DS has always been a c**p sleeper. He's now 9mo. WE used PU/PD at 6mo and he went from waking every 1-2 hours to just 1-2 times a night. When he did wake up, we used PU/PD and he settled quickly and with no fuss.
I was happy with this and it seemed to be helping him learn to sleep - we even had a few nights where he slept through. Most importantly, though, it gave me and DH a strategy to deal with the wakings - felt like we were doing something positive and not so helpless.
But suddenly, when DS1 turned 9mo, he started waking up again. The problem is that instead of being comforted by PU/PD, DS is now furious. He struggles and pushes us away if we pick him up, but screams if he's left in his cot. WE hold his arms (he tends to hit himself in the face otherwise) and that used to help him drift back off to sleep, but now he kicks his legs instead or thrashes his head from side to side. Every time he seems to be going off to sleep, he wakes himself up again.
He's clearly not happy about being awake. Most of the time he's got his eyes closed as he cries and thrashes about. My mum reckons he's 'testing' us but I really don't buy into that 'bad baby' philosophy, never have done, even when I've been out of my mind with tiredness!
It can take 2.5 hours to get him back to sleep. It's completely inconsistent, ie. doesn't happen every night but when it does happen it's always at the same time, ie. midnight and/or 4am. I tend to wait a while before going in as he sometimes goes back to sleep but if he doesn't, the crying escalates into a scream so it's not an option for me to let him cry it out.
Has anyone else experienced this? It's very hard not knowing what to do to calm him. Why is PU/PD not working all of a sudden? DH keeps losing his temper with DS so it's left to me to get him back to sleep.
DS has started walking (well, tottering) - could this be related?
I keep hoping that just by being calm and consistent this will pass, but DH's behaviour isn't helping and my mum doesn't really help. Last night DH spent 30 mins with DS and then started hitting the pillows cos he was so frustrated. I wasn't very impressed to say the least - I know it's frustrating as nothing we do seems to help but I just don't think it's DS's fault.
I don't think he's teething, BTW. He has 8 teeth already and we know the drill on that one...
I just don't want to think my baby is 'bad' because I know he's not. All the problems we've had I've tried so hard not to think that way or to make it a battle of wills because even tho I'm tired I want to enjoy my son, and not let this ruin our relationship. And he's such a happy, smiley baby, I feel like it's worth it.
God, sorry, I'm rambling. I'm just after some advice and a 'hang on in there' from someone!!