Insomniac Baby- any ideas on how to get some sleep!!!

[mamamiabeans]

Hey Mamas!

So, my precious 10 month old DS will sleep for a short stretch (@ 3 hours) and then will wake up and stay up for 1 1/2-2 hours every night!!! 

He wakes up, I nurse him, and then he pops off the boob, gives me a smile and is wide awake ready to play.  I don't turn the lights on or talk to him.  I just hold him and he just grabs me and plays in my lap.  If I put him in his crib, he starts crying immediately and then we start over again.  I am not comfortable co-sleeping with him anymore because I feel like I fall into such a deep sleep and he is on the go now, that I am worried he will wake up and fall out of the bed.

This goes on once or twice a night and I am just so exhausted!  We will not let DS cry it out, so what else can I do to get him to fall asleep?  He is in a pretty good routine during the day so I don't quite know what else to try. 

I would love any suggestions or ideas that you may have that worked with your babies.  I really am fine with getting up a few times to feed him, I just need him to go back to sleep!

Thanks in advance- please send good sleep vibes my way!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kblackstone444]

I still co-sleep (mattress on the floor now!), but besides that, I'm in the exact same situation as you with my 9 month old.  Subbing...

[mamamiabeans]

Anyone???    ;)

[balancingact]

Yep, we did the bed on the floor routine, and still do.  And, I didn't turn on the light at night unless he was really distressed - usually due to teething or some other pain.  The bed on the floor gives him some freedom and choice.  For us, the problem was both night waking and  falling asleep.  When he was little, he would crawl around the room in dim light from outside the room and play until he wound himself down.  At this point, he more or less sleeps through the night.  It's hard when their clock is off.  I hope he gets through this soon!  Oh, and can you take naps with him during the day?  Or have your husband take care of him in the evening while you take a break and nap?  I used to do this when my son was little.  It was really helpful.

[balancingact]

Oh, also, when he was at that age, I put him in the crib for about half the night.  I slept in the same room.  When he woke up, I'd take him out and put him on the mattress with me.  That way, I wouldn't sleep through his getting up.  Now, he sleeps with me all night.  I realized that he sleeps all night if he is with me.  At 10 months, he wouldn't have done this.  at 18 mos-2 years, yes, he is much better at sleeping through the night.