Hello all. I've been reading these forums since DD was 5 weeks old, but this is my first post- so hi! These forums seem very friendly and supportive, so here goes, I wonder if anyone can advise me?
DD is 12 weeks old, but she was 6 weeks premature. She was a good weight though, 6lb 1oz and is growing well, now nearly 12lb. She is breast fed, currently she feeds every 2 hours through the day and 3 at night. We are co-sleeping, and I am happy with this and don't want to stop. Until about 10 days ago she was falling asleep on my lap in the evenings and staying in the living room with us until I went to bed. Then she started screaming for two hours every evening from about 5/6 and eventually falling asleep exhausted on my shoulder. V tiring and upsetting for all of us! I decided that she was probably ready for a bedtime, as she is starting to be more awake and aware and I thought that the light/noise/presence of us in the living room was stopping her from being able to settle. I spent a few days getting her used to being in her cot- popping her in there after a nap in the sling so she woke up there and spending some awake time lying in there- then we began to do a routine. Bath, massage, songs/story and cuddle till sleepy, breast feed and into bed. At least that is the theory! Actually what has happened is that she will start with the crying after the feed before her bedtime one (ie at 4/5). She stops crying for her bath, which she loves, then starts again when she has to get out and carries on until she is too tired and finally falls asleep on my shoulder and I can transfer her into bed. It is meaning that she is awake for about a 3 hour stretch in the evening before she sleeps, whereas in the day it is rarely longer than an hour, so I think she is over tired. The feed is always punctuated by crying, like she has wind and it is giving her pain but she never brings any up and when she calms down she will suck ok.
Currently she is lying in her bed, crying a bit but I am leaving her unless it escalates. I feel awful. I must be failing her in some way for her to need to cry so much in the evenings. DH says he will support whatever I think- which is worse than useless because what I want is for him to help me find a solution (isn't that what men are meant to want to do!!!!). Plus he works away quite regularly so is not even here to help me. AHHHHHHH! Please advise/suggest!
Sorry this is so long...
Crying has escalated. Am going to go and comfort.
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12 week old bedtime routine *please* help- I'm failing her
12 replies
jeffily · 18/06/2009 19:51
OP posts:
StarlightMcKenzie ·
20/06/2009 18:03
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