[AgEm_my_world]

So my question is, Do you pat baby to sleep every time they go to sleep? My little man it tired, he rubs his eyes and had purple bags under his eyes, but whet I lay him in his cot for him to go to sleep he wont go till i pat him. Is that normal? I have to pat him for 30 mins.
DD was very different, as soon as her head was in bed she just went to sleep.
Any Advice would be great.
He is only having 2 sleeps because he just wont sleep at all any other time. I swaddle him because he wont go to sleep without being swaddled...........
Editied to say:
He used to put himself to sleep really well just as his sister did, but in the last month or so he has needed to be pattered or rocked.
DS is 6 months

This post has been edited by AgEm_my_world: 28/03/2012, 10:38 AM

[ally0812]

DS was the same. unfortunately the only way i found to break this was let him cry himself to sleep no pats, no rocking, no nothing... it sounds cruel but it works. eventually he will learn to self settle

[TwoHeadedGirl]

My DD went through a phase from about 8 months where I was patting her to sleep, every time. She's 13 months now and I only have to do it when she's really unsettled but that's probably only been the case for the last 2 months or so.

I don't really have any advice but just wanted to let you know that you're not the only one and with any luck he'll grow out of it like my DD has.

[~A Poetic Winter...]

Its pretty common. A lot of babies love movement of some sort to go to sleep, its comforting for them and helps them relax. Patting resembles your heart beat and so he feels close and secure near you

If you can manage it, just do it if it works. He won't need you to do it forever, my DS has gone through so many changes in sleep over his first year, from needing me to go to sleep, to not and back again.

ETA: swaddling is great if it helps him sleep, a few sleep schools recommend going back to swaddling if sleep goes badly for babies, even older babies. Again its all a security thing. He is only 6 months old and still new to the world so anything to make him feel safe and secure is a good thing in my opinion.

This post has been edited by ~A Poetic Winter~: 28/03/2012, 10:43 AM

[sophiasmum]

I did pat but stopped at 4 mths.

[Libertine]

DS was the same. unfortunately the only way i found to break this was let him cry himself to sleep no pats, no rocking, no nothing... it sounds cruel but it works. eventually he will learn to self settle

It sounds cruel? That's because it IS cruel.

IMO.

[AryaStar]

If you can manage it, just do it if it works. He won't need you to do it forever, my DS has gone through so many changes in sleep over his first year, from needing me to go to sleep, to not and back again.

This is so true. DS changed his sleeping patterns, habits and preferences repeatedly during those first 12 months. They are going through so much dramatic development - physically and cognitively - that their needs change constantly and the best thing you can do is whatever works best for you and the baby at the time.

The period between 4 - 7 months is notorious for fussiness, clinginess and sleep disturbances and I see so many threads on EB with similar concerns for babies in this age group. Unless there are underlying health issues it is normal, it is a phase and it will pass eventually.

I know it's probably hard not to but try not to compare him with his sister - babies are all very different little creatures. It's nature's way of keeping us on our toes

[AgEm_my_world]

Thanks :-) patting is working sometimes lol, sometimes he just dosent want to sleep. Thanks for the insight, I was under the impression that I shouldn't at around this age because they are at the age of getting used to habits, it keeps him happy however so at the moment it's not too troubling. Tasting and clingy are right! Lol I can't believe how different my two are its like chalk and cheese lol