Baby lost ability to sleep

[8750rich]

My baby is 15 weeks and breastfed. He's never been a great sleeper, the longest he's ever done is 5hrs at the start of the night then waking every 1.5 hours or so. However he has now started waking every 30mins or hour. Then once awake I can't get him back down for hours. Always between 1 and 3 hours to get him to sleep again. He'll fall asleep in my arms, but as soon as I put him down he begins thrashing his arms and raising his legs, then starts to cry. over a 10 hour night he sleeps about 5 hours if I'm lucky, broken by at least 4 wake ups of long periods.

This never used to be the case, I could feed him, pop him straight down and he'd sleep another hour and a half. Now I have to pick him up and re-settle him over and over and over. It leaves me exhausted and often in tears. If I let him cry he just screams and screams, there is no end to it.

I can't cope with it anymore. I'm so exhausted and frustrated. It's making me really down.

[SunnyL]

Oh yes I remember this. It's he'll isn't it? Just when you think you're getting the hang of things they do this. Read up on the 4 month sleep regression. It's natural but fucking awful.

For us it happened almost overnight. One night DD seemed to be hitting a pattern of waking 2-3 times a night. The next night and for the next month she woke up every hour.

The good news is it does get better. You just go slightly insane before it gets better

[FishWithABicycle]

Have you tried raising the head-end of the cot by a few inches? these cot blocks can make a difference if your baby isn't comfy lying flat.

The sleep deprivation is torture but this is all just a phase, you will get through it.

[TanteRose]

major developmental leap at 4 months

www.babysleepsite.com/baby-sleep-patterns/4-month-sleep-regression/

remember, babies/children go through many of these developmental stages, its all part of growing up.
regression is only in terms of sleep - in fact the brain is making amazing progress!

[8750rich]

Thank you for the replies. I've read up in 4 month sleep regression now, but it doesn't explain why he wakes and cries whenever I put him down. He can be completely fast asleep, I can hold him for various lengths of time, I try putting him in his cot, into my bed, every time he just cries! My husband is in the spare room now because baby has kept us up all night and he has to work so needs at least a little sleep.

This also is only a problem at night. In the day I van put him down and he naps.

I've spent most of tonight in tears. I just don't know what to do.

[SunnyL]

Changes can be scary for little ones and when they get upset the one thing they want is mum. Be kind to yourself and if you need to co-sleep for the next wee while just go with it.

It will get better. Slowly though - it doesn't happen overnight but gradually things will get better.

[Sparrowlegs248]

If you are bf have you considered Co sleeping? Ds was just the same except never slept as long as 5 hrs and w as waking every 40 minutes. I have Co slept since 7 weeks. So much e as ier. If he wants a feed I don't even have to sit up.