Sorry for the long post, but I'm desperate for any tips after another night without sleep. DS is 11 weeks old but was 8 weeks premature, so 3 weeks corrected age. He sleeps fine during the day - settles with a bit of grumbling and rocking (we have an Amby nest)and sleeps really well after his bath and feed at 8 until his first night time feed which is generally between 12 and 1. Once he's had that feed, though, he just won't settle unless he's being held until morning (for example, he finally settled at 8 this morning) - he doesn't seem to be hungry, and will sleep really well if we hold him, waking for feeds every three to four hours. We've tried sh/patting, putting in the nest asleep, putting him in the nest slightly awake, rocking, all to no avail. He has silent reflux which makes him congested so he sleeps elevated etc. but this doesn't seem to affect his sleep at other times or when he is sleeping on us. Co-sleeping isn't really an option for various reasons, so DH and I end up sitting up with him for hours while he sleeps on us.
I've read a couple of baby books and have come away with the conviction that I must be doing something wrong - he used to sleep fine in his cot in the hospital so it must be something he's learned in the five weeks he's been home. It's making me really anxious during the day as every time I pick him up I worry that I'm being a bad mum by teaching him bad habits. He tends to fall asleep on me after feeds as I hold him upright for twenty minutes to help the reflux - maybe this is doing it? If so, I'm not sure what I can do about that. I'm also not sure whether his sleep patterns go by corrected age, actual age, or something in between, which doesn't help.
Any suggestions, or similar stories? All welcome as it's really getting me down, particularly when none of my friends with babies seem to have this problem.