mental re-set. Don’t get me wrong I dread him getting worked up, it’s not nice. But it’s actually for a shorter duration than getting him to sleep in the carrier was.

the biggest thing I’ve found is pinning him down (keeping arms to chest and legs flat) is what works. Almost like being swaddled but ofc he’s way too big for that