7.5 month old and finding it hard.

[Dcacau]

Hi all.
I feel so guilty but I'm struggling atm. My DD is 7.5 months old and really is a lovely little thing. However for the last 3 weeks or so shes been waking up at 5am. Ok...not ideal but we coped. However the last few days shes been really grumpy, not settled at all, nothing seems to make her happy and just not herself. I had pnd from the off and still am on antidepressants. I just feel so bad that I find it so hard trying to keep her constantly entertained and happy. I've become obsessed with trying to figure out why, ie, is it teething (she has no teeth yet) , separation anxiety, overtiredness, frustration (she cant crawl as yet) or growth spurt. I just feel like I need to know what it is so I can get back to understanding her and enjoying her again. I know I'm far luckier than some and have no need to feel this way but I'm starting to find I dread the early mornings. I dont know if its the pnd or this stage is generally hard as I feel so bad for not enjoying it. Can anyone relate or offer advice? X

[LouiseTrees]

It’s probably a sleep regression. Does she try to crawl and get annoyed at not being able to? Does she get hyper at night?

[ThePurpleMoose]

You could try the Wonder Weeks app which tells you about what's going on for babies developmentally at different times. DD always seems a little bit off with it but it's based on due date and she was over 5 weeks early. A lot of babies have a sleep 'regression' at 8 months so it could be the start of that.

Have you tried getting her back to sleep when she wakes at 5? My DD (13m) wakes around 4am at the moment but I feed her and then she's usually out til about 6 then.

[Dcacau]

Thanks for replying. She always seems tired...like the early mornings throw her off...she needs a nap before 7.30...so by 6pm shes completely overwhelmed. She kind of moves around on her tummy but loves being held up using my fingers as balance. It's like she doesnt really know what she wants if that makes any sense? She seems to struggle to be awake longer than 2 hours at the min...2.5 max but you can tell shes really tired by then.

[userabcname]

May well be a growth spurt. My 8mo went through a phase of sleeping worse and eating loads for a week or so then bam! Woke up a couple of days ago and had literally outgrown his sleepsuit overnight. He is suddenly huuge! He's also much more content again now and sleeping well again. Hang in there.

[Onebabyandamadcat]

I feel for you OP. I could've written this post last year. When my DD was around that age I found it really tough. She wanted to be moving but couldn't, was teething and her sleep was a nightmare. It was around this time I was diagnosed with PND too.

I'd recommend the wonder weeks app. I don't know if I really believe that every child has leaps at the same time but it was good to see that there are peaks and troughs of hard times.

I found putting my wee girl in her highchair with stuff on the tray helped a bit - it's a new experience. Also going upstairs then downstairs to play - again sometimes a change of scene helps.

All I can really say is this does pass I promise and you're not alone.

[Yorkiee]

Had exactly the same problem. No tooth but then guess what it cut through. Then a week later another cut through. So the whole of June was very difficult. It took 10 days each.

[Dcacau]

Thank you so much everyone. Honestly I know it's just a case of hanging in there it just feels hard, like I haven't got enough energy left to do it! I realise how lazy it makes me sound...like I just would love some time to myself..selfishly I know...but with lockdown it's just not happened for so long I think I'm just a bit ground down. Thank you all so much, I feel so much better even just knowing I'm not the only one who has found this stage hard! Xx

[dustyphoenix]

You aren't lazy, OP. Parenting little ones is really tough and you sound like you're devoted to her. She's a very lucky girl. Lockdown exacerbates things too - normally there would probably be other things going on that meant that you focused less intently on your DD and her moods and feelings. I imagine everything feels so much more intense because there's not much else going on to take your mind off it.

You sound like you're doing a great job. All babies have their odd days/stages, and remember that you're still getting to know each other.

[Dcacau]

Thank you so much. I do love her to bits, I just seem to lose sight of that in the thick of it. I think you're right...lockdown really doesnt help as theres no sense of the outside world to give perspective. It just seems relentless. Thanks again. I'm going to try and be less stressed and anxious. Xx

[Yorkiee]

@Dcacau can I suggest something? My LO kept waking up at 5 at one point. I gave her formula at 4:00. Just a little. She stopped waking up at 5. Wakes up at 7.

Then I stopped the 4 formula and she just sleeps through.

Could your LO be hungry?

[Gin4thewin]

Dd is just 7months and weve hit a sleep regression so i feel your pain. Shes slept through until 7 since she was 4m old. I stopped dream feeding when i went to bed a few weeks ago but had to start again because she kept waking up at 3am.

[Dcacau]

She might be...it might be worth trying as she may be going through a growth spurt and I'm not increasing her intake... thank you! X

[Gettingonabitnow]

Similar! My 6 month old daughter is constantly grumpy and annoyed at life because she desperately wants to crawl but can’t. She spends the entire day grumbling and grumping. You are not alone - it’s bloody hard work!! X