Although for the first 4 months she was a great sleeper (sleeping through the night at 12 weeks or so), then at 4 months it all changed and she started waking up 3 or 4 times a night again. She was (until last week) going to sleep (BF to sleep) fine at 7, then waking at 10, 12, 2 and 4.30 or 5.30. Sometimes she would go a long stretch and sleep from 12 to 5.30 or 6. When she wakes in the night I BF her to sleep. Last week it got too much and I was told the only way to improve things (she is now 7mo) was to not let her fall asleep on the breast. So I tried this at sleep time and put her drowsy in her cot. She screamed and screamed. I waited 7 minutes, went in to try and calm her and couldn't. DH then tried and after 1.5hrs of screaming, I tried BF to sleep again. It didn't work for the first time ever and so we had to walk her and rock her to sleep - she finally went to sleep at 10.30 (and then actually only woke once when I BF her to sleep).
Since then though it is like all hell has broken loose. She screams when I even try and put her in her cot (when previously she was really happy there) and won't be calmed at all. Also, the worst thing is that if I do BF her to sleep (for sanity), as soon as I put her in the cot she wakes and screams - or sleeps for 5 minutes and then screams. Last night she was awake until 9 and then from 10 to 12 and from 4 to 6 (when she went back to sleep for an hour). She has previously been great at her morning nap (again BF to sleep) but now I can't get her to go to sleep at all. If she does go to sleep, she wakes after 5 minutes and screams.
I feel so tearful - I am absolutely shattered and don't know what to do. I can't seem to find any way to settle her apart from BF - and she is so suspicious of me now that she wakes as soon as hitting the cot. She is, during the day, an incredibly aware and active baby - not sure if this has something to do with it. Should I try a sleep trainer or what should I do? BTW, I have tried cuddly toys to soothe, dummies (lots of brands) - and she doesn't want any of them. Also I have never been able to get her to take a bottle....
Sorry for the long post. Haven't used this before but feel utterly desperate.
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Help...7mo sleep issues
3 replies
Rachelandkitty · 08/08/2011 11:44
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