Seeking Sleeping Help

I went throught the same thing with my second child. I also nursed at night and let him sleep in bed with me and my husband out of convenience. Sometimes I would try to get him to sleep in his crib but he cried forever. I finally reached the same point as you and was getting back aches from sleeping around him and I was becoming a very grumpy mommy from lack of sleep. Eventually everyone started telling me the same thing....let them cry it out...babies at that age do not need to eat in the middle of the night they are just creatures of habit. It took about a week and boy did I feel like a bad mommy making him cry in his room. He cried for about 20 min-1 hour. But after the week he stated sleeping in his room all night. Hope this helps :)

J.,
Listen to my podcast on PREGTASTIC. It is episode 84 and the website is: http://www.pregtastic.com/podcasts.php

I think you will find it helpful.
Dr. B. Cunningham, Licensed marriage and family therapist
Ph ###-###-####
http://www.Cunninghamtherapy.com

After about 4 months even breast fed babies do not need to be fed throughout the night. I got a DVD called your baby can sleep and it did the trick for me (I got it at babies-r-us the first time and on amazon for my 3rd baby). It explains that if you put your baby to sleep while rocking and holding or nursing him, then when he wakes up and does not have the same thing he panics (like if we woke up to smoke). It also allows you to go in the room and reassure your baby that everything is ok at timed intervals getting further apart. The first night is hard but if you stick to it you will be surprised at how little time it takes and what a better mom you are if you get some sleep. I also let my baby nurse to sleep out of "convenience" to me even when I knew from my first two to not start a bad habit. In the long run it isn't convenient at all because nobody is getting sleep and everyone is more cranky now. Make sure you are up to it when you decide to tackle it because giving in after awhile will just teach him if he yels long enough mom will bring him in bed.

Hi! I remember reading something about when a child is showing an increase in his neediness at night, it is directly related to not getting enough time with you during the daytime. It's sounds like you are very busy with school and work and you are getting little time with your son. I know it is hard being stretched to the limits with everything you are trying to accomplish! (smile)
I made it a point when my own daughter was acting needy and crying more than usual, to keep my cool and just give her the attention she was craving, and it really worked!! That's all they want and need; just your time. Make sure you let your partner know that he must also make time for your son, but I think it is mostly your attention that he needs since at this age they are usually closer to Mama.
I honestly believe this will help you...
Good luck,
J. T.

I didn't co-sleep but my daughter did fall asleep with us sometimes. I would wait until she fell asleep and I would put her back in her crib each time. She has done well with sleeping through the night when she was supposed to (6 months) and we've only had period when she was teething where it changed but it doesn't last. :)

I think what's best for your child and you is for him to sleep in his own bed. Then he and you will get a better night sleep. If he sleeps on his back. try to get him to sleep on his stomach too. He is old enough to pick his head up and move if he needs to. You know when we sleep on our back we get those dreams of falling that startle us awake? Well, they do to and that could be waking him up and then he's not able to put himself back to sleep. You could also help him get used to his crib by putting him in there for nap time. Where does he take a nap? The better kids sleep during the day, the better they sleep at night. You might let him cry himself to sleep a couple of times in his crib. That might be all he needs. It might seems hard at first but think of the reward for him and you when he finally sleeps through the night in his crib! Remember bad habits are hard to break even for us.