So we have created a monster in my son. He’s 6 months old and he will only fall asleep being rocked on our legs or at the breast. Then, most of the time it takes a few times putting him down for him to not wake up screaming minutes later. He usually sleeps no more than an hour and a half before waking. We have co-slept with him in the dockatot between us since birth.

So we are still waking every 45min to an hour all night and usually having to hold him on my breast for a half hour, sometimes having to do this several times before he will stay asleep when I put him down.

He won’t take a pacifier and will only drink a few Oz from a bottle but never from me.

We want to transition to the crib in his own room as we did with our daughter around 6 months, but she was on a reliable schedule by then, took a pacifier and bottle to sleep and only woke up twice a night to eat at the same times each night.

I really dislike the idea of CIO, but he needs to learn to fall asleep by himself without the crutch of my boob or being rocked on our legs and stay asleep.

If we are co-sleeping with him, but allow him to be set down in the dockatot with my hand on him and where he can see us beside him, is that still considered CIO if we then allow him to cry to try to put himself to sleep? We would be right there comforting him, we just wouldn’t be picking him up to BF if he wakes after 45 min.

I’ll also add he’s definitely not waking because he’s hungry because he is 19.6Lbs (definitely getting enough to eat) and he barely eats when he’s at the boob at night, moreso wants to comfort suck and fall asleep with it in his mouth.

Does trying this sound like an okay plan? (for those who are also more opposed to CIO methods) or would you have any other suggestions or things to try to get him to sleep longer and eventually in his own room?

I am so tired all the time and sleep deprived. Help.