How do you survive ' the witching hour'!

[lazzaroo]

5 week old classically unsettled between 5-9pm. Also have 3 year old to feed, bath, bed etc. Husband works away. Won't feel asleep on her own, nothing works for longer than 10 min dozing between these times. She can't keep dummy in her mouth! Often ends up cluster feeding.

Have moby wrap on order!

Top tips welcome!

[ilovepicnmix]

Hi there. No great advice but didn't want you to go unanswered. When my boy was wee I hired a Moby wrap and he would fall asleep in it. It left my hands free so hopefully you'll find it helps. He's 6 months now so we're over that stage thankfully. Good luck with the wrap.

[Pascha]

Are you me? DS2 4.5 weeks old and exactly the same. Luckily I only have to do it all one day a week otherwise I think I would go crazy. I'm afraid to say on that one night while I settle DS1, DS2 just has to cry in his cot. Cant do it with a sling. Doesn't reliably take a dummy, velcrobaby tendencies. I will lurk here for answers.

[worldgonecrazy]

Chocolate cake and wine. Don't think that will help you though unless your 3 year old is an angel who goes to sleep easily?

[pinkpudding]

just been through this stage. i did a top up feed before every step of bedtime routine to pasify and was always breastfeeding while reading stories. just started routine a bit earlier to get through it in time.

[lazzaroo]

Thank you for replies. Last night, with husband away, I decided I had to go with the flow & do whatever necessary to get through it! This mainly involved having her constantly on and off my boob for couple of hours, while doing tea, bedtime etc.

Fortunatley my eldest does settle quickly at 7-7.30 and can get herself into PJ's.

Little one is currently snoozing in the bjorn, where hopefully she'll stay long enough for us to have tea!

[Pascha]

I did tea for DS1 with DS2 in the sling. He's eating now while I bf DS2. Chilli is defrosting to go with nachos later. No more cooking tonight. I will keep feeding all the time i'm allowed and hopefully he will sink into milky sleep by 8pm when DS1 will be asleep and dinner ready. Might even get a bath later.