Please help - need advice

[zeered]

My 9 month baby boy has suffered from severe eczema and multiple allergies since birth. At times, he has been physically unable to sleep because of his skin so we have been unable to sleep train him as yet. Until recently, he was co-sleeping with us as per our paeditrician suggestion.

I am exhausted. He is Bf and wakes on average 5-15 times every night screaming. The only thing that settles him is a feed. I think i have become his comfort through all these months.

His skin is under control at the moment so now is the time to sort out this sleep issue.
I really cannot leave him to cry - just not strong enough. So I am guessing CC is not an option??

Pls could you advise me on which would be the best book to read...what approach would be best in this situation.

Many thanks

We are considering the pick up/put down (aka PUPD on many a thread here) technique suggested by the Baby Whisperer (Tracy Hogg).
In brief, pick up baby as soon as he/she starts to cry. Comfort (by the cot) and as soon as they are calm, put them down again. Repeat as necessary. Apparently it can often take over 100 PUPD's the first night - and it can take longer to work overall, so its hardly an easy option... However, as you stay with your baby throughout, it is supposed to be much less emotionally draining than CC. Good luck!

The only book I've ever read is Elizabeth Pantley's No Cry Sleep Solution. I wouldn't say it is life changing but it is a very gentle approach to creating a sleep plan to tackle what you think are the problems with your sleeping situation. It also has advice about stopping bfing to sleep...

It's quite long term though so no quick fixes in there. I liked it because it made me realise what were reasonable expectations for my dd in our situation which might also be useful for you given that your circumstances are quite exceptional.

It sounds like you are awesome, poor little boy must have really been suffering and it's totally understandable that you are his comfort, he's still so little! But I also feel for you, it's so awful being sleep deprived for so long.

Good luck!

I don't mean the only book I've ever read, ever... I mean just about the sleep thing

Thank you both of you for responding - will look into both. And thanks Jelly Belly for really kind words...