Am I the only one who laid awake for hours patting a baby's back to keep them asleep?

[DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou]

Because every time I stop he wakes?

I don't know if it's reflux, constipation, a tooth coming or all of the above.

But I feel like whenever someone has a bad night with their baby they wake hourly.

But when I have a bad night with the baby he wakes constantly from 7pm but come 12am he won't sleep at all unless I'm constantly patting him.
I did this until 3am.

I'm in the midst of figuring out with a diary, because it's a pattern for months.

I'm just posting to see if anyone else had to do the same for their baby because I feel like I'm the only one who breeds these babies.

Anyone else out there who patted for hours?

How old is he?

6 months but it's been going on all his life.
I was just wondering if any other parents had needed to do the same with their baby's.

No, I don’t think that’s usual all night. What does he do when he wakes? Does he bring up wind? What happens when you stop patting his back?

I know it's not usual.

My OP said I'm keeping a diary and it may be reflux, constipation and or teething.

I just wanted to see if there were any other parents out there who had needed to do the same and what their story was.

He's my third child. Simple things like 'winding him' have been done....

Go and see a peadtrician. In my experience, brits are way too slow to seek a medical remedy. Think of the impact this is having on your life OP! Could be something as simple as trying a partially hyrdalised formula. In the mean time, worth a little calpol to see if it gives you a few hours sleep?

Have you tried a phased withdrawal as he made be used to the patting now.

In my experience, brits are way too slow to seek a medical remedy.

He's been under paediatric care since he was born and had countless appointments.

Im here to see if any other parent has endured the same. I don't need advice and wasn't asking for it.

No, but mines had to sleep on me sometimes (as in me seating up and them on my chest), caused by reflux.

HAVE ANY OTHER PARENTS BEEN THROUGH THE SAME WHEN TRYING TO KEEP THEIR BABY ASLEEP? If so, I'd really like to hear your story. How long did it last? How did you fix it? Did you find a cause?

Thank you Jimjamjong I could imagine my DS would like this too, just as much as the patting.

Did it happen often? Every night? When did it stop?

No I laid mine down they went to sleep. Stop shouting at people that are trying to help you

Weirdly enough my baby doesn't do this every night. He kind of does 3 bad nights 3 good nights which is why I'm keeping a diary.

No I laid mine down they went to sleep. Stop shouting at people that are trying to help you

But I didn't want or ask for help.

I was wondering repeatedly because not one RTFT whether there were parents who had to do the same for their baby.

My reflex babies would wake every 20-30 minutes all night but if sleeping on my chest would just stir during that time and resettle. So not patting, but closeness to allow them to go back to sleep in the face of the pain they were in.

I appreciate you're already taking medical advice but do look up the different approaches to reflux (if this is your problem) as the standard neocate and gaviscon then ranitidine then omeprazole did not work until we also added anti histamines.

I had to do the same Op, still do on occasion. My DD is 13 months now and she has silent reflux but seems to have grown out of that, (given ranitidine which definitely helped) but constipation is and always has been a big issue for us. We saw a specialist a couple of weeks ago and I had no idea how much this can bother them. We're ok laxatives daily.
I kept a diary - only way I could get anyone to listen really - also everything is foggy at night and I couldn't remember much so the diary was priceless. Hope you LO is better soon Op. No sleep is the total pits, been there and still am!!

And I appreciate also you didn't ask for help but I had 2 years of nights like you describe and it's very hard just to say "Yes I was up all night too" without adding the solution we found. Even if you don't want the help someone googling this thread might benefit. Hope you and LO get through it soon, you must be knackered. x

The patting is very specific, you need to figure out what purpose it is serving as I'm sure there are many variations for the same thing. It could we acting as a distraction from stomach discomfort for him.
All mine had reflux, by DC3 we were all set up with Dr brown bottles, comfort formula and a swing that kept them a bit elevated and there was still a couple of hours a night DC3 screamed for. The only thing that helps (along with the other changes) is medication. DC3 actually had a sore throat you could hear in his cry and was diagnosed at 11 weeks whilst in the hospital for something else.

in our case first child did this til 13 months or so with ups and downs on weaning. At 13m we found the anti histamines treatment.

second child was like this til 6m we then did same so it improved more quickly.

Also I was much less purist second time about risk of sitting up with baby on my chest & dozing as I knew my sleep ability was already fucked and there was no way I wouldn't wake if baby slid or moved in the slightest - so I got more sleep with baby2. Necessary as I couldn't do whole weels with zero sleep and a baby and toddler. First time round it's no exaggeration to say I went weeks without sleep. Personal best was 8.5 days I think.

THANK YOU! I really appreciate those replies.
Fuck sake it's making me want to cry.

I just wanted to hear that I wasn't alone. I feel like I'm the only one that endures these tiny little sleepless beautiful bastards.

We have tried all the meds (ranitidine has saved my sanity!!!) he's breastfed and I eliminated all the major obvious allergies for months and months with no difference.

@HelenMummyof2 constipation is a real issue with us and I think it's aggravating his reflux. The diary seems to be pointing that way (he sleeps well after a much needed poo!) we are using lactulose but it isn't great, I'm a big fan of movicol but he doesn't drink much water yet (still getting the hang of sippy cups - won't take a bottle) so a bit young to use that yet.

What helped with you guys?

@Yourostar we have a cupboard full of anitihistamines (DS2 has multiple allergies) why do you think that would help?
I'm willing to try anything.
He has no symptoms of allergies at all.

If he was struggling to nap, he used to nap well in the car - it was the constant motion that worked, so I can see that the patting would help your baby. He also used to go to sleep with bum patting. I think it probably recreates the patterns in your womb. So I think it's a normal response that it would help him sleep, but also can see that it's not helpful for you, and you must be knackered.

@Flumpys DS often has a hoarse voice.
In fact he did last night.

I believe the patting is a distraction from discomfort. I just need to figure out what the discomfort is being caused by.

I'm wondering if he gets constipated and that aggravates the reflux.

and you must be knackered. I slept from 11pm-12am last night.

He needed patting fork 12-3 (and screamed the house down waking everyone up). Then woke 4 more times between 3am-6.30am when we started the day.

I'm a wreck.

Yet a few nights ago he was waking every 2 hours, which is utter bliss. He will wake have a pat for 30 seconds or quick feed and he's back to sleep for another two hours.

If he's constipated, you would be able to tell by his bowel movements I would think?

Yes.

I can tell. He's having lactulose.

I just need to figure out whether that's the cause of the hellish nights.