7mo sleep and working full time HELP

[Coffeeisntstrongenough]

Please help

My 7.5mo was a great sleeper as a newborn, but things have progressively got worse. I have finished maternity and I am back working full time, and exhausted beyond belief.

Generally DS will wake between 6.30-7.30, will then be dropped off with a Childminder, and with them between 8.30-17.30. Awake windows are 2-3hours long, and he will go down for a nap easily in a cot, but will only sleep for 30-40mins. No matter if this is the cot / Pram / car. This is the same on the days we are at home.

Bedtime routine is bath, milk, bed, and placed in cot between 19.00-1930, and falls asleep easily. I then cook dinner, washing, housework, dishes, shower, general admin, work emails, and go to bed around 9/10pm. No time for tv, or down time.

But DS will wake around 10- 11pm, and then every 1-2 hours. Sometimes it will just be a case of reinserting the dummy. But on other occasions it can take a long time for him to settle. He has recent cut 2 teeth, and there are no signs of anymore. But since these teeth (4weeks ago) sleep is still a battle. Night feeds stopped at 6 weeks, so I assume it’s not hunger, as if I try a bottle it’s refused. DS is not a cuddly child, so placed in my arms for comfort he will just fight and wriggle to escape.

I’m pretty sure this isn’t under tired due to lack of naps. But could it be overtiredness? He is reflux /cmpa / and constantly full of congestion.

I’m honestly exhausted from constant broken sleep of 30-1.5hour intervals. I’m barely functioning at work, and work in quite a busy and intense environment. I can’t reduce my hours / days, but then I don’t know what to do. I’m run down, have numerous cold sores, and feel mentally and physically exhausted. So most evenings I just cry. I don’t have family or friends who are in a position / willing to help.

During the day DS is happy and loves the interaction with other children. But weekends he is just constantly upset, and I’m too tired to even do anything.

Any advice is appreciated. As I’ve currently had 45minutes sleep...

Do you have a partner? You don’t mention anyone?

W you mention a bottle, is it formula? Which formula is he on?

Honestly, I think this is just normal baby behaviour.

You say you're not in a position to reduce days or hours but I don't think there's another way out of this as you're not going to change your babies sleep overnight or maybe been within the next few months, as this sounds v normal. I think you went back too early, is there no way you can go back on maternity ? It could change but with you not being in charge during the day to actively monitor and control food intake and naps I think you'll find it difficult to mak change. 7.5 months is still so young and most babies will not be developmentally ready to sleep for long periods at this time

Thank you both. I’m a single parent, so no partner to share the load or financial side. Completely understand this is “Normal”, but it just seems so little sleep over a 24hour period, and extremely hard to settle upon waking. It seems I can’t break the cycle of being overtired. 4 month regression hit us hard, but we did seem to come out the other side. Night wakings where once / twice a night, but he would settle. This is constant crying for hours and hours, so I’m just worried that I’m missing something. Yes FF, on CMPA prescribed milk.

I returned to work after my paid leave ended, I know I could have taken longer. But I need to pay the mortgage and bills, so need some household income. The only thing I can do is reduce to 4 days, or the drastic measure would be to sell our home.

That is a very tough situation to be in. Have you tried co-sleeping? My 6 months old started doing these frequent wakes ups too when sleeping in his cot, but sleeps significantly better in our bed (which is literally next to his cot, but apparently makes a difference).

It maybe that he needs a different milk. The first prescribed milks still contain milk protein but it’s broken down. Ask for advice on this on the CMPA Facebook group.

Would you consider cosleeping?

This sounds horrid for you. I know you're by yourself and have to balance the housework with everything else but is there a way you could go to sleep earlier? I used to go to bed whenever my baby did up until she reached about 8 months... I know there's stuff that needs to be done but is there anything you could leave? I'd second Co sleeping as another option.

P. S. You're a wonder woman for balancing so much. It's no surprise you're exhausted!

This happened to me when I returned, I ended up co sleeping and it worked! We were both well rested and in a better mood the next day.
It is worth considering for now.

I’ve attempted co sleeping, Ds just seem to thinks it playtime. New bed to explore, roll around in and try climb out. Also fascinated by my presence, pulling hair, poking eyes, mouth, nose. Which I’m worried about due to cold sores. Is it a case of persevering so they understand it’s a place of sleep?

@Fitforforty I spoke to the dietician and they didn’t think was milk related, blamed on teething (although HV disagreed) But will join the Facebook group thank you.

@ASomers I do the bare minimum, just ensure we are both clean, fed (quick meal for me), have sterilized bottles, clean clothes and bags packed for the next day. Or reply to urgent emails only. So usually 1-2 hours after Ds, which is usually around the first wake up. I find it takes me awhile to switch off.

@Coffeeisntstrongenough I feed to sleep (bf). It switches him off nicely.

Have you tried a white noise machine? This was also a game changer for me.

A white noise and heartbeat worked nicely for us, we have an 'Ollie the owl'.

I really feel for you, it's so tough being a parent - really hope he settles and you get more sleep.

We have a Ewan dream sheep, and also a white noise machine swiftly purchased from Amazon. I’ve also tried a night light on and off. Black out blinds. Light projector, and red light which is meant to help the sleep hormone. Crib is raised to help reflux.

@Mc3209 unfortunately due to reflux, I am unable to feed to sleep, as DS needs to be upright after a feed for 15/20 minutes. Even though this is medicated.

Just managed to grab a sandwich, before DS woke up. Only been down a 1.15hrs.