Can I take anything for sleep?

[mousemousse]

I'm at my wit's end. I have terrible insomnia.
I have a 3 month old baby and 4yo who both wake regularly but the bits when they are sleeping I just lie awake and stress about EVERYTHING.

So tonight baby woke at 2am, 4yo woke at 4am, baby woke again at 5am, 4yo still up so walk dealing with both. But between 2-4 I couldn't get to sleep and now I feel wide awake but both kids are back to sleep. I'm going to be so tired today and snap at them all day and it's getting me so down.

I've tried mindfulness stuff but I'm just not that person, I've tried audiobooks but I can't switch my mind off worrying about stupid things that haven't even happened yet.

Is there anything I can take to switch the stressing off in my head? I'm co sleeping and breastfeeding so don't want anything that will make that unsafe.

Hi I know exactly what you're going though as it sounds like my two when they were that age and even now to some extent! (they are 7 and 10). I bought some sleepy cream from lush for the kids which works and I've also bought a essential oil diffuser that I put lavender oil in and it produces a mist. Knocks my 10 yr old right out. My sympathies are with you as know exactly what you mean

I was like this. I found that headspace worked a bit. Do you have a partner that can see to the 4 year old?

it's tough.
but it's a phase. it will get better'

you can take magnesium an hour before bedtime, or take a bath with epsom salts.

have you tried listening to podcasts? I like gardener's question time something gentle and amusing.

I was exactly the same. Two rubbish sleepers tag teaming me all night plus my own insomnia to deal with.

Kids are now 8 and 5 and it is sooo much better (barring bouts of illness which we have had for the last week).

I tried headspace (I was not that person either but honestly keep going with it). I don't use it anymore but it did help a bit when I was at my worst. Melatonin- stuff you can buy in UK is rubbish so didn't really work. Magnesium- didn't seem to help me. All the herbal cures under the sun which also did sweet f a.

At my worst I broke down to my GP and she gave me a course of sleeping pills. Not a long term solution but it helped when I really really needed it. I kept a few back for emergencies and just knowing they were there was helpful psychologically. Anyway, you really have my sympathies Now the kids finally sleep, I have effectively had to teach myself how to sleep again!

Eldest had finally started sleeping at 3 and a half until baby arrived and now is a competition for mummy (if DH goes through it results in inconsolable sobbing from DD and the whole family being awake). Recently had nighttime bed wetting accidents from her too (new baby effect we assume) so getting to her swiftly and taking her to the loo avoids extra washing and stress in the morning, although mindful this also creates a habit of getting up for a wee at a certain time too!

We have the sleepy cream and spray! It reminds me I must dig it out and use it.

I'll try magnesium, is that safe for bf? I do listen to radio 4 shows (although hate the new BBC sounds app!) But I still end up with my stomach churning with worry about work (in off work but it's the kind of job you can't just switch off), stupid things like making sure DD has her bag packed for X activity, worrying about a fence panel that needs replacing. It's ridiculous

Camomile tea is worth a try. It really does help.

Nothing worse than insomnia. I get it from time to time. I find reading on the kindle helps me go back to sleep have also listened to podcasts. The true crime ones seem to be better for sending me off to sleep for some reason.
What about allowing yourself a certain amount of time to worry about a certain thing, maybe write it down. Then tell yourself you're done with that.

You can get some OTC Nytol, or own brand similar, which contains a drowsy antihistamine called diphenhydramine.

yes magnesium is safe for bf.
might also work for your older dc (as epsom salts in the bath).

for you (and older dc) you can try a cup of milk&honey before bed. plus add a chamomile or fennel teabag when heating up the milk. look up other melatonin rich foods to have for dinner.

could dh do bedtimes whilst you go for a walk or a cuppa with a good friend?

good luck.
honestly, it will get better. it doesn't feel like it now, but it will

I second magnesium, it worked wonders for me. Also had a huge impact on my restless legs and general aches and pains.

I used to panic that I wasn't getting enough sleep and that made my insomnia worse, knowing that I was going to be shattered the next day. Then I read that even if you're not actually asleep the fact that you're laid down and doing nothing is a form of relaxation in itself. That thought did help me somewhat, ok not as good as real sleep but it took the panic away.

Also, make sure you're not drinking any tea or coffee after midday. Caffeine can stay in your system for a long time.

My yoga teacher taught us the 4,7,8 breathing technique for sleeplessness. You breathe out entirely then breathe in for a count of 4, hold for a count of 7 and the breathe out for a count of 8. Do this 5 times. I found it really helpful. Obviously there will be a better explanation online.

Limiting myself to one coffee at 6:30 am and then no more caffeine. DH unfortunately works out of the house 6am-8pm so he can't help much during the week but he helps out with eldest whenever he's home, although I miss my bond with eldest a bit as a result.

Last night was horrendous, DD had fever and ear ache all night, eventually brought her in with us after being called through every 10 mins, then the Calpol kicked in and she was loud and woke the baby so I got no sleep because before they all woke I was already awake worrying about remembering to bring food for our outing today

Think will roll around in magnesium and lavender for an hour before bed tonight!

Buy yourself a Dowdow - they’re brilliant at retraining you to sleep. NHS website is good too.

Hi, small person waking me at night too and bfing so I've looked into various stuff.

Some of it might be hormonal which can be a bugger.

Eat within 30 minutes of waking, or at same time every day eg 6:30, something like a banana or a few nuts and dates/ dried apricots.

Get fresh air and exercise regularly even if just long buggy walks, daylight too helps. No screens after 8 pm. Eat a good snack near bed eg oat cakes or porridge. Drink / sip water all day. I find a background rainfall or white noise track really helpful all night (I got a reconditioned sunrise clock from lumie which has digital radio and a stack of sounds for sleep.) headspace can be helpful. Radio 4 esp 'all in the mind!'

Quite a lot of foods support melatonin production, ironically also turkey. So look at those. But you can rejig your own through some of the above things.

I find taking calcium and magnesium very helpful (boots do a good one) as well as the odd Epsom salt bath - not too hot near bedtime though as getting cooler is what makes you sleepy.

Daily Vit c tablet (perhaps sipped through day) can help to increase progesterone which is the sleepy hormone.

I got some of the above from a book called "tired but wired."

I'm taking a bf multivit and calcium (as baby has cmpa). I could definitely drink more water during the day so will try that.

I really struggle with mindfulness things because my work is related to it and whenever I try my head goes into thinking about the meta analyses on mindfulness which then makes me think about work more

Hoping tonight is better!

I can't do mindfulness well, I have to visualise gardens if I can do it at all. Radio 4 is really helpful.

Supposedly getting up and doing something is better than lying there but it's hard with a small.

Buckets of fresh air and outdoor light can really help.

I did ask the bf pharmacist (on fb) once about herbal nightol and it was ok but my son was older - you could try asking.

Sertaline can really help sleep but can make it worse initially.

Sorry - I hope tonight was better?

Mine was appalling as lo is poorly. But had a party between 10- 12. Woke with a fever at 53:30. 😭