Trying to avoid CIO but struggling! HELP!

[mosomers]

My little guy is 7 months old and his sleep is erratic and problematic. Some nights he sleeps great! Wakes up to nurse a few times and goes right back to sleep. But other nights (probably about 60% of the time) he will only sleep if he's latched on which makes me uncomfortable at some point in the night, but if I move or try to put him in his side-car crib, he wakes and won't go back to sleep. He won't be comforted or consoled except at the breast. But as soon as I take him off the breast, he wails. I can't sleep with him attached all night. And my hubby and I obviously can't sleep if he's in our room wailing. And I get really frustrated when I'm trying my best to console him without nursing and he won't be consoled. Sometimes I just can't take it anymore and I put him in the pack n play in the loft and pray that he doesn't wake up the other kids. He cries for a while and it kills me but he does fall asleep out there after about 15 minutes (I think. I'm kind of delirious in the night) and sleeps for the rest of the night. I love cosleeping and I hate CIO but I'm at a loss. And it's contrary to everything I know about cosleeping. Where's the happy, easy baby who sleeps peacefully in my arms or by my side that I keep reading about? Why isn't cosleeping helping him sleep well at night? And how can I help him sleep without making him cry alone in another room and without having to keep my boob in his mouth all night long?

[penstamon]

Hugs mama.  We have an almost 19mo DS who still wakes constantly so I don't have any magic for you.  Not every baby co-sleeps well though and your DS may need to be in his own space without the temptation of milk.  I don't know, maybe have a set number of times that you feel is reasonable to nurse at night and then the other times your DH is the consolation.  DS may not like it but he will get used to it, particularly if you are not there to tempt him.  This is what we did when we NW'd DS, but he was older (15mo or so) and was OK with it after a few days.  You could also try to shorten feedings and not let him hang on forever- like gently pull him off the nipple when you sense that the feeding is done and he is just comfort nursing.  That is when he will start to learn to be consoled by you both in other ways.  There is no magic bullet and I really feel for you, especially since you have other LO's.  I hope things get better!

[LadyCatherine185]

have you tried a soother? several kinds? have you read No Cry Sleep Solution? tried the Pantley Pull-off?