Hi
My 5 month old little boy has always been quite the handful. Thankfully he has grown out of the all day screaming fits. He’s still an utterly terrible sleeper and I think this has a lot to do with how tricky he is in the day. He fights naps - is clearly tired but will only sleep in motion so I have to go on so many walks or pace around the flat with him in the carrier. He also really hates the buggy and this is making me feel a bit sad when I see other mums cruising around with content little ones.
I get out and about everyday - go to classes etc but he is the fussiest baby there and I get so many sympathetic looks that just break my heart. It’s clear a lot of the time he is just tired but I’m starting to feel a bit down in the dumps about it all. Everyday is a battle to get him to nap and I’m physically very tired now. It’s also a battle to get him to feed in the day because he is distracted or overtired. I feel like it should be easier by now but it just feels like a never ending failure on my part to help him to be content.
I’ve been to the docs and HV to talk about it and obviously they are concerned about me and my mental health rather than about him. They just chalk it up to him being a more challenging baby than some and reassure me he will grow out of it. My husband does so much to help and I have a lot of support nearby but it’s just hard work.
He just seems so different to other babies. He is louder and moodier. He smiles less and makes less eye contact (these in particularly worry me). He seems way more interested in the curtains than my face for example. He’s the worst sleeper based on all discussions I’ve had. He constantly wants to be in motion so I walk him around the flat a lot pointing things out. He’s also really wriggly when held - not a particularly cuddly baby.
I guess I’m just looking for anyone who has a sleep refusing ‘spirited’ baby and any tips I haven’t tried yet/hope that it will get better.
Thanks!