Settling DD at night by breastfeeding

[obsessivereader]

Hi there - I don't know if anyone has any experience at this, but my DD started sleeping through at 8 weeks old and I thought we'd cracked it.

However, about 3 weeks ago, she woke not long after we'd put her down, proceeded to wake 7 times in one night and this has continued to wake between 3 and 7 times ever since.

She has a bit of a cold that she's been unable to shift and we think she's teething, and we've found that the only way to settle her, is by lying down with her and letting her b/f.

I'm worried that this will become a habit and that she will expect this to continue, but it's the only way that she and I get any sleep at all.

We've tried raising the top of the cot, snufflebabe, olbas oil, steam.... all to no avail and are struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Does anyone else have any experience of this or any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

[moondog]

How old is she?

[lady007pink]

I'm in the same predicament, obsessivereader! DD2 is 4 months old and, like you I got her sleeping through the night at 8 weeks old. She still does, but wakes up several times during the night for a feed, then goes back to sleep about 5 minutes after each feed. I find this okay as I don't need to get up every time she awakens. I don't care once I get my sleep!
DD2 has been snuffly for a few weeks, but i find the snufflebabe works fine. I really think it's associated with teething, as she bites her hand frequently during the day.

[obsessivereader]

Moondog, DD is just over 5 months old.

[obsessivereader]

Lady007pink

How do you manage to feed and sleep? My DH has been despatched to the spare room so that I can get DD in the middle of the bed, on top of the covers and twist myself round to get her latched on, whilst giving myself cramp in my arm and panicing about SIDS cos I'm "co-sleeping!"

[moondog]

If,as you have pointed out, it is the only way either of you get some sleep,the logical thing is to carry on.

[obsessivereader]

Logically, it does make sense to continue, but I'm still knackered cos it's disturbed sleep and I'm fretting about DD forming a bad sleeping habit that will be hard to break.

[Swizzler]

OR: she may really be hungry. DS has never slept through (at 5.5 months) but I think a lot of his feeding in the night is because he so nosy he doesn't feed much in the day - might be a developmental thing

have you noticed she's starting to do something new: sit up perhaps?

[obsessivereader]

Hi Swizzler

She's always doing new things - this weeks thing is bouncing and blowing raspberries!

I did wonder if she was hungry and possibly ready for weaning, but she doesn't settle in the night even after a feed if I feed her sitting up and try and put her in her cot. I figured that if it was hunger, a feed would settle her for a few more hours? That's why I'm feeding her lying down, so she just comes off and stays asleep without me disturbing her.

[glassslipper]

my first dd used to feed more with every development change. eg sitting up, crawling, walking. it could just be she needs the extra white stuff to keep her going. not all babies sleep through and their patterns change too.

send dh in to try and comfort her without feeding her the 2nd time she wakes. she may get bored of waking if she doesnt immediately get milk

[obsessivereader]

We were on holiday last week and DH did try to settle her a number of nights to give me a break!

He managed a couple of times, but most of the time, as soon as he put her down, she woke and continued crying - that's why I think it's the mucus of her cold rather than the need for food that's bothering her. I could be wrong though - I'm getting used to feeling like I haven't got a clue what I'm doing since I had her!!!!

She's also really nosey if I feed when I'm out and about during the day, so doesn't always feed for very long cos she doesn't want to miss out on anything!!

Maybe it's a combination of all these things and I just need to go with it for a while longer?!

[glassslipper]

my dd started sleeping through a few weeks ago and with her cold has been up 3 x each night. as her cold is improving its goine down to 2x. so bide your time. it could just be the cold. if dh can bear it get him to keep trying..

[lady007pink]

obsessivereader, I think I manage to sleep while co-sleeping because basically it is my third time round and I'm just conditioned to it! With DD1, she slept in a single bed situated between the wall and my bed - when she'd awaken, I'd move in beside her and feed her until she fell asleep, then move away back into my bed. But I just put DD2 into the bed with me! Sometimes I wake up with cramps in my arms, but I still prefer it to having to get out of my bed during the night!