DS sleeping habits are driving me insane

[NorkyButNice]

DS is nearly 11 months and still waking up repeatedly during the night - I'm pulling my hair out and seriously sleep-deprived - it's really getting me down and affecting my relationship with both DS and DH.

A lot of the time he wakes because he's crawled to the top of his cot and jammed his head against the bars - we've tried using bumpers so he can't hurt his head but he still cries until I go and move him back down the cot.

He normally wants a bottle at some point - surely he shouldn't need this by now? He eats a good breakfast, lunch and tea at nursery, has a snack before bed, and a 9oz bottle just before going to sleep, which should see him through the night.

Lastly (but worst of all) the latest he wakes up in the morning is 5.30 - today it was 4.15 when he decided he wanted to get up. He just screams in his cot until I go and get him up - if I'm in the room with him he'll stand up and bounce away grinning at me but as soon as I leave he's crying again.

When I was young I remember my Mum saying to me "I love you, but I don't like you very much at the moment"- I always thought it was a complete cop-out but I know what she meant. I love DS but I'm really starting to dislike him, purely because I can barely function throughout the day going on such broken sleep. Last night I just wanted to leave him crying in his cot, but we live in a flat surrounded by neighbours so I'd just get complaints.

Can anyone help with any of my problems?

[bubblagirl]

my ds still needed feeds in night i would dream feed him when i went to bed about midnight and this saw him through

as for the morning waking was the same time my ds woke up has he any fave toys that can be popped into the cot so you can have an extra hour

could his teeth be playing him up maybe some bonjela at bedtime night light and few fave toys he may learn to settle himself back down

just rule things out nappy dry etc my ds hated having even 1 wee in his nappy id have to change it still needed his dream feed maybe growth spurt and always woke early so i made sure he had enough to amuse himself with so wasnt bored

and if his able to feed himself i also put cup of water in his cot so could have drink when he woke early

[meandmyjoe]

Some babies do need feeds inm the night for a long time. Is he fairly active? My ds went from sleeping through til 8 months then he got crawling and suddenly his sleep was terrible. Also don't forget that separation anxiety peaks around this time so I'd probably hang off leaving him to cry as he'll just be scared that you're not there. It must be very hard for you.

Bubblagirl I['m very envious that your ds will entertain himself for an hour in the morning! My ds wakes up and even though he sleeps through again now, he rarely wakes after 5:50am and immediately stands up and SCREAMS for me .

Just relieved thst he's sleeping through again now, I do sympathise, night wakings are horrendous but if he drinks all the milk in the night then he probably does need it.

[bubblagirl]

my ds was good at that and still is his 3.2 now and will still amuse himself in the morning for an hour so i can sleep were ground floor falt antyhting dangerous is behind a gate so just him and toys and he'll play and let me slep if i need it

was the same as a baby toys in cot id take him through a bottle able to feed himself so i would leave him to play and drink and he would usually pop back to sleep about 6 till 7

[NorkyButNice]

If it's obvious he's not going back to sleep I'll put toys in his cot then but once he's seen me he's determined to have a hug or for me to stay and play with him. I can try putting the toys in at the start of the night I guess, and hopefully he'll find them and entertain himself.

He's very active during the day - climbing up and trying to walk everywhere - it's great that he's so inquisitive but I sometimes long for a placid quiet baby who'll happily entertain themselves for 10 minutes!

I just feel like I'm at the end of my tether - he had a fit of the giggles yesterday and I realised that it's so rare that I see him so happy - it really feels like it's ruining our relationship which is so sad when he's only 11 months.

[NorkyButNice]

oops X post.

He goes to bed about 7.15 - he'll only take one nap at nursery so is exhausted by then.

The latest DH and I get to bed is 10 which is so tragic for people of our age! It's not so much the length of sleep, but the fact that it's so interrupted - he probably only goes a couple of hours at most without needing attention.

Thanks for the replies though ladies!

[Skimty]

Can you put him in a travel cot with a proper mattress? DS went into one at 10mths because he kept banging his head like you describe and they're soft IYSWIM. We never put him back in a normal cot!

[nappyaddict]

for the early waking - do you have blackout blinds and curtains? does he have a few favourite toys to entertain him in his cot? could you leave a cup/bottle of juice/water in there in case he is just waking cos he is hungry?

[nappyaddict]

also is he in a grow bag?

[meandmyjoe]

Oh I could so have written what you have about him not being happy and it ruining your relationship. I have been there! My ds was the same, always into everything, never still or easily entertained, fought sleep, just very hard work. Especially before he got mobile, he was just awful, cried all the time.

If it helps I started a thread called my virtual glass of champagne which is a couple of threads below this one. It says pretty much what you have described but how he has FINALLY improved now he's walking. Thankfully ds sleep was fantastic til 8 months then it went all over the place and I was exhausted. It's sorted again now though (touch wood!) there is hope it will get better. x