To think that I do know if my baby wakes a lot?

[AFishOutofWaters]

Four months old so prime sleep regression time although actually it’s been like this from birth

Some nights she wakes every two hours, has a little feed or cuddle and settlesback down quickly and that’s great and easy to manage

Other nights like last night she wakes every 30-60 mins and is really difficult to settle. That is a lot harder but we get through it.

I have tried all the usual techniques mentioned here and elsewhere (bed sharing, white noise etc) and have taken professional advice. She’s also been seen by GP

What makes it hardest is that other people seem to think it’s just me! They ask if she is really waking up or if I’m just paranoid, do I pick her up the moment she stirs etc etc. One person asked me to show them that she’d woken on the video monitor when we’d stayed away and I could see she was thrashing and crying while I was downstairs, as if I’d make it up!

I can also assure everyone that attentive and fond of cuddles as I may be, by the millionth wake up at 5am I absolutely do not spring to attention at the slightest murmur or movement —until it’s too loud to ignore— although I do comfort her before she is distressed because I know she’s waking because she’s a baby and that’s what she needs

I’m also sure that other mums of sleeping babies wonder if she doesn’t get enough fresh air, enough naps, bedtime routine etc etc but I have tried all of these things - I could write a book on the unsuccessful application of sleep-through-the-night theories!

I’m sure even my DH suspects I’m exaggerating but he sleeps in spare room so wouldn’t know —and if it’s not as frequent as I describe I wonder why he feels he needs to sleep elsewhere—

Anyway, sleep deprivation is hard but I love my daughter and will continue to do all I can for her. I can cope but what makes it hardest is other people’s skepticism! I’ve even been told I look great so must be sleeping ok which is kind sort of but is more due to showering first thing with coffee and a determination to get on with things

Anyone else?

DS was like this. He did sleep through from about 18 months (as in 8pm to 4 or 5am) but not consistently until he was 5 years

. He is 13 years old now and NEVER sleeps past 8am. He goes to bed around 10.30,pm and is usually asleep around 11.30pm or midnight. Though occasionally I hear him awake in the early hours. He still never gets up later than 8am.

He just doesn't fall asleep very easily. However, although he needs less sleep than some children, his behaviour significantly deteriorates if he doesn't get the amount he needs and he struggles to get the right amount. He has always been like this so a good and regular sleep routine and banning of screens in his room after bedtime isssential for him

I do not believe that many things are more nature than nurture but I do think how much sleep you need to function may be one of them

nd how easy you find it to fall deep and stay asleep may be one of them.
Obviously environment has a massive effect on sleep patterns but I think you set point of how much you need to function well is something you are born with.

My eldest was like that. I remember thinking to myself that I now understood exactly how sleep deprivation could be used as a form of torture. Sometimes you can try everything and unfortunately it just doesn’t work, it’s just the way they are, but it does pass. My DC2 on the other hand is completely different, a far more content baby and a great sleeper, but we have done nothing differently, so I can’t explain it to anyone, there seems to be no rhyme or reason to it. I hope you start to get some sleep soon though, it’s really hard.

At least you still have a sense of humour, AFish - but yes, we were twats!

Both of mine the same. Things got much better towards the year old stage. 4 to 8 months was the pits

I don't really believe you can get 'naughty' babies but twins are just as prone to normal extremes of childhood behaviour whether that's good/bad sleep or fussy eating or whatever. For what it's worth I am convinced two good sleepers would be easier than one poor one.