Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Night Feeders Part 5. Calling all women who find themselves feeding when they'd rather be sleeping!!

770 replies

Writerwannabe83 · 01/10/2014 21:07

This is a thread for anyone who wants support when things seem tough - especially for the women whose babies don't like sleep!!

We'll do the usual introductions:

I'm a first time mom to my 6 month old, EBF son. It's been a rocky few months, lots of ups and downs but we've finally reached a point where he's asleep by 7.30pm and only waking once during the night.

He very rarely naps in the day - and when he does it's only when he's in the car or his pushchair. It's very frustrating!!

And the last little thing about us is that we have just started the weaning journey - it's fun but messy!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 11/10/2014 22:24

You can buy air flow bumpers, I have some on Arron's cot. They are designed to allow the air to still reach baby's nose/mouth even if their face is fully pressed into the bumper. It gives be huge peace of mind. I got mine off eBay and were about £25 I think.

OP posts:
Redling · 11/10/2014 22:29

Thanks Mrsmugoo, I've certainly started to see that he will be cranky in the afternoon if I do too much with him in the morning. It's so difficult! My friend really wants to do more with her daughter but finds that they can't go very far afield on days out or go to certain groups, or lunch out etc. I suppose it's only until she drops the afternoon nap though! I just think that would be quite frustrating, not to occasionally give them a nap in the buggy if needed!
writer oh dear, I hope you get him to sleep soon. I get so frustrated when DS won't settle in the middle of the night, it's so hard to stay calm and soothing. I end up hissing 'sleeeeeep!' In his ear rather than whisper it soothingly.

Redling · 11/10/2014 22:33

Thanks, I'd be be happier to have something to stop him poking his arms and legs out. He woke himself up this morning headbutting the side of the crib. Some padding would be nice. I'll look at the airflow as I probably couldn't sleep if I thought he was going to be sticking his face in a bumper. He already tries to sleep on his side.

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 11/10/2014 22:34

He fell asleep at 21.30 - two hours later than normal Confused

He then woke up 40 minutes later and screamed the place down until I bought him into bed with me. He's now fast asleep on what should be DH's side of the bed.

I really don't know how I'm going to break this co-sleeping habit Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 11/10/2014 22:36

My air flow bumpers are gorgeous, they have got loads of jungle animal pictures all over them and back in the day when Arron actually slept in his cot, he'd spend ages just staring at the animals and touching them - it was very cute Smile It used to keep him quiet for ages!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 11/10/2014 22:36

My air flow bumpers are gorgeous, they have got loads of jungle animal pictures all over them and back in the day when Arron actually slept in his cot, he'd spend ages just staring at the animals and touching them - it was very cute Smile It used to keep him quiet for ages!!

OP posts:
notadoctor · 11/10/2014 22:53

I might invest in some airflow bumpers inspired by this thread - I didn't use them with DD but DS is such a little roly poly he's constantly getting limbs stuck !

Cannotbelieveit · 12/10/2014 00:56

First feed here after 5 hours sleep. I can scarcely remember that he used to sleep 10-11 hours!!

squizita · 12/10/2014 01:55

Dd fighting sleep after 1 am feed and change. DH burp ed her, but she seems gassy to me. Mind you she'll only ask me for more boob anyway when I lift her so if it is ill make it worse.

weebairn · 12/10/2014 02:14

On the naps thing, I think kids just vary... DD1 would always sleep through any amount of noise, but would never nap in her cot. She would only sleep in sling or pushchair. This had its advantages- we wre always out and about- though some days it was a pain, to have to go outside for every sodding nap. She is now two and we can still go out for a loud lunch in a cafe and she'll sleep in the pushchair for the entire thing- she will also sleep on the bed for a nap now thank god.

I really don't believe the 'habit' thing with babies I think they just are all quite different and go things at different stages.... writer we co slept and she just grew out of it at one point... That may be little consolation if it's affecting your sleep Sad

Evening and night hasn't gone as bad as I thought it might but she does seem far more unhappy and windy today Sad ... Knew the blissful settled baby was too good to last!!! Still she slept 8-11.30 then 12-2 which is pretty good... Just fed her back to sleep now and debating whether to put her in basket or not... Basically she sleeps better in the bed, but I sleep better if she's in the basket... Ah so hard to decide at 2am !

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 12/10/2014 02:47

weebairn - I remember the dilemma of DS sleeping better with me but me sleeping better when he's in the cot!! When he was young (up until he was 5 months) I was really nervous about sleeping with him, I was stressing that he might fall off the edge of the bed and I was obsessed with worrying that he'd suffocate somehow or that I would roll in him - it was because of this that I couldn't sleep well, I could never really fall into a deep sleep because I just couldn't relax. Now that DS is 6 months it's a completely different story as I know he is safe sleeping on his front or back, that he can turn his head from side to side and lift it, that he can roll from front to back and vice versa and that if I did roll in him he'd kick up a fuss, start crying and thrash around which would wake me. I also moved the bed so his side was against the wall so I knew he couldn't fall out of bed. I now have no worries when sleeping with DS, I just put him on his side of the bed and leave him to it. Most mornings when I wake up I find he's migrated to my side of the bed though and I'm hanging off the edge of the bed Grin

He's just woke up after 5 hours which is pretty standard for him. He's had a bad night though, keeps stirring and shuffling and moaning, I think his stomach is in don't discomfort. He's practically asleep on the boob and I want to change his nappy (otherwise it completely leaks by morning) but I know it will really wake him up. I want to take him out of his sleep suit too though as he feels pretty warm.

Everything is such a dilemma!!

OP posts:
Sammyviv · 12/10/2014 03:18

Evening ladies
Interesting reading all your posts I learn so much from this thread. Feeling a little better chatted to DP earlier. Men still are a bit rubbish at times but hey ho Blush
I've left DS a bit longer each time tonight out of pure exhaustion and he seems fine, he only snack feeds in the night half of me wonders if this is for comfort, I reeally need to master the art of a dummy.
I find the changing in a sleeping/gro bag a pain! Angry So I've gone back to blankets for now

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 12/10/2014 03:41

Hi Sammy - I'm glad you've managed to talk to your DP. The strain that having a baby puts on your relationship is immense. For the first 3-4 months of Arron's life me and DH had some very rocky patches.

I made the decision to take Arron out of his sleeping bag because of how warm he felt and then lay him next to me. When I cuddles him he was all damp and I realised his nappy had just that second leaked. So up I get, wash him and change him into fresh clothes and then straight away he's sick all over himself!! So I had to strip and change him again and now he's really, really awake!!! Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 12/10/2014 03:41

Hi Sammy - I'm glad you've managed to talk to your DP. The strain that having a baby puts on your relationship is immense. For the first 3-4 months of Arron's life me and DH had some very rocky patches.

I made the decision to take Arron out of his sleeping bag because of how warm he felt and then lay him next to me. When I cuddles him he was all damp and I realised his nappy had just that second leaked. So up I get, wash him and change him into fresh clothes and then straight away he's sick all over himself!! So I had to strip and change him again and now he's really, really awake!!! Confused

OP posts:
Cannotbelieveit · 12/10/2014 04:23

2nd feed here. My eyes are stinging I'm that tired! Making DH take them in the morning so I can have a hour or so in bed on my own Grin

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 12/10/2014 04:36

I'm still awake after waking with Arron two hours ago Confused

After the whole palaver of having to change him twice and making him hyper he only fell back to sleep about ten minutes ago Hmm My eyes also sting but as I've been awake for so long I can't switch off!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 12/10/2014 04:36

I'm still awake after waking with Arron two hours ago Confused

After the whole palaver of having to change him twice and making him hyper he only fell back to sleep about ten minutes ago Hmm My eyes also sting but as I've been awake for so long I can't switch off!!

OP posts:
squizita · 12/10/2014 05:28

Oh no writer I hate that too tired to sleep wired feeling. DD has just had a feed: cannot believe it but looks like her natural rhythms were just an hour later as she's slept fine, but fed hour later each time.
Mind you as it's 5 am and DH sometimes gets up then I hope she'll sleep now (as usual she is fighting it).

I go spare when DH declares how tired HE is at the moment or how sometimes he "knows" what dd wants and I don't I bloody know but she just lunges for my boob which isn't ideal for changing/winding/dressing!! Angry

Redling · 12/10/2014 05:42

Nat is hanging over my shoulder pretty awake. DH obviously hadn't changed him and then (clockwork baby, just like yesterday) pooed at 5am feed. So I just changed a very full nappy and he's awake! Cot seems to be no better or worse, he sleeps in it fine. (Diagonally it seems) but still feeding every two hours, so hunger wakes him still. I'd hoped it was partly the hitting the bars.

Ooooh his head has gone all heavy on my shoulder, think he's gone!

writer I am often too wired to sleep when exhausted. I've lain next to him wide awake a lot. I still find it hard when he's having a very active grunting sleep, though he seems to be growing out of that. So, do I put him down now or give it 10 minna to make sure he's asleep?!

cookielove · 12/10/2014 06:41

Hello I've been mia for the last couple of nights as ds has been poorly - projectile vomit, he seems to be over it now :)

notadoctor · 12/10/2014 07:41

Sorry to hear about your LO being poorly cookie love - glad he seems over the worst.

We had quite a restless night - it was my birthday yesterday and we went for afternoon tea with a bunch of my friends so I think they were both wired! Off to my parents for a roast today and they're brilliant with the kids so looking forward to spending as much of the day as possible sitting down!

Cariad007 · 12/10/2014 08:33

Seems like crap nights all around. Same old same old here and DS wide awake by 7 so I gave him to DP but couldn't get back to sleep myself. Really dreading the flight tomorrow :(

mrsmugoo · 12/10/2014 08:39

He slept through til 5:45 this morning and then after a feed would not resettle despite being left for 45 minutes and a few periods of stillness/quietness.

He's so grumpy at the moment from teething and won't sleep longer than 10 hours overnight when he clearly needs more, it's so frustrating.

mrsmugoo · 12/10/2014 08:40

Oh I forgot to mention - he's in his own room now! So I can turn the monitor volume to low and leave him grunting around and go back to sleep myself!!

squizita · 12/10/2014 09:07

OMG just overslept with dd ... DH changing her ... she unleashed a mega poo wee flood which took out everything in her path! Little stinker! GrinShock