Baby always wakes up tired

[user1491749851]

My dd2 is 5 months always wakes up tired, yawning. She is BF and fights sleep. She still wakes every 2/3 hours during the night. I am so tired due back at work soon and just don't know how I am going to manage. I have PND and anxiety.

I would be grateful for any advice. I honestly can't see the light at the end of the tunnel 😭

[pikapoo]

What times does she go to bed and what time does she wake up in the morning?
At 5 months my DS was massively fighting sleep, so I really feel for you

Do you get any help at all with DD2 (e.g. a DP/DH)?

[robyneHet]

Aww I can totally relate...it's horrible 😞 I was feeding 2hourly through the night up until about 2 weeks ago!
...sorry no miracle answer here as I'm still battling on myself with EBF DS2 who is nearly 6months. I feel I've made a bit of progress but it has involved some 'sleep training' and a bit of crying...but nothing horrendous.
Are you feeding to sleep? Nights have improved for me on the whole since I managed to stop this and now settle DS with dummy (far from perfect and still have 'dummy runs' 😕) but at least DH can help now. If u could manage for 3 nights to only feed at bed (?7pm) dream feed (?10pm) and once in the night (?2/3am) then they do adjust...it's just hard getting there not going to lie.
Last nights for example my DS went to bed at 6:30...woke at 8:30 (wanting boob and took nearly an hour of shushing/cuddling/dummy to Settle him- that's he hard part seeing it through 😣) Dream feed 10pm, he woke at 02:00, fed and then slept til 7am 🎉
I know that's far from perfect but it's progress from 2hourly feeding I'm sure you will agree?! Good luck x

[FATEdestiny]

My dd2 is 5 months always wakes up tired, yawning. She is BF and fights sleep. She still wakes every 2/3 hours during the night. I am so tired due back at work soon and just don't know how I am going to manage. I have PND and anxiety

Given how desperate your post reads, I would suggest focusing on ways to maximise your own sleep. Don't needlessly stress about baby's sleep until you are in a calmer and more positive position.

Some things that may help you get more sleep

• have baby in your bedroom until sleeping through, no point moving her out when 6 months (or whatever) to be walkibg to and from anotger room all night.
  
• have a sidecar cot (ask if you don't know what these are) or cosleep safely so that you can do the settling while lying down
  
• remove or turn around your bedroom clock, pay no attention to the time during te night
  
• stop counting wake ups in the night
  
• try to get baby willing to take a dummy and a bottle.
  
• don't keep baby awake for lobg periods in the day. 1h awake, then back to sleep.
  
• try going to sleep together during the day, both cuddles on your bed or the floor
  
• rest as much as you can, even if you don't sleep.
  
• don't stress yourself needing to be busy doing stuff in the day. Doing nothing but watching tv and napping is fine in these early months.

[user1491749851]

Hello, she doesn't really have a bedtime. I go to bed with her at about 7 when my older DD1goes. Generally doesn't wake up for the day until half 6/7 which suits with DD1 being at school.

She currently sleeps in bed with me (dp in the spare room). She takes a dummy but will only going to sleep with it in the car or pram.

I am lying on the bed with her now, her eyes are red from being tired but she is talking, legs in the air and spitting dummy out 😩

[pikapoo]

Any luck with white noise and baby wearing? We found that both helped DS to nap in the early months.

7-6/7 seems a decent night-time stretch, though as you say the frequent wakings might be causing her to wake up tired. More importantly, waking up every 2 hours sounds really exhausting for you. Would you be willing to try a sidecar cot as FATEdestiny suggests? I wonder if she is waking up (and waking you up) frequently because of disturbance in between sleep cycles (e.g. my DH snores and we found this was waking DS up - though not saying that you snore!)