Sleep issues in 7 month old

[roundtable]

I've ended up cosleeping with my now 7 month old. I'm really not happy with it to be honest. I can't sleep properly and I like some space. Problem is, he really hates sleeping in his own space. He cries immediately on waking which is something ds1 never did. He's a really loud crier, so if you leave it too long he wakes ds1 up which means carnage!

He also wants to feed constantly during the night, it's driving me crazy!! Any suggestions?

He always starts off in his cot but by 2 am I'm usually done in and need sleep for my children's safety the next day. Otherwise I'm a zombie.

Dh has tried being the one to settle him but he screams and wakes up ds1. I've tried cot in the room, he doesn't settle. He stayed one night at granny's recently and slept from 7-2 had a bottle and then slept until 7. So he can do it. I'm considering just offering bottles at night. Has anyone had any success doing this and still bf during the day?

Sometimes he'll go through until 4. There is no rhyme or reason to it! He suffered a lot with being sick and I'd imagine stomach ache from the acidity of the sick. It's better now he's more active but he still gets a lot of wind. Perhaps this is a contributing factor?

Ds1 was basically sleeping through by 6 months so this is a shock!

Tia

[roundtable]

Very sleepy bump. Ds1 was awake and crying too and dh is away with work at the moment so I was putting one baby down to deal with the other. I think because of that he then cried whenever I put him down and insisted on sleeping on me.

I need a night nanny!

[roundtable]

Oh dear, are we unhelpable?!

I guess he'll grow out of it one day dear god let it be before school age.

[AlwaysWashing]

I didn't get much help with this when I posted either roundtable, my boy us 9 months nearly and we're not much further along.
He's not had night feeds for ages but his sleeping is so erratic, self soothing is different one night to the next, sometimes he'll co sleep and sleep like the dead or sonetines just fidget all night. CC is not for any of us. We're desperate to get him in with his brother but absolutely refuse to disturb ds1 as he sleeps so well.
I have no ideas to help you but just know that I feel your pain. If I try anything that works I'll let you know!

[roundtable]

Perhaps we should start up a two person support group Always?!

[Amyksays]

Hi - I read your post as have 7 month too, not sure i can be much help personally, but have found this website v good www.troublesometots.com/

• for understanding sleep and what's going on. I know not all methods suit all babies, but it might be worth a go and has a light and funny style.
  

I'm just switching from bf to bottle, partly in effort to control and wind down the night feeds, every 3 hours like clockwork at the mo, although I knw can do 5!

As a good friend once said 'head down and power through' x

[PicnicPie]

I have a 7 month old who sleeps well in her cot, except when she is suffering terribly with wind and indigestion. In which case the only place she is happy to sleep is vertically on my shoulder. I think it helps with the acidity and wind. She is a very windy baby and it can take from 9pm until midnight with constant waking, holding, patting, rubbing etc to get all her burps and bottom burps out. So maybe it is the excess wind??

[AlwaysWashing]

roundtable this evening is one of those which is NOT going to plan. FFS just go to sleeeeeeeep child!

[roundtable]

Thanks Amy and Picnic, I'll have a look at that info.

Any luck Always?

Yes it's definitely because he wants to be in bed with us. I've done the putting back, one night it was every 10 mins. I did that for a few days and then I said no more. He cries so loudly he kept waking his brother up so then we're dealing with both. I also wasn't functioning with 2 under two's during the day because of the lack of sleep. I will try that again at somepoint though.

When ds2 wakes, he cries immediately until he is held and can't be soothed by patting, rubbing head etc. He just gets more and more worked up. Anyone else.have this?

Excuse the crap typing, I'm on my phone and expressing.

[jimijack]

Oh ladies it's so good to have found you as I am in a similar boat with my 7.5 month old.

I've put him in his own room in a big cot, we are a week in. That's been fine, but he still wakes to feed every 2-3 hours.

Refuses a bottle so I bf him. Also bf"s to sleep. I think he uses me as a dummy. Refuses one of them too.
I'm shattered.

Hv suggested a high carbohydrate meal prior to bed. Need doing this & he still wakes at 11ish for a bf.

I need help.

[jimijack]

Sorry, I have been doing this

[monstergoose]

Hey jimjack I was pretty much where you were with my dd up to a week ago, just started in own room as was feeding every 90 mins when cosleeping, feeding to sleep, won't take dummy/bottle etc and after a few rough nights on her own cot i spoke to my HV who suggested making sure she has a really big feed last thing, so feeding in an upright position, keeping awake (tickling under her chin works for us) burping then offering both sides until she is absolutely full. Previously she'd just take one side, fall asleep on me and I'd put her down but now she takes 2 massive feeds from both sides.

Since I've been doing that shes had 1 night where she's slept 7 til 7 and the rest of the time she only wakes once for a feed, which is amazing considering where we started!

[jimijack]

That sounds doable monster. I will give that a go.
Willing to try anything tbh.

A meal at bedtime is making no difference at all currently.

[roundtable]

Ds2 spent a night at my mum's and since he's come back, he's ben better again. Fingers crossed it continues. He cried about 10 last night but by the time I got up to him he rolled on his side and self settle. Woke properly in the night for a feed. That feed seems to take over an hour though, then sleep until about 5.30. It was daylight so I brought him in to see me for a feed then he sat up and played on the bed/smacked me on the head.

This worked for me before, getting someone to break the cycle but growth spurts meant I got tired and back into bad habits.

I wonder if it'll last...not holding my breath!!

[mya22]

roundtable I could have written this...hello everyone...I'm also loosing my mind at the moment. my 7 month old is an awful sleeper waking erratically and on and off through the night. I'm co-sleeping but trying a bit to put him in cot. I'm now giving bottles in the day but still breast feeding at night. My problem is this i'm so utterly shattered I just can't even make any decisions about what / how to resolve this..my hubby sleeps in the spare room and we are not getting on so I feel quite unsupported - though I do give baby to him at 6am often out of desperation. I really don't know what to do!! I get really bad migraine's with lack of sleep and am considering giving up the breast feeding now out of desperation and to help with the sleep. I have a daughter - 4 and so just don't get any rest in the day..also i'm now back at work as of tomorrow (oh help!) and just don't know how i'm going to cope...Well just to say FEELING your pain if not offering any helpful tips here ): x

[roundtable]

Mya welcome, I think this may become a little support group. If you're back at work, you shouldn't be taking all the responsibility of night feeds.

A friend of mine got her husband to go in for a few nights and offer water but her baby was 11 months and eating fairly well so she felt she could. I'm trying to let have free access during the day so I know he's had plenty of milk, do one night feed of bm and the rest offer water.

I do cave though if it turns into screaming as otherwise he wakes ds2 up.

I feel for you going back to work.

How are the rest of you getting on? Any decent blocks of sleep to be had?

[roundtable]

Sorry I haven't addressed everyone personally, I'm on my phone and can't see everyone's names.

Aiden, is your baby still sleeping well?

[roundtable]

Every cloud I suppose Aiden!

I keep muttering to myself that he will grow out of it if I keep persevering!

[jimijack]

Every fecking hour last night. He was doing a strange thing. He would feed to sleep, seem out for the count then began cying as if in pain. I'm thinking teething possibly.

SO tired..

[glorious]

Can I join you? DD is 6.5 months and slept well until 3.5 months but now... dreadful. She starts off in her cot which is now in her room. She wakes at least hourly all evening and night until I bring her into bed and then not sure how often she wakes but not much better. I've only recently started cosleeping with her so I don't think that caused the wakings. I just can't function otherwise.

I also have no idea what to do next. She fights naps like crazy but I know they're important so do I carry on getting her to nap at all costs (I.e. in sling / feed to sleep and hold or put down if feeling brave) or do I try to improve nap habits first?

I take my hat off to those of you with more than one.

all round. It's horrible. And why does everyone else's baby seem to sleep.

[mya22]

Yes a lovely little support group..just reading makes me feel a bit saner! Last night ds went to sleep well initially at 6.30, then woke at 9 and then 10, then 1 and then 3, 3.30, then 4 ten awake and smiling at 5.30!!! All good intentions went out window as had Migraine all night so just feeding/semi sleeping...at 6am in tears gave bubba to hubby!! Every night is like the time I took the overnight sleepertrain to Arles....nod/wake/nod/wake...wake feeling like have been beaten up having slept on edge of bed in contorted position!! ....well after that...tonight DS in cot asleep after bottle/breastfeed...hoping for better night as big day at work tomorrow...hubby probably would help at night but works with power tools and I'm scared he will loose a hand!! Good luck tonight all of you (again sorry not listing all names) x

[roundtable]

Jim - calpol needed in your house up think!

Glorious - welcome. I bought a swing to rock the baby in otherwise I'd have lost my mind. I got in from ebay second hand. Otherwise the battle I have to get him to sleep as he doesn't often feed to sleep, is epic.. Ds2 also fights naps, I think he's had about half an hour spread out during the day. I put him down, he wakes up screaming a minute later. Today he woke ds1 so I was rather frustrated.

Mya could your dc sleep in with your dh? Maybe try at the weekend? He may not wake as much as he doesn't smell your milk? It seems to work for me when dh is here.

I'm currently grappling with ds2 who's rubbing his eyes but shouting and flinging himself about on me. This is where the swing comes in handy, in he goes... Good luck tonight everyone!

[Amyksays]

I've had 20 min naps yesterday and today, plus 1 hr 30 screaming before sleep last night and 1 hour tonight... Feel there is change again in the air!

Seems like she changes her routine every 6 weeks or so, just I keep on toes..! Is still waking every 3 hours for feeds, but doesn't seem that interested for some of them, so will start trying to cut out the first one (soon - shattered at the moment, plus have house guest).

Is taking some formula from sippy cup, but not bottle - perhaps that is option for you? Hoping to build up and cut down the bf.

Well off to bed for a couple of hours.. X good luck everyone