Hi all,
My baby is nearly 7mo. Sleep has always been terrible, getting worse and worse. We are now at the point where he will go to sleep at 7ish, wake up at 10, and take 4-5 hours to get back to sleep. Crying, writhing, coughing etc. His naps are also terrible.
Over the months I’ve tried everything. Cosleeping, cry it out, controlled crying, sleep consultants, sleep courses, strict routine, no routine, constant bf. He just won’t go back to sleep. The only thing that helped was controlled crying got us to a point where, perhaps 50% of the times, he will self soothe for naps, which was a big improvement. The rest of the time is still shushing and rocking.
I’m really on my knees at this point. I’m so worried about his lack of sleep. He has probably slept maybe 7-8 hours in every 24 hours for the past three months. I’ve probably slept 3 hours of broken sleep for 7 months, I often feel like I can’t get through the day due to tiredness. I’m taking antidepressants, but I know I’m not actually depressed - just exhausted.
He is exclusively breastfed, sometimes with a bottle. He has severe eczema, itching and scratching all the time. We use steroids and scratch mitts, Body bandages, calpol and piriton often. I have honestly tried every cream and regime there is. He is under the care of dermatology who have suggested there is very little else we can do. I know he is uncomfortable and in pain but there’s nothing else I can do to help him. He also has severe food allergies. We’ve had skin prick tests with his specialist allergy paediatrician and he came back as allergic to: Dairy, eggs, oats, wheat (all severe), rice, fish, maize and peanuts. This means there is very little I can wean him on, and many of the new foods I’ve tried (like avocado) he has also reacted to. It also means there is very little that I can eat due to EBF. I consider myself fortunate that he is relatively well and I feel terrible even complaining about this.
It’s now 3am and he has been up crying since 10pm, he settles when I hold him but rubbing and scratching his head a lot.
Please, I don’t know what else to do. Even just some words of comfort would help x
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Sleep
7mo with eczema - slee deprivation making me ill
Newmummyinlockdown · 23/09/2020 02:39
I am so so sorry OP, it sounds like an utter nightmare. I don’t really have much advice for you, I just felt I should reply. My DD, same age, has eczema/very dry skin. She used to be all red and flaky all over after every nap/when she woke in the morning. I do use steroid cream in the typical places (backs of knees/elbows etc.) but I’ve seen a massive improvement from using cerave moisturising lotion. I recommended it to a friend whose baby also has eczema and she has also seen a significant improvement. From what I understand, the cream replenishes and feeds the skin with ceramides and hyaluronic acid, rather than just being a barrier cream. This wasn’t recommended by doctors, but by an aesthetician. It’s worked wonders for DD- her skin has gone from being rough, cracked, dry, flaky, and red, to smooth and soft. I use it multiple times a day (though now using it less as her skin has improved so much) as well as before bed, and I ‘lock it in’ with emollient on top before bed. Your DS’s eczema sounds like it might be much more serious, so you’ll know if this might be helpful for him. I just wanted to suggest it on the off chance it could help. 
you sound like an amazing mum. Really hope it gets better for both of you.
Urgh. I didn’t want to not mention it, in case it helps! My DD’s skin is much better but her sleep is still rubbish so I am tired! 
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