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Infant feeding

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

Can the three month growth spurt go in two stages?

10 replies

FlouryBap · 04/02/2010 12:57

Not sure if this is the right place for this. My DD2 is 15 weeks and has refused to sleep without being plugged onto a boob at night. She went through a crazy feeding phase at 12 weeks and practically doubled in size, so I got that that was her growth spurt. However, is she at it again or has she just developed bad sleeping habits? My DD1 went through her growth spurt at 14ish weeks so I thought she had just gone through it a bit earlier.

Sorry if this doesn't make sense, I am somewhat tired!

FB

OP posts:
teaandcakeplease · 04/02/2010 13:05

Being latched on all night or just to settle to sleep at night?

They do hit a bump in the road about now I've found with my 2. Where the nap routines needed adjusting slightly.

I can suggest a few things if I know a little more, that have worked for me.

FlouryBap · 04/02/2010 13:11

thank you for answering me

More being latched on all night. I have been round the mill with my DD1s sleep so tried harder to introduce good habits. she has been left to self settle for naps and I put here down about 1hour 40 mins after she wakes up as she is tired then. However, she has stopped self settling and yells and scratches herslef for ages, so I resorted to feeding her to relax her. At night she does down ok until we go to bed. She then has a feed and goes back into her cot. However for the past 3 nights I have not been able to get her back into her cot after about 11. And if I move away from her in the night she wakes up and the only thing that will settle her is being latched on. I have introduced a dummy lately, but am regretting it as it doesn't settle her at night and may be causing problems? The last couple of days I have not had DD1 during the day and have worked on making sure she gets good naps during the day - mostly by nappign with her. However, this does not seem to have helped.

DD1 is only 20 months, so i can't really do much to help DD2 nap when I have her too.

Does that help? My DD1 went through so many phases that seemed to sort themselves out that I don't want to work myself inot to much of a lather (and don't really have the energy).

OP posts:
teaandcakeplease · 04/02/2010 13:33

At this age roughly, I kept mine awake for about 90 minutes to 2 hours a time until the sleep signs, such as rubbing nose, or eyes or yawning. Then I'd take them into a darkened room and settle for a sleep. It won't be long and they'll probably prefer napping at 10.30am and 3pm but not yet.

There comes a point where they become much more aware of their surroundings and may resist naps. However it is absolutely essential that they learn to nap, as otherwise it becomes a vicious circle whereby they're so overtired that they cannot settle easily as a stress hormone is released when overtired. Learnt this from this book.

Seems to me that co sleeping isn't helping her sleep better, as otherwise I'd say just do that for now. If no one is getting any sleep then you might as well do something useful and help her to learn to sleep. I don't really like controlled crying but the method I read about in the baby whisperer has worked for both of my children. If you know they are tired, they have a clean nappy and have recently been fed, push on through with getting to sleep. Maybe try some teething gel too? My 2 kids started teething by 4 months.

Just pick them up until they stop crying and then when they stop lie them down, when they start crying again, pick them, when they stop, lie them down. Do not leave the room with them, stay by the cot and keep doing it over and over. They will get the message in the end and finally go to sleep. It'll take 3 days of being consistent. The first time you may need to pick them up 70 times, the next nap time maybe 50 times etc. This is the method I used. I didn't feel so bad, as I wasn't leaving them to cry it out alone It does work. I think this did come from one of the baby whisperer books originally. As I said if they fed, clean nappy etc and you know they're tired, push on through.

It does require patience but it is worth it in the end. I don't really think you have another choice here though, as things aren't going to get better otherwise. As long as she isn't poorly or anything like that, I think you may have to bite the bullet here. Start with the daytime naps and as she masters those, then move onto the night time, whereby you only offer cool boiled water unless it's the bedtime feed, the 11pm feed or 2 or 3am ish they wake for. Does that make sense? So start with daytime naps first, you can't do it all at once. Too stressful.

But if my advice makes you feel uncomfortable, just disregard it.

Eitherway I hope things gets better soon.

FlouryBap · 04/02/2010 16:55

Thank you teaandcake for your considered reply. I have been out and about with a sick toddler and teething baby so haven't been able to reply before that.

I agree about the overtiredness, that is why I am trying ot get her to nap by hook or by crook, but am aware I am introducing bad habits!

I did PUPD with DD1 but she was about 8 months when we did it. I looked on the baby whisperer website yesterday and it seemed to suggest that DD2 is too young and it could be too stimulating for her. I also tried hush pat with her yesterday and she practically somersaulted over to see me rather than relaxing.

Also, I find having DD1 means we are out and about. Not all the time as she has a midday nap, but enough to make it difficult to devote time to DD2 sleeping. I had hoped she would turn into a flexible baby who would nap in the buggy, but she just wakes up. with DD1 i found if i can make the buggy dark she will keep sleeping, but this has not worked for DD2 recently. so it will probably be easier for me to deal with nighttime waking first.

don't know if you have any other advise on top of what you wrote above. this should all probably have been in the sleep section!

thanks again

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teaandcakeplease · 04/02/2010 17:42

There is 17 months between my two. I had to leave my daughter in front of CBeebies when my son decided to get tricky at naps

Maybe leave it and wait until your mum or someone can come and stay?

I didn't know there was a website for the baby whisperer. I didn't like most of the book, only the sleep training bit But horses for course and all that, lots of people swear by it.

Either way I hope things improve for you soon x

FlouryBap · 04/02/2010 19:10

The bedrooms in our house are upstairs and the TV downstairs. Also if DD1 realises that she has been dumped there she will wander around the house screaming mummy. I have been putting the baby in the pram with a blanket over it so I can keep and eye on both of them at the same time, but I think I do need to start putting her somewhere darker.

Waiting til someone comes to stay is a good idea - my sis is over next month. If things haven't improved naturally then will try that.

You are a wise lady - thanks x

OP posts:
teaandcakeplease · 04/02/2010 19:20

I wish I clone myself some days Maybe one day they'll find a way

teaandcakeplease · 04/02/2010 19:21

*I wish I could

Feierabend · 04/02/2010 19:39

DD2 went through a growth spurt approximately from birth to 7 months, non stop Poor you. Hang in there!

teaandcakeplease · 04/02/2010 19:51

Hmmm... realised my comment could be misinterpreted as conceited but what I meant was trying to deal with my 2 kids so close together, I could do with a second one of me...

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