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Post edited 11:15 pm – December 9, 2010 by Kimberly

Hello,

Hang in there. I know it can seem bleak right now but it does and can get better. My first guess at part of the problem would be that he hasn't learned how to fall asleep on his own and that he hasn't learned how to go back to sleep on his own. (These are similar yet different skills.)

How does he go to sleep for naps, at bedtime and when he wakes at night? Ideally, he would either just be put down and go to sleep on his own, or you help him get drowsy with part of your naptime or bedtime routine and then he goes down to finish falling asleep on his own. If he completely relies on you to help him go to sleep, then he has a sleep association and there will need to be a transition from relying on your help to go to sleep to learning the skill of falling asleep on his own.

Does he sleep in his own space or are you currently co-sleeping? I only ask because sometimes this can help inform how you will sleep train. Also, some babies just don't do well co-sleeping even if we want to be able to co-sleep. My son was a wiggler and a bit of a light sleeper, so co-sleeping really didn't work with him.

Can you post his day time schedule too? Here is a recommended schedule for a 7 month old.

http://www.babysleepsite.com/s…..-schedule/

I would take a look at that and see how much or how closely your schedule is similar to that one. It could be that he's not getting enough daytime sleep or that bedtime is too late. Both of these things can lead to overtiredness which can lead to night wakings.

I would also recommend that you read through this series of posts about sleep training to give you some idea of where and how to start with creating a plan for helping him learn to sleep.

http://www.babysleepsite.com/s…..es-part-1/

If you want something more in-depth about sleep training, then I recommend you consider Nicole's ebook, The 3 Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep. You can buy the book alone or you can purchase the book along with an email consultation with Nicole where she can help you come up with plan specific for your situation and that takes your parenting beliefs and philosophy into consideration. You can read about that book here: http://babysleepswell.com

Post back and let us know a bit more about your son's sleep, schedule and routines and we'll see if we put together a few more recommendations. But most of all, hang in there!

HI-

I am sorry that you are having such a hard time! I do know first hand how exausting it can be.

It does sound as if your son has become very accustomed to being able to sleep in your bed, (which is great if it works for all of you) and to having you there to help him fall back asleep. Have you tried to begin to teach him to soothe himself to sleep by offering less and less help each night? For example, if you nurse him or hold him or rock him back to sleep every two hours, you can offer a little less of the comfort and/or nursing or bottle to help him back to sleep. He may protest, but you will be there to comfort him at the same time you are teaching him. This way he will learn slowly and gently that he can fall asleep himself.

Good luck!