Can anyone stop Katierocket from being driven insane by very difficult newborn......please!

[katierocket]

OK so DS1 was a really unsettled baby, had horrendous colic, terrible sleeper blah blah. We tried everything to help but it only really improved as he got older (he's 5 now). Anyway, DS2 (9 weeks) is just as bad (if not worse) and it really is driving me to utter despair (and I don't say that lightly).
He's very unsettled, and is really susceptible to being really easily over stimulated and having screaming fits. I could cope with that but the worse thing is his sleep - he is an absolute nightmare to get to sleep, you have to rock him and rock him, or walk round him in in a sling for ages or put him in the pram and walk for ages (although lately even this isn't working). But the worse thing is that once you've got him asleep he will wake up after a really short time (anywhere between 10 and 30 mins) and so then it all starts again.

Currently he is getting up at 5am in the morning (we're used to this - DS1 did it for 4 and half years) so by 6am he is knackered and screaming house down. I just can't figure out what to do to improve the situation. THings are getting worse not better.

He was diagnosed as having mild reflux and is on medicine for that, he's also been to a cranial osteopath.

if anyone has any suggestions I'd really really appreciate it.

Katie, do you like using the sling ? Which kind do you use ? If he's happier in it than not then you can get slings which are very comfy to wear for long periods. You prob already know that....

My dd is exactly the same katierocket, shes 10weeks old and we've tried everything to no avail, paediatric doctor has just prescribed the same medication as you for her reflux and i'm praying this works, some days i feel like i'm going crazy and really feel like she hates being here and i so wanted to enjoy this special time. have had 3/4 good days 2 weeks ago which were wonderful compared to the rest!

katie put him on his tummy!

Hi Katierocket

Sorry that you are having a hard time - hope it gets better soon.

Haven't read all the posts, so sorry if I am repeating suggestions. Where I come from (Denmark) all babies sleep in their prams outside for daytime naps. When my dd seems tired, I will put her in her pram and put her in the same spot in the garden (preferably under a tree, so they may look at the leaves) and leave her to fall a sleep, no rocking.

Obviously, I wouldn't let her cry for long, but keep an eye on her and go back once in a while to show her I was there and then leave again. In my experience it only takes a couple of days until they figure out that that means nap time and the fresh air makes them sleep for ages.

Hope it helps if you decide to try it out!

Hello Katierocket,

My DD was exactly like this, and I've only got the one child so heaven knows how you cope with two. She's nearly two now and we still co-sleep, it takes an hour to get her to sleep at night and I doubt she'll ever be a good sleeper but I'm so glad those dark days are over. We both hated them! The only things that vaguely worked for me were: amby hammock (agree totally with whoever said vigorous rocking), co-sleeping and a sling called a Kangaroo Korner adjustable fleece pouch. My DD would not sleep in a pram and would only sleep in a sling if I kept walking at a regular bouncy pace. But this was by far the best sling and I bought about 20 types! I can lend you one if you're nearby (I'm in London). I really feel for you.

the only thing i can suggest is taking him on a long drive so he gets a good amount of sleep.

my friend has an electronic swing that she her ds slept in a lot cos he needed motion to get him to sleep.

another has one of those dream movers that she puts the pram on.

If white noise works then try putting him next to your kitchen extractor fan in a moses basket or even on a rug on the floor. It used to work wonders for my ds, it used to help him switch off within minutes and I would just walk away and leave him to sleep with it on. Its worth a try!

An update - for all those lovely people who offered support, advice, etc

Turns out that the poor titcher has a cows milk intolerance and as within 10 days of me cutting out dairy and him having his daily bottle of prescribed formula rather than 'normal' it was literally as though someone had switched babies and delivered a brand new, happy, giggly baby. So thank you (and take a bow) can'tslimwon'tslim, zzmum and U(you know who you are) - you were right.

I never would have believed it but by 5 months when things were no better I tried it as a last desperate attempt at finding a solution to the screaming and it bloody worked! (I did try it at 9 weeks but gave up after 8 days as I didn't think it was working). Anyway, went to paeditrician today - lovely lady who said, yes it is definitely that, no dairy until he's one and apparently it's really commong. I said "well I wish health visitors and GPs were more aware of it!".

Things I have learnt from this episode:

1. Mumsnet is a lifesaver and I never would have even really thought about dairy intolerance (except to thing it was some faddish nonsense or other) were it not for here.

2. go with your gut instinct - I knew that his screaming was not normal and far beyond being "unsettled".

3. health visitors are nice but largely useless in this kind of situation.

4. the t'internet can be invaluable.

thanks again.

I really want can'tslim/sleep and the others who suggested cow's milk intolerance to see this (if she's still around).

Oh hello Katie. I spotted you on another thread the other day and nearly asked then how you were getting on, but I had this thread in my watch list, and just took a look there and spotted your update.

I'm so glad that you have found the cause, and whilst always glad to be proved right about anything, I'm just sorry I wasn't more persuasive in getting you to try it properly sooner!!

Hope that you and he are now getting better rest, and can start to enjoy your relationship properly. You can understand better than most why I chose my moniker, after not discovering the cause of dd's problem til 15/16 weeks either! We are now at the stage of introducing small amounts of dairy to my/her diet (she's nearly 18 months, and I'm still bf'ing) and trying to gauge any reaction. So far so good I'm relieved to say, but we are taking it slowly.

Anyway, happy dairy free living!

(Oh, and not all hv are totally useless - it was mine that (eventually) suggested it to me, and then MN that made me better informed about it).

thanks Can'tsleep - I definitely owe you! I suppose I've been slightly sceptical of food intolerances but god the difference is just unbeliveable. All of my family are amazed. Thanks again for suggesting it.

JUst wanted to say I know how you are feeling....my ys was so muhc like you desribe your little one and it is a nightmare....really hope things improve soon.
As for the reflux though, have not read the thread just the op...., keeping the lil one in an uprightish position when asleep can help...i.e. raise the mattress or even let him sleep in his first stage carseat, if he has one...I know usually it is not recommended, and I am certianly the last one usually to advice this....but, it's meant to work with refluxers.
There are special mattresses you can use...seen one on a Babywhisperer programme....