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Original poster

Oh God, it's started already and I'm already shattered after last night

14 replies

sleepychunky · 27/10/2009 20:06

I posted this morning about DS not sleeping and screaming. Last night at least he went to bed alright and didn't start the screams until 10.15, but today he started the second I put him down in the cot. I'm home alone (DH on nights), 34 weeks pg and can't face another night of having to deal with this. Do I leave him to cry himself to sleep or keep going in to tell him it's bedtime? I just don't know.
Please help, or at least tell me I'm not the only one

OP posts:
laughalot · 27/10/2009 20:09

Unless he is poorly I would leave him to cry for a bit depending on his age. My dd is crying at the minute with earache so I know what your going through.

Can you give him some medicane in case he is coming down with something ?

Hope it gets better x

Original poster
sleepychunky · 27/10/2009 20:16

He's 2.4 and there's nothing wrong with him. He's screaming and shouting and working himself up into a state. I am at my wit's end at the thought of this going on all night

OP posts:
newweddingname · 27/10/2009 20:25

your not alone!

We have had a bad time with dd recently, in the end after trying everything with her we have started controlled crying, it took 1 hour the first night of going in every 5-10 mins to soothe her and then shutting the door, it was very tough but its getting better, she has even slept an hour and a half today, something she hasnt done for ages and she seems much brighter now she is actually getting some sleep.

If your ready to go down that route lots of threads on here to search.

My tip is do something else, make a cup of tea, stay on here, something, let the noise wash over you.....and set a timer for 5 or 10 mins.

Hope your ok, its very tough

wanttostartafresh · 27/10/2009 20:28

Do you think your DH not being around is upsetting him? Could you not just take him into your bed with you and cuddle up and both go to sleep? I promise it won't set up bad habits you will then have to break, we had plenty of periods of co-sleeping with our DC's but now they are happily in their own room with no probs. It's worth it just to make sure you both get a decent night's sleep imo.

Georgimama · 27/10/2009 20:28

If he's 2.4 surely he is too big for a cot? DS's sleep improved considerably when he was put in a bed, and I was able to just lie next to him for five minutes until he turned sleepy. DS was a dreadful sleeper in a cot.

I have flirted with CC and back and forth and come down on the side of "I don't like it" though so my opinion may not be what you want to hear.

Georgimama · 27/10/2009 20:29

I'll also admit to being big on co-sleeping.

boyraiser · 27/10/2009 20:32

Any little toys you could put in with him (e.g. musical boxes, teddies that play tunes etc.)?

Star charts / Reward charts?

Has he got a nightlight? If not, is he frightened of the dark? (This could be a recent development).

Can you go and stay at your MILs or mum's (assuming you have them) to give yourself a break and break the cycle of behaviour that seems to have been established?

Is he napping in the day? Is he getting too much/ too little sleep?

Do you have bedtime routine?

Just questions, not judging It can be hell sometimes when you've got to the end of the day and you need a rest too.

MyCatsAScarierBastardThanYours · 27/10/2009 20:33

We had a nightmare with our DD and like Goergimama we found that actually she hated the cot and when we moved her to a bed it helped.

No good for you right now though unless you've actually got a bed he can go in. Let him cry a bit (at 2.4 he'll be fine), give him something (calpol, medised, whatever you've got) if you think he is going down with something and don't feel alone - we've been there!

Original poster
sleepychunky · 27/10/2009 20:33

I've done cc with him in the past when he's had little blips, but it's only been the odd night here or there. I've just been up to him and changed his nappy and given him my big stuffed penguin (I've had him since I was 6 and I still use him as a pillow sometimes in my bed).
He's gone quiet now so maybe having a huge penguin to cuddle is going to be enough for him.
Fingers crossed...

OP posts:
Georgimama · 27/10/2009 20:35

Ds also improved when given a second pillow and an extra blanket. If he wakes up during the night he may be cold.

PfftTheMagicDragon · 27/10/2009 20:40

If you are alone and knackered, I would take him into your bed. Some will say that you are causing an issue for when you end it, and they are right, but you need sleep now!

Original poster
sleepychunky · 27/10/2009 20:44

Georgimama, it's a cotbed rather than a cot so lots of room in there. His new bedroom is ready - I just don't want to be home alone the first night we try to put him to sleep in there. I'm suffering a lot with this pregnancy and going up and down stairs constantly is really difficult and painful, so we've agreed to wait until after this lots of night shifts for DH.
10 minutes now without a noise so it looks like things are OK...for now.

OP posts:
MyCatsAScarierBastardThanYours · 27/10/2009 21:08

WIth my DD the cot issue wasn't about the size but about being enclosed. Good idea to wait til DH with you.

I'm glad he's gone to sleep now (crosses fingers for you).

JesusChristOtterStar · 27/10/2009 21:10

never take mine out of cots till 3.5 and never had any sleep issues apart from too much - dont htink its that

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