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Help.. DS sleep deteriorating rapidly!

4 replies

ready2pop · 07/08/2008 10:25

My 5 month old DS was sleeping through the night from 7am to 7pm until this week.

To begin with he was waking up more regularly but now it is also a real struggle to get him to sleep. Last night it took me 2 and a half hours to finally settle him and even then I had to do it by feeding him to sleep . I can't understand why he has suddenly lost the ability to settle himself. It's worst at night but not great at nap times either.

His routine hasn't changed. He isn't hungry, wet or dirty and doesn't seem hot/cold. I thought he could be teething but calpol doesn't make any difference either. He has been having solids since 17 weeks (advised by paed because of reflux before anyone tells me off ) and have been widening range of fruit/veg he has recently but no one food stands out as the culprit.

What worries me most is not really the night waking (although that is a pain) but the fact that he seems to be losing the ability to go off to sleep at all. He is really fighting it and no amount of rocking or cuddling will settle him whereas we used ot jsut have to get him into a calm state and then pop him into his cot.

Help - anyone have any ideas. I feel I need to nip this in the bud as it is getting worse by the day and DH is banging on about how we need to do controlled crying .

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ajm200 · 07/08/2008 18:22

My LO gets like this from time to time, he's now 20 months and still gets the odd unsettled week.

Usually it is teething or he's sickening for something. Ibruprofen 20 mins before bed and some anbesol on his gums doesn't always help and we only know what the cause was when we see the tooth pushing through.
He also gets like it when his Daddy is away.

We just go in every 5 mins or so, tuck him in and put a hand on his back and say night night. We repeat the process several times until it works. We have found that too much interaction, cuddles, talking, lights on, etc make it worse but every child is different.

It can be so frustrating and heartbreaking to listen to your LO crying, I feel for you. Hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

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peggotty · 08/08/2008 10:40

Is he on any meds for reflux? Some meds are very weight dependant (ranitidine, losec) and if your baby has had a growth spurt and gained some weight the dose may need adjusting. If he is not on meds I would maybe second the teething theory! My ds has been a pretty bad sleeper but recently has been settling himself at bedtime and for naps, but that all went out the windown in last couple of days - the culprit? Top tooth sighted today! Had hell with the bottom teeth coming in as well! I got the tip for anbesol on MN as well - it is briliant stuff! Liquid not gel and also ibuprofen rather than calpol like ajm says. Worth a go!

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forevared · 08/08/2008 13:02

I've recently posted on here about my 4 month old ds' sleep going up the swanney too. Like your ds, he is waking repeatedly in the night and now can't settle himself to sleep like he used to be able to do. I have to now pick him up every time and rock him back to sleep and, also like you, it's taking longer and longer. Used to be a 10 minute job, now taking anything up to 80 minutes. I've ruled out hunger (although dh doesn't agree with me); cold; hot; nappy change; thirsty; teething; overtired; not tired enough. I'm just at a loss.

So I don't have an answer I'm afraid but want to let you know you're not alone!

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fluffyanimal · 08/08/2008 13:05

There's also the fact that the world is simply getting more interesting and his interactions with you are changing and developing. Mental as well as physical growth can cause sleep disturbance.

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