Help! DS now waking every 30 minutes!

[forevared]

My 8 week old ds has suddenly started waking every 30-40 minutes from his sleep. We've always had a bit of problem getting him off to sleep what with a bit of colic but since we started him on colief that seemed to be better.
I've been told that he's probably coming into his period of light sleep and then wakes up, but no-one seems to know what to do. I've heard of crying down but I thought you shouldn't do that before 6 months.
I'd really appreciate anyone's experiences of anything similar or any tips/ideas as to how to handle this.
I'm desperate for sleep and as hubby is away this weekend I'm going stir crazy!

[notnowbernard]

Poor you, that's hard going!

Is he ff or bf? Does he have a dummy?

[forevared]

He's bf exclusively. I don't use a dummy, might it help?

[notnowbernard]

I have 2 dds, both were bf

I used a dummy with both (dd2 still has hers for sleeping now and she's 21m)

Is he waking up looking to feed?

If you are happy that bf is well established, he is a good feeder, gaining weight well etc I think a dummy is worth a try. Both mine were REALLY sucky babies and a dummy was a real comforter for them (and me )

[Washersaurus]

My DS2 still has problems like this at nearly 10mo! He is improving gradually, but i still have to sit with him to get him back off to sleep when he wakes.

I found that I had to put him in bed with me and have lots of early nights was the only way to keep him asleep.

Have you read the No cry sleep solution? I have been reading it recently (after loads of recommendations on here) and it is really very useful.

[forevared]

He's not usually hungry when he wakes, bfing is going well (apart from issues with supply recently)and he's always been a good feeder! Regularly puts on 14oz a week. Might try a dummy and see.
As for the No Cry sleep solution, is there a website or any links you know of?

[Washersaurus]

Her website here

[notnowbernard]

If you do try a dummy, you might find that he HATES it at first. I sort of had to hold the dummy in at first to stop thm spitting it out, but once they got what it was for they were fine.

[Washersaurus]

I would recommend the book though, there is not much on the website tbh. I found her suggestion of introducing a comforter (or luvvie or something as she calls it) really helpful. I now frequently hear DS2 wake and resettle himself and then when I check on him find him cuddling his little toy

[forevared]

Very grateful, washersaurus!

[Eelpie]

Oh my biggest sympathies, DD was exactly the same.

Try a dummy, did not work for us but each LO is different. If I had the time again I would have put her Moses basket right next to the bed or bought a cot that I could take a side off so she was there with me all the time. Personally I could not have co-slept at that age - although we do now occasionally (21m) but we found that she heard me walking away. If you could just lie down and put lo down next to you when he has fed that may do the trick. Once they have learnt to go longer things change a lot.

[notnowbernard]

Also second the teddy idea

[forevared]

Is it safe to put comforters in with them at such a young age? (Bit paranoid about SIDS)
I've noticed he likes cuddling the muslin I use when he's feeding so maybe I could leave him with that.

[Washersaurus]

A muslin is a perfect comforter as easily washed and replaced and very thin so they can breathe through it if it goes over the face.

[forevared]

Think I'll try the comforter idea, and if that doesn't work I'll try the dummy. I do have a mobile over his cot which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.
He's now been asleep for an hour and 20 mins, typical! DH gets home in an hour or so and I bet ds will be sleeping peacefully then after his 10pm feed!
Many thanks for all your help, and please keep them coming, I'll try anything.

[notnowbernard]

I think you do whatever you have to do to cope with sleep deprivation!

Mine were great as newborns, but developed into pretty crap sleepers from about 4m or so

Co-sleeping is another way of coping. For me, not a long-term solution but an easy way of managing a particularly bad night.

Also, have just thought, he may be having a growth spurt, in which case he will wake more for feeds

[Washersaurus]

Ah yes, I think around 8 wks is a growth spurt isn't it...?

DS2 has always been a nightmare sleeper tbh. He wouldn't take a dummy when tiny - I wouldn't have wanted him to have one really, but was so desperate at the time! So we have been co-sleeping every night for nearly 10months [tired]. He has only slept through the whole night twice since birth.

I wish I had read the No cry sleep thing ages ago. There is a seperate section for babies under 6 months that I haven't bothered reading as DS is older - there may be more suggestions useful to you in there.

[notnowbernard]

Sympathies to you, Washersaurus

Have you considered CC?

Worked for me with DD1 in 6 nights (hated every second though)

DD2 - will of iron - NO CHANCE!

Buut she slept through from about 11m or so, IIRC

[Washersaurus]

Oh I did try it very briefly - it was just too heart breaking and he just got himself so worked up it took 3 hours for him to sleep...I have just got over the guilt of that. Saying that it did work a charm with DS1 - now HE is a good sleeper, bless him!

I find sitting with DS2 until he drifts off to sleep much less painful than CC

[notnowbernard]

Yes, I found CC distressing too with DD1

DD2 just used to SHOUT from her cot VERY loudly, rather than do the heartbreak-cry thing. But I gave up because it had zero impact

[PeckaRolloverAgain]

Do you swaddle?

If you dont DO!!!

When they come into the light sleep cycle once they develop a more mature REM cycle sleep the jolts can wake them up.

I had this problem BIG TIME with DD from about 7wks-14wks.

What cracked it was tight swaddle and I used to hover until she first stirred and put some pressure on her, holding down her arms and legs or just pressure on her chest - experiment with what works.

My DD was also very overtired - when they are overtired they are more jolty and therefore more likely to struggle to get through the jolts.

After a week or two of helping her through the cycles she caught on to doing it herself and now THANK GOD does great 2 hour naps and sleeps most of the night.

Getting rid of the overtiredness was the key I think - get him down before he gets too tired and he may well only be able to sway awake less than an hour at this age.

[Washersaurus]

Gawd I had forgotten about swaddling! It worked like a miracle with DS1 when he was tiny - he had extreme startle reflex. Typically though DS2 hated it, which threw us into a state of panic and confusion

[PeckaRolloverAgain]

Hate it as in fights it when put on? DD used to do this but I continued it and by the time she was wrapped and I picked her up and shushed her a bit she settled into it.

Worth another go?

[Washersaurus]

LOL Pecka, DS2 is 10 months old - I don't think he'd take to swadddling now!

Swaddling just didn't help to settle him when we tried it. DS1 used to struggle when we swaddled but almost instantly calmed.... I have come to realise that DS1 was actually quite an easy baby

It is a wonderful suggestion for forevared though. I can't believe how quickly I have forgotten these things!

[PeckaRolloverAgain]

LOL washer - thought you were OP!!

[Washersaurus]

I do seem to have hijacked her thread a bit . It just saddens me to think there is someone else suffering with sleep deprivation like me, so was trying to think of some of the things we had tried to help.