Completely fed up

[Missingsleep1]

My DD (now 6 months) has consistently been a terrible sleeper from birth. But these past 3 months have gone to a whole new level! Her naps in the day last no longer than 15 minutes - 25 on a good day! An so sleep at night is just crap. I spend my evenings sat in our dark bedroom trying to get her back to sleep. Putting her on our bed did work for a bit, and I got an hour to myself.. But even that has stopped working now!
I've got a DS aged 3 years and it took me 2.5 years to get him to self settle. I can't go through that again with DD. It makes me panicked just thinking about it DH and I have decided to try cc, im really worried about how me and DD will cope though, as I currently co-sleep with her so that we can both get some sleep. But she still wakes over 5 times in the night.
I was wondering if anyone has any cc tips?? An also an advise on whether a cot mobile would help? I thought it might act as a distraction and 'lul' her to sleep?! (Wishful thinking!) Or will that just be too much stimulation?? Totally clueless!

[DreamPhone]

I'm no sleep expert but I would say a cot mobile is definitely worth a try - DD is 4.5 months and I find it useful for getting her off to sleep for naps and also if she's having trouble settling at night - it seems to distract her and keep her happy while sleepiness creeps up on her. Also maybe worth trying a Ewan the Dream Sheep? I know they don't work for everyone but his music setting seems to sooth DD. Good luck!

[nottheOP]

Cc is really effective at 6 months old as they can't stand up yet. The tips are to listen to the cries. If it's more of a groan don't go in yet as she may be winding down. Only stick to the clock timings if she's still fully crying

Be consistent in both teaching self settling and carrying on with it as it's easy to undo and new habits learned

Try and settle in her cot. Just go into the room briefly to let her know you're there rather than anything drawn out

[Missingsleep1]

Thanks both! I've heard good things about Ewan the sheep, so will look into getting one of those She has a seahorse that plays music at the minute, but the trouble is it doesn't play for long enough so have to keep turning it back on.
Thank you for the tips as well, another terrible nights sleep last night, despite Co - sleeping. Something has to change!

[Iggly]

Have you ruled out reasons for night waking? Mine had reflux, food intolerances and my dd had tongue tie and lip ties which meant she took down shed loads of wind so terrible sleeper.

Until you've ruled out causes you shouldn't do cc (this is the advice that Feber himself gives in his book)

[Missingsleep1]

Yes had her checked out, she was quite colicky for several months which is when the rocking to sleep/co-sleeping began as it was the only way of settling her. But no lip or tongue ties or reflux, and as far as I can tell no intolerance? Poo is always normal? I think the colicky phase has been down to my milk as the let down is very quick. But that's settled down, and she seems to be able to cope with wind much better now (thank goodness!)

[Iggly]

What about gentle sleep training? I got mine to self settle over a few weeks by rocking after a feed then putting down drowsy every now and then and it started to work. You need a transition from cosleeping to sleeping in a cot first though.

Are you winding after each feed? Have uou tried letting her sleep on her tummy?

[bigkidsdidit]

I sleep trained both if mine at 6 months with no cry methods - pick up put down and gradual retreat. If you can spare £300, I highly recommend Andrea Grace who got mine from waking every 45 minutes to sleeping 12 hours in te space of 5 weeks!

[Missingsleep1]

Winding after every feed and tried lots to get her to sleep on her tummy, as this really helped with my DS, but with no luck She wakes up instantly and will panic, no matter how much of a deep sleep she's in.. I'm definitely going to start off by putting her in very drowsy and see how we go from there. I feel terrible even considering doing any sleep training while she's so little, but I feel I have to do something for my mental health! Because she won't nap in the day, and won't sleep for longer than 10 minutes without me at night (and also with having a 3 year old already) I'm not getting any time to myself to recharge a bit. I feel like I'm constantly on edge.
Thanks so much for your comments, really appreciate it

[Writerwannabe83]

I recently paid for the services of a Sleep Consultant when things were getting desperate with my 8m/o and his daytime and nighttime sleep. She asked me if anything was in his cot, mobile or teddies etc and when I told her there wasn't she said "Good."

I did CC and within three days all my problems were over