sleep problems

[jules44]

i have a 12 week old girl who has a good bedtime routine, (based on the baby whisperer book)going off to sleep in her cot at about 8pm and awaking for a breastfeed at 1-1.30am.

The problem starts about 2-2.30 when she seems semi awake thrashing her head side to side and pulling at her face pulling out her dummy (which was introduced at 8 weeks through sheer desperation following her first injection.)

I put her dum back in and she seems to be going off for a few mins before she starts the process again, to save my hard working partner being awoke i seem to be spending hours on dummy watch!! as if the dum isn't inserted sharpish she would scream!!


Im sure she would go through to 7am if we could solve this problem as she doesn't appear to be hungry.
Putting her in another bedroom isn't an option so if she does start to scream i end up downstairs on the sofa!!

Has anyone experienced this??

Any suggestions on how to solve this and get a better nights sleep greatly appreciated.

one very worn out mum!!¬ xx

[oremstango]

My only thought is to try to get her off the dummy slowly so she can rely on the good old thumb. Perhaps if you start this in daytime she'll get the hang of it...

[jules44]

thank you for your comments, did wonder if this would be the answer, altho she only has the dum at sleeptimes it has helped establish a sleep routine.

may give it a little longer and if it does't improve will give it a try,
kind regards
xxxxxxxxxx

[Runninglate]

My DD does this if she needs a bit more milk.... sometimes she falls asleep on the boob before she's actually had enough to eat, hence she doesn't sleep soundly until she's been topped up. I usually feed one side and then burp her / walk around with her on my shoulder for a minute or two and then offer the other side. By this time, she's awake enough to feed properly again but will still sleep solidly afterwards!

HTH

[jules44]

Thank you runninglate will try that tonight, was a bit better last night, but will see what tonigt brings.]

kind regards
xxxx

[Runninglate]

Hi Jules - how did you get on last night? Another thought - is baby comfortable teperature wise....that would also cause an untimely wake up!

[jules44]

Hi Runninglate
Thank you for asking!
Things had improved until last night!!!
she went down at 8pm as usual but was awake at 8.45, 9.30, 11, 1am, 3am, 5am & 6.30!!!!

wanted feeding, so don't know if we are going thro a growthspurt????????

At 1am ang 5am she was very unsettled-screaming!!.........
so ended up downstairs on the sofa!!!

i have a themormeter in the bedroom and ai aways careful about how hot cold she is.

am feeling desperate again for sleep so am cramming in the baby whisperer book today!!!
it has helped to establish theday time but can't crack nightime?

Did you have a good night!!
xxxx

[Runninglate]

ah that does sound quite growth spurty doesn't it?? Is she happy once fed? Is she wide awake and alert or looking tired and just not sleeping? Does your gut feeling tell you that she's uncomfortable or just fancying some company?

Mine is just 13 weeks and is entering an unsettled phase too - she goes down fine but then intermittently grumbles all evening. I just ignore her unless it gets insistent and she goes off to sleep and wakes up again etc. I think it's just a phase plus I think she's growth spurting too.

One thing I have done which really seemed to help is I was given a soft toy cow thing where you pull the string and it plays music for a minute(!) (but any music thing would do!!). I would play it while giving her her last feed before putting her down. She immediately started to associate it with this feed / sleep. Now if she gets very unsettled I can easily restart the routine by playing the music again and she goes in to auto and drops off again. I don't know if this is worth a try to avoid having to go to the sofa?????