Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Please help, feeling mental. 14 week old started settling now all over place.

11 replies

pevie · 07/08/2007 20:53

First off, apologies in advance for the rant I am about to unleash (please dont let that put you off reading the rest!!!) My 14 week old has been unsettled from outset - a bit of reflux doctor thinks!! Has been pained during feeding, doesnt sleep much in day, although improving at night, wont take bottle just breast and wont be consoled by anyone other thant me. Now I am a slight control freak so when she started to seem a little more settled at just before 12 weeks, we tried very hard to get some kind of structure as thought it might help. Packed off DD1 to grannies and just tried to put down for sleeps at certain times, feeding at fairly regular intervals, consistent bedtime with bit less rocking than before. Husband and I were astounded when it actually seemed to work a little - did half hour sleep in morning (on good day) in bed, few hours midday in pram (although it involved a lot of pushing), little nap later with bedtime settling taking about an hour tops. this also led to her sleeping through night for about 3 nights. This routine worked more or less for about 9 days, then all of a sudden started doing 5-10 mins in morning, half hour at midday, half hour later if lucky. So now very tired, bedtime a bit nightmarish and waking in night several times (for last 4-5 days). I know she might be bit uncomortable but when she wakes at these times, is not screaming in pain. Please tell me if you've experienced it, how does a baby go from about 3 hours napping, and reasonable nights sleep, to hour napping if lucky and sleep at night all over place. Feel demented. By the way I know there will be those of you who will say that 14 weeks is bit early for routine which may be so but wasnt being totally fascist about it, just thought it helped her to be a bit happier rather than constant grizzling. Also, DD 1 responded so well to a routine, i know it can really benefit them. Any similar stories of woe, tips, reassurance or witty banter to help me stop obsessing, very welcome!!!!!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
TheQueenOfQuotes · 07/08/2007 20:58

in a rush (got approx 20 minutes to blitz the house LOL).....but the first thing that springs ot mind is "Growth Spurt".

liath · 07/08/2007 20:58

There's loads of stuff in the archives about babies going a bit doolally at around 14-15 weeks - did a search myself as ds suddenly started wanting to feed several times a night (he's been doing it for a month now). Not sure what to advise as I'm co-sleeping and have no routine at all but I can sympathise as dd was sleeping through much earlier & I stupidly assumed this one would do the same.....

pevie · 07/08/2007 21:10

Aah, the good old 'growth spurt'. Didnt think of that one, how do I find previous threads on 14-15 week olds going doolally!!! Not sure how to work a search - DOH!!!

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

bodiddly · 07/08/2007 21:14

I seem to remember my ds being a bit up and down with his routine at about this age. Have you considered going to a cranial osteopath? I didnt get round to taken mine (although I wish I had) but it is meant to be so good for them and can help their sleep and reflux etc. There is certainly no harm in giving it a go .. I know so many people swear by it. I dont know where you live but if you are near London there is a children's osteopathic centre which is charity-based so you have to pay very little. The only other thing I can suggest that used to work for my ds when he was so over-tired and fighting sleep was to put him in a moses basket or car seat next to the kitchen extractor fan ... the noise used to send him off to sleep without fail every time, that or a car ride!

pevie · 07/08/2007 21:54

Tried to leave message but didnt seem to work. Tried cranial osteopath but didnt seem to work for sleep. Shes always had this problem with waking after 10-30 mins, but for while would go back if we pushed her in pram. Maybe try white noise thing, anyone know where I can get a machine?

OP posts:
bodiddly · 07/08/2007 21:58

Im not sure about white noise machines etc but I think you can buy white noise cds online .. though the kitchen extractor worked for us ... or perhaps the hoover/hair dryer!

pevie · 08/08/2007 20:15

Am back, last night even worse than one before, she seemed to be awake from about 2 till 5 until I gave in and took her into bed!!! Whinged a lot of today and wont settle with anyone other than me!!! Please please tell me that they settle again!! Still dont know how to do searches for this topic!!

OP posts:
coleyboy · 08/08/2007 20:33

If you have done everything you can think of, maybe you just need to roll with it? My sis gave me the best piece of advise ever when I was phoning her up in tears and pulling my hair out with ds. She said that babies constantly change, once you think you have got them settled into a great routine, all of a sudden it will go pear shaped and vice versa. As hard as this seemed when I tearing my hair out over ds's terrible sleeping, it also kind of helped as I knew it wouldn't last forever. And true enough it didn't, he'd drop a feed, or stop waking up 15 mins after I put him down (god I remember how utterly frustrating that was!)

An electric fan is a good source of white noise, and you can pick them up dead cheap. It really works for ds, and it also helps to cover household noises (ds is very sensitive to noises, they really distract him).

puffylovett · 08/08/2007 20:38

hi pevie, i went through a similar thing, there is light at the end of the tunnel - well until the next spurt, anyway, my 22 week old seems to be having his 6 month spurt early

click on 'search for messages' and in the first box put in the words you want to search for - such as '14 week growth spurt' then click on run search - that simple..

Sidge · 08/08/2007 21:01

I'm thinking of a few things - growth spurt is one of them, the reflux is another - is that under control? Have you tried propping up the cot end? If she is waking suddenly she could be refluxing, then uncomfortable so can't settle herself back down. This is often when they want to 'feed' - not always a true hunger feed, but a "milk is soothing and neutralises the acid" feed.

Also agree that babies change like the wind - my DD is now 11 months and still very inconsistent with sleeping. Doesn't take much to unsettle her - teething, pooing, too warm, too cold, gnats farting etc...

Structure is good but she is still pretty young so don't get too worried if it doesn't go to plan. Another thing - when she squawks do you rush straight in? I was doing this with DD3 (so she wouldn't wake DD 1 and 2) but realised that sometimes she would cry out, snort, fart grunt and go off again.

Hope tonight is better for you!

pevie · 08/08/2007 22:04

Thanks. Definately not rushing in, last night listened to her toss and turn for hour before she totally woke herself up, then only way to get her back was to feed her. But then vicius circle as unsettles her again and up about hour later. Reflux definately a problem, although I think that even when not uncomfortable she wakes out of habit. We're trying gaviscon. Also managed search finally and came across really helpful thread from few years ago about babies that constantly wake after 20 mins, half hour and has lots of useful advice. Called 'overtired' or something. Its just incredibly difficult as you dont know whether you're coming or going and every day is still different. I think it would be easier to go with the flow if it werent my second, but doesnt seem fair to DD1 who has to basically fit in with me trying to get DD2 to sleep all the time. She starts nursery next week so may make it bit easier to focus on DD2. Am so tired I could vomit. Anyway, thanks for support - going to bed now so will let you know what night brings!!!!!!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page