3 month old monster won't sleep

[Poppyseed87]

Hi all,

Hoping for some words of advice. I'm a first time mom and have a three month old daughter. There's been a few ups and downs so far but up until the last week or so I thought I was doing okay! My baby has just turned into an absolute nightmare since 5 days ago! She is miserable and cries most of the day. She seems to be interested in literally everything and just won't sleep in the day. So I'm guessing her behaviour is probably due to overstimulation and tiredness. She will only settle and stop crying if I either walk around holding her or constantly rock her. I can get her to sleep like this but if I put her down she wakes up. So I'm having to sit here holding her to make sure she has a nap in the hope that she's less miserable when she wakes up!

I feel utterly useless today. I know I'm being hard on myself but I feel crap at it all, my back and shoulders are killing me and I'm just so tired.

Just hoping someone might be able to offer some advice. I don't know how to start breaking this cycle and get her to sleep without being rocked / constantly held.

Thanks for reading.

Anyone?

Thanks for your post. To hear that it's normal behaviour from someone else has really made me feel a lot better. I've been given an Ergo Baby sling which I haven't tried yet but I think it's designed for slightly bigger babies. I'll have a look into it and see if I can fathom it out.

I think you're right and perhaps I do just need to be a bit more realistic. I've just been finding it hard because everyone else seems to have it sussed and I wonder if it's just me! But I guess not everyone is quick to tell you about the days when they haven't had time to brush their hair or have a wash!

Thanks again

It is normal
It won’t be like this forever
Lower your expectations of your baby and yourself
Remember that she wants to sleep on you because you are her world and she feels safe with you
This too will pass

It's totally normal and it sucks! Do you Co sleep? It's the only way we managed to get any sleep as I had to be touching her for her to get any sleep at night and she woke every hour for most of her first year. Check out the lullaby Trust.
Also get a stretchy wrap or something like a caboo. It saved my life. I couldnt put her down for a second all day so I just stuck her in the wrap and pottered around or watched TV with her asleep in it.

Make sure you get a little break every day, even if it's just a shower or a walk alone or half an hour in your room without baby. It's a hard phase but it will end!

I don't co sleep because she was prem and we were told not to. I have got a chico next to me cot bed thing though that is quite good.

I've just had a look and there's a sling library about 20 minutes away so I'll definitely go to that, thanks for the recommendation!

This has made me feel much better... I don't have any mom friends and as this is my first sometimes it feels a bit overwhelming! Perhaps finding myself a group would be good to speak to people who have been there and done it already!

It is critical to get yourself some mum friends, you are right to go out and find some. It can make such a difference and you will feel less alone.

I could have written this post! My baby girl is one week shy of 4 months and had her booster jabs a couple of weeks ago. The rotavirus one has really done a number on her and I believe there is a 15 week growth spurt (check out the wonder weeks app). Add to this the 4 month sleep regression and we are barely hanging onto sanity at the moment! No advice just solidarity, you are certainly not the only one xxx