Awake for hours in the night

[Piccolino2]

Posting in desperation.

My 12 month old usually wakes in the night 2-3 times a night for a breastfeed but since Saturday has been waking up after 4 hours ( just as I go to bed) and then crying and crying until I cannot take it anymore and have to get up with her. Once we're up she's happy but exhausted. I'm managing on 3-4 hours broken sleep if I'm lucky and it's ruining my life. I'm supposed to be going to London tomorrow for lunch at the Shard for our wedding anniversary and I just want to cancel it and make the most of kids being at nursery and being able to sleep. I could cry, I've been looking forward to it for months (suppose I should be happy I don't have to get up at 5.30 for work I suppose). Monday night we didn't go to sleep till 5.30am.

When she wakes up I feed her but she goes rigid and flailing and crying when I stop to put her in her bed. I've tried letting her cry, cuddling her, rocking her, putting her in bed with me, calpol, nurofen, teething powder, took her to the GP (couldn't find anything wrong). She may eventually fall asleep on my husband but he doesn't help often in the night due to work.

I know it's probably a phase. It will pass. No-one has a magic answer but has anyone had this happen? I don't produce good sleepers sadly but this takes the biscuit. I've had a permanent headache for the last week and really can't continue to go on like this.

[Chosenbyyou]

Hi

Aww I feel for you - it sounds awful. I had a similar situation with my first who used to wake in the night for hours on end. I rocked her for nearly 2 hours once :( and was also working full time. It was the absolute pits and I felt like I was going slowly insane - my DH couldn't really help cuz he worked lots of nights and late shifts (doctor).

For me it slowly phased itself out but I managed to move from the rocking to sitting next to the cot on a seat and doing back rubbing. She slept through at 14 months of her own accord.

Could you try to tackle the night feeding? I stopped offering milk at 12m cuz I was sure she wasn't hungry and was only eating for the sake of it.

The other tactic I used was to go to bed 30 mins after her- ran around quickly tidying and quickly got into bed.

You should still go for your anniversary trip - it sounds lovely. Take care I sympathise with you (and am back in the thick of it with a six month old who wakes a few times a night)

X

[Piccolino2]

Thanks for the reply, it's good to have someone sympathise.

My first didn't sleep through till 18 months and I remember being beside myself with exhaustion, I know eventually this will pass but in the meantime my life is being ruined and I'm struggling for patience with everyone.

I could tackle the night feeding but to be honest I just don't have the energy. I actually don't mind being up several times a night so the night feeding doesn't bother me too much but I just can't stand being awake all night and all day.

Anyway, off to take my red and stinging eyes to get ready. Coffee here I come. Sigh.

[crazycatlady5]

What happens when you get baby up? Does it make any difference if you lie down with her to go back to sleep does this make any difference? Not sure what our daily routine is but could be napping too much/not enough - or has anything changed recently like childcare? Other thing is could be teeth? X

[FATEdestiny]

Would a sidecar cot help Piccolino2? Or just having the cot next to you so you can lie in bed to do the settling without having to get up?

[Chosenbyyou]

Hey

How is it going and how was your lunch?

X