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Please help I’m at my wits end

5 replies

Rororob · 26/01/2019 15:08

I have a 3 month old who has slept well from when she was born really. I just followed her cues for when she was tired and either held her to sleep or put her down in her chair and she slept most of the day away as well as sleeping quite well of a night too.

The last few weeks she needs less sleep than she did so been playing more and she’s very alert, but she still slept well day and night with very little coaxing.

But the last few weeks it’s all gone wrong. She wasn’t well with a cold then a chest infection, then showing signs of teething which seem to have subsided now. She’s well in herself, but since then her sleep is hard work. She is up twice again of a night (she was down to one night bottle) and her day time naps are horrific. She won’t sleep. I work so hard to get her to sleep in my arms and as soon as I put her down she wakes and screams and I have to start all over again. She’s obviously tired.

Everything I read says I should be starting a routine with her around now. I feel so alone today. She’s screaming, I’m crying. I’m so tired even though I’ve slept, but it’s such broken sleep. My DH is working til 8pm and I don’t have many people I can call on, and the ones I do have other things on today. I’m so lost and feel like I’m failing. She’s just screaming. I can’t sit and hold her all day, I just need some time to myself.

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Jackshouse · 26/01/2019 15:11

Only been awake twice in the night at 3 months is amazing. There are parents of 3 year olds who would be happy with that. You need to adjust your expectations.

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Jackshouse · 26/01/2019 15:14

If she is screaming carefully check her fingers and toes to make sure no hair is wrapped around them and then check her temp. Does she calm with more milk or a walk in the pram? If not ring 111 and get her checked over.

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MynameisJune · 26/01/2019 15:15

It could be the start of the 4 month sleep regression, DD slept amazingly well until then and then woke up every 1.5hrs until 9 months.

It’s tough and I’m sorry your struggling. What about walking her around in her pram and then leaving her asleep in the pram inside? Have you tried white noise? I found it helped DD stay asleep, it was just a white noise app on my phone or tablet.

Unfortunately it is just hard and relentless sometimes and you do what gets you through. On the worst days I would fill a tub with snacks, have a flask of drink and not really leave the sofa just so she would sleep as she had reflux and slept better laid on me. At least that way I got to watch TV or mindlessly scroll on my phone for a bit.

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Rororob · 26/01/2019 15:16

jackshouse I know that’s amazing really, it’s just that she’s going backwards and I feel so useless. I’ve had an awful week (for lots of reasons not because of baby) and just having a bad day and she wouldn’t stop screaming. I’m sorry, I sound so ungrateful. I’ll go and get a grip of myself

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Rororob · 26/01/2019 15:23

Cross post there, I’m a slow typer.
She doesn’t seem ill, she’s just over tired and needs to sleep. I’ve been checking her temp and it’s always been fine. It’s just the sleeping thing. She’s a happy smiley baby otherwise.

I didn’t think about a sleep regression, she’s only just 3 months so probably a bit early for that but who knows. I just hope it gets better soon.