Okay a few bits of advise that worked for me, as I never let my baby cry it out etc, I cant stand methods like that.
1. Try and have some sort of structure at day time. I know with BF that is very difficult but a routine even a rough one will work wonders in ensuring LO is getting enough milk and sleep througout the day.
2. Do you BF every time he wakes up? as in, does he settle with milk? may be that your LO needs more milk at day time, or he needs to suck in order to sleep. Have you considered a dummy jsut for settling? You can introduce a dummy until you sort out the sleep issue and then wean off the dummy as this is much easier than the first.
3. regarding Co-sleeping, I moved in LOs room, but had her in her cot, and my bed next to her.this way I couldbe there to settle her ( by stroking her, holding her hand, singing) but Id try not to pick her up unless if she started crying. If she cried I would pick her up calm her down then put her back in teh cot and stroke cuddle her to sleep ( this way I wanted to ensure she feels comfortabe in her cot)
4. How does your baby fall asleep in the night? as in, at 19.00 or whatever time your LO sleep what is his settling way? do you nurse him to sleep? do you hold him? If so I'd suggest to try and keep your baby awake whilst nursing and put down on his bed awake /this way when he wakes up he wont expect your arms and boob to settle back.
Babies will wake up in the middle of the night and will settle the same way they initially settled at 19.00.So its important that when teh baby is put in the cot, he begins to learn how to self settle. Your baby is too young to completely self settle so expect to be there for him, and cuddle him lots. Slowly he will learn that this is the palce where he sleeps that its safe, that mummy is next to him cuddling him and he will start to learn to do it on his own.
5. Establish a new bedtime ritual to replace the old one. If you have nursed him or cradle him to sleep and perhaps instead nurse him whilst awake, then read a story then put him in his cot and stay next to him till he is asleep. Cuddle sing lullabies and make your presence known to him in a very calm and serene manner. make sure the room is totally dark when you put him to sleep. Night lights etc can prevent babies from sleeping as they trigger a hormone in the brain which tells all human beings that its not night time yet. Perhaps consider swaddling if your baby fell asleep inyour arms.( this way the baby feels secure in teh cot, my baby was swaddled till 7 months for that reason)
Generally expect a lot of sleepless nights if you are determined to do this. If you do stick to a plan that suits you and your baby and depending on your baby's personality you will start seing results within 2-3 weeks. It wont be total self settling, as they claim with cio but it will be a huge improvement from where you are now.
YOu may find your baby will wake up twice in the night for a feed. Its ok, slowly you will minimize this to one perhaps by the time he is one, you will stop feeding at night all together.
Avoiding the crying method is the best way in my opinion. It needs patience but there are lots of ways you can help your baby settle without it. Just make sure you are ready to have minimal sleep for the next month but it will most cerntainly pay off.
xx
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