Sleep Trainers?

Hi M.,

I replied to another mom around 2 months ago about the same issue you're having.

I have a full of energy 13 months old boy. His crib was in our bedroom since he was born and just about 5 months ago we put him to sleep in his room. The transition was not easy as we also rocked him to sleep for both naps and for night awakenings. The only time he would go to sleep by himself was during bedtime (which since he was about 2.5 months old started with the same routine every evening). I read A LOT about the subject as I was desperate to help him to learn how to self sooth and fall asleep on his own. Just about 3.5 months ago he started sleeping through the night (with a dreamfeed around 10-11 pm).
I purchased one book that was really helpful called Sleepeasy that may also suit you since your baby is 2 years old) http://www.amazon.com/Sleepeasy-Solution-Exhausted-Parent... They even have a website full of resources http://www.sleepyplanet.com/. I also bought the Sleep Sense program (online) which was in the same lines as the Sleepeasy.
I am not trying to sell you the book but believe me, I read quite a lot of forums, articles and other things but as my husband and I are not fans of the cry it out method (CIO) (suggested by most pediatricians), this book helped us to do it with the minimum amount of crying and less stress on all of us.
I am not going to lie to you: your baby will cry, the beginning will be tough... However you won't be a horrible mother if she cries. Remember she has a comfort zone level now and any change to it will cause her to be upset and lead to crying. Our baby cried a lot in the beginning but the amount of crying was decreasing daily. Around 2 weeks after we started he was no longer crying hard and eventually would fall asleep on his own. Eventually to this day he still cries but it is for 2-5 minutes or so and goes back to sleep on his own.
The most important thing is to design a plan according to the book instructions (or any method of sleep training you choose to do) and stick with it, consistency is the key. During our period sleep training our baby I dropped middle of the night feedings, dealt with teething, he learned how to stand, walk and other milestones and even then we could do it and succeeded. I am sure you can do it too! Good luck!!

I don't have much advice for you, just wanted to say that I understand what you are going through--my son didn't sleep through the night until he was a year old, and then usually woke up once a night until he was 18 months! i have heard that sometimes babies will wake up in the middle of the night more often when they have parents that work full - time, so maybe he is just looking for some attention from you? hang in there, i know it SUCKS, but it will get better!

any cahnce it's a reaction to whatever formula you're giving? I would try neocate formula for a good two weeks.
now, it's expensive...and you could 'start' with nutrimigen or alimentum...whatever you try, you MUST give it a good 2 or even 3 weeks to get the offending proteins (milk protein) out of his system.
if you try nutrimigen or alimentum it can take 2 weeks to see results and then, if sleep doesn't improve, it can take ANOTHER 2 weeks to try neocate.
as for the neocate: switch SLOWLY bcse baby most likely won't like the taste. make a bottle of formula (what you're using now) w/ one ounce of neocate. then two ounces, etc, until baby takes a full bottle of neocate. once you're 'at' full neocate, give it a good 2 or even three weeks.

You never know. Plus all the cereal you're stuffing him with- can upset his stomach.

I am a sleep trainer. You can contact me for advice.