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Original poster

please please help me- my baby is making me depressed.

20 replies

memany · 12/09/2018 20:58

She's 6m old. She wakes up a million times in the night about 9 times in as many hours. She doesn't nap well during the day. Literally just wakes up for no reason after 15 minutes even if I have her in my arms for a good while before putting her down.

I also use white noise. When she's awake she's constantly whinging. I give her Calpol almost daily thinking something hurting / teething.

I've started weaning a month ago thinking that might help. It hasn't. I even try feeding her "heavy" stuff like porridge before bedtime to see if that keeps her asleep longer but it doesn't.

I'm at my wit's end. I can't do anything during the day. I'm knackered and exhausted to the point I want to cry. My house is slowly just going to pot. I've got a tonne of things I need to do. I have other kids and I have no time or energy for them either. It's affecting us all.

I don't know what to do. Anyone help me please. I'm desperate.

OP posts:

thisisnotmyname87 · 12/09/2018 21:01

Sorry to hear how few up you are. I have a six month old too and it isn't easy. Do you try to have any sort of routine throughout the day for her?

mummyof2girls198 · 12/09/2018 21:03

Sorry you are going through this. My youngest was the same at this age - I looked in to sleep training (which I didn’t go through with) and was absolutely desperate. All I can say is that things will get better slowly over time. Before you know it your baby will be older and sleeping through. You’ll get there.

Bumdishcloths · 12/09/2018 21:06

Have you taken her to the GP to rule out silent reflux etc?

Interested in this thread?

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3-6 months old 6-9 months old Babies & sleep Families

Teakind · 12/09/2018 21:06

Could it be colic? Or reflux? I don’t think calpol every day is good for her but if you think she’s in pain is it worth seeing a doctor?

Have you tried putting her in a sling so you can still get things done?

I do feel your pain. My DD refused to be put down for about the first 10 months and it was exhausting.

FourAlarmFire · 12/09/2018 21:11

It’s been a while since DC were babies so I’m not sure I can offer much practical advice, but I can say that DD was an absolute nightmare as a baby and grew up to be just lovely. It won’t always be this hard

Original poster

memany · 12/09/2018 21:44

Oh no. These are not the replies i wanted! I wanted you guys to tell me to do xy, z and everything will improve. Nooo I can't wait it out why longer!

OP posts:

Wellhellojonsnow · 12/09/2018 21:49

Swaddling? A dummy? The latter is a bit contraversial but I used with both DC and easily got rid before 1st birthdays. It could be teething too - some really suffer.

GrandmistressGlitch · 12/09/2018 21:50

It's awful isn't it?! You have my every sympathy. I had this with my DD and she got better incrementally. Put her in her own room at 8 months (it wasn't ready until then) and after a couple of weeks she started sleeping through. I got DH to go in to get to settle her when she woke so I wouldn't be tempted to feed her every time.

I don't know what else to say other than be kind to yourself, cut every corner with cooking and cleaning that you possibly can, and ride it out. It will get better!

Wellhellojonsnow · 12/09/2018 21:51

Have you got any family or friends who could come over to give you a break, even for a few hours in the day? You can then go and sleep (ear plugs/eye mask will help).

LRDtheFeministDragon · 12/09/2018 21:52

Do you have a partner, or a parent nearby?

You sound as if you are doing everything right, but you need someone else to take a turn. My baby never napped - she never slept more than 30 minutes as the absolute max until well over a year - and it's horrible. Especially as you have other kids, you need to call in all the possible favours so you can get a tiny bit of sleep. Maybe even if you can get a family member to watch the baby while you get a few hours on a Saturday?

Singlenotsingle · 12/09/2018 21:52

Dummies? Controversial? A vital piece of equipment! Some babies don't take to them (mine didn't) but they're so comforting to most. Try it, OP, if you haven't already.

LoadsaBlusher · 12/09/2018 21:54

What is your current bedtime routine ?
What is your daytime routine ?
This may give us an idea of where to offer different ideas ?
I feel your pain , neither of my three DC were good sleepers
My youngest DC is 11 Months and still up at 2 am every night , more when teething

MrStateTrooper · 12/09/2018 21:58

Have you tried baby massage? If she is being bothered by colic/reflux, then it can really help with that- it certainly did with my DD!
Does she wake as much if you co-sleep?

GruffaloStick · 12/09/2018 22:30

Just to echo earlier poster. I've been where you are now, DD didn't sleep til 15m, or nap much unless held, it was truly awful but I never imagined I'd be where we are now - she's been sleeping through for 7m and while I'm not get carried away with smugness I still pinch myself in amazement

I don't really want to say this too shall pass because it made me want to fucking punch people but it gets easier

sizeofalentil · 12/09/2018 22:50

My baby was very similar - I didn’t want to do it, but co-sleeping, babywearing (well, carrying as she refuses a bloody sling, carrier or wrap so she spends most of her life on my hip) and babyled weaning turned her around. She’s just a feral cavebaby, it seems.

She’s not perfect now but after a few weeks of trying it her way I was able to get her to sleep in a next to me crib for half the night, and night wakes are down to a quick 5 min comfort feed once, sometimes twice, a night.

I think in our case she’s just a very snuggly baby so when I embraced it she felt more confident and calmed down a bit

SueDunome · 12/09/2018 22:56

Sorry you're feeling like this, I have been there and promise it will get better.

Have you tried dream feeding?

ShakeVigorously · 13/09/2018 00:09

for you, it's so exhausting.
My 4 month old is very similar sounding.
I actually found (by accident) that if I let him nap on me for a solid couple of hours during the day- he sleeps much better during the night!
He also has reflux and cows milk intolerance which has been an absolute nightmare with feeding and sleeping.
Does your dd have any signs of reflux or milk allergy? You say you think she's in pain and miserable. It might be worth a chat to your HV or a trip to your GP.

Bigmomma88 · 13/09/2018 07:23

Op I feel your pain. I remember when my little one was like that, I actually use to cry due to sleep deprivation. What worked for me is that I gave her bottles because I could no longer hack it. Got her dad to feed her through the night. I slept like a baby for just one night and felt totally recharged. You need a good night's sleep. Every thing is magnified when there is lack of sleep.

Bigmomma88 · 13/09/2018 07:25

Oh and if you do bottle feed, try Dr Brown bottles. They were a God send.

TooInquisitive · 13/09/2018 18:01

My son was the same, he simply wouldn't sleep unless he was on me. In the end he slept in the bed with me because I just had to sleep. I also used to put him in the baby carrier a lot just so that I could get things done. I did also find he would nap in his pram. I was probably too soft but I was also exhausted! He's now 18 months and much better although still not great at night. He's in his own bed now though and goes down at 7pm every night - he just wakes a couple of times from 12:00 through to 05:00 when he gets up. Hang in there!

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