Really need some help with DS taking 2 hours to go to sleep!

[SilverSixpence]

DS is 4.5 months, have just spent 2 hours trying to do PUPD with him and am exhausted! He used to be fed/rocked to sleep until a few weeks ago when we did a controlled crying type thing which really seemed to work, after that for a week or so he would whinge a bit but eventually go to sleep by himself (sometimes with a dummy).

We were on holiday at the time, since we've come back he doesn't seem to settle himself at all. I try not to feed him to sleep any more, but sometimes he'll cry for so long i feed him in case that's why he's crying, and then he falls asleep. Sometimes he seems colicky and eventually settles after winding, but it doesn't always do the trick. Yesterday I gave him 4.5oz ebm after his usual breastfeed, which made no difference at all. Even when I do eventually manage to get him to sleep, he will wake up after 5 mins and I have to start all over again.

Please please give me some ideas or experiences of similar situations, at least if i know it will improve it will make things easier. DH is not really much good at settling him so I feel like i'm on my own with the problem

Hi SilverSixpence,

I am no expert but your DS is still really young? I wouldn't stress too much about it. I used to rock DS to sleep and by about 6/7 months, he was showing signs of self-settling - rubbing his eyes while having his bottle and fighting to be put down instead of wanting to be in my arms. Or just whinging in my arms until put down. He now self-settles brilliantly. He gets really sleepy while having his bottle, I put him in his grobag after his bottle, put him in his cot, gives him his blankie and he turns over to go to sleep.

Do you have a wind down routine? We do bath, bedtime story, bottle and sleep. Also, try and give him sleep associations. My DS only has his blankie just before he goes to bed, so he will hold it and usually put it to his face. After his bath, when we are dressing him, he knows he is going to sleep soon and he's usually rubbing his eyes then. Don't despair, 4-5 months is a notoriously bad time when it comes to sleep. Also, you have been on holiday, my DS took a really long time to get back into his routine after any holiday. Be consistent - I would either give him a dummy or not give him one. Good luck!

Ax

My DS is now 9 months by the way and self-settles for his naps (which I never thought possible!) and his big sleep. They really do get easier to read as they get older. It's not as hit-and-miss as it would have been when they were younger!

thanks angel, its good to know it will get better! on the plus side, he slept til 3.30am yesterday which is the longest he's gone in ages