Worst sleeper in the world competition

[user40816]

(This is a facetious post because I have no idea how else to cope with our situation any more)

I'm almost positive I've spawned the worst sleeping child on the planet and I'm willing to be challenged by anyone else who thinks their DC will trump mine. Give me your horror stories/realities...

DC2 didn't sleep through the night until age 5 (and generally woke several times each night).
Turns out they had massive tonsils causing sleep apnoea, which in turn made them over-tired resulting in dreadful sleep patterns and included night terrors.
Once the tonsils came out, we had no further issues. Bliss!

@Crocalock it's annoying isn't it. They also tend to be the ones who say really dumb things because somehow they think you must be doing it all wrong.

That said I do love it if they get a non sleeper after have little angels 😂 they look half demented half apologetic after knowing they have been quietly smug think oh she's just not doing it right.

I'm actually off to go help a Betty (she's dear friend of mine who baring her annoying habit of offering unsolicited advice) is a good soul. She's had her second and he's been up every hour on the hour. Her DH a bellend and as much as I want to throttle her before. She's in a real state, so gonna have mr screamy so she can sleep.

I think your baby sounds quite normal, also 8-10 months is basically a dive in terms of sleep. (This is pretty accurate, her advice though does not work IME) sarahockwell-smith.com/2017/07/24/the-rollercoaster-of-real-baby-sleep/

I found it gets better from around 18 months but on baby 3, I'm no longer just waiting for it to sort itself out as that takes too long. Been doing (attempting poorly) gentle night weaning since new year with 18mo, it's improved things a bit but inevitably gets all fucked up when he has a cold, which is still fairly frequent.

My motto is co-sleep until the point where co-sleeping is less restful than trying to resettle them in a cot or single bed. At that point download a load of easy read but compelling books for kindle app and/or join some juicy FB groups that have lots of stupid arguments that will raise your adrenaline and sit in at night for the long haul!

I waited until DS1 slept through by himself and he was about 2.5. I night weaned DS2 with the compelling book method at 2y3m and it took about 3 months. So started earlier this time but I think it will take a bit longer.

My 4.5 year old woke up 8 times between 7pm and 7am last night. Screaming in terror a couple of times, couldnt find his teddy, needed a wee, needed water, just want to watch tv (2am), and who fucking knows what the others were about.
He has never in his life slept through. The best sleep we get is if I just sleep with him.

I have twins, 9, with multiple diagnoses. Neither have ever slept through the night.
People genuinely don't understand. there are people who have had babies 8 and a half years after mine that get more sleep!

I can’t even read books anymore. 3 years of constant lack of sleep means I just can’t concentrate, end up staring at the page and re reading the same line.

I stopped breastfeeding 18 months ago. I co sleep happily of needed and we do most nights after 2-3am and multi wakes, but we get no sleep really as he moves so much.

Your post really made me laugh (sorry) @Username721 I've been exactly the same (elbow deep). At least if your arm did break in that position it wouldn't hurt as it's completely numb through lack of circulation.

OP, it's nothing you've done wrong. I also think it must be pure luck, that's why it can be different between siblings.

I have always been told it's because I didn't do controlled crying but I really don't think it can be.

I like to think they can suddenly just sleep through one day!

I've seriously considered it, as you say despite not wanting to think it could help. But to be honest now couldn't be a worse time for us to try and night wean + transition to her own bed simultaneously due to many other 'adult life' factors ongoing. As counterintuitive as it might sound, my own sanity still copes better with sleep as it is currently than it would if I were having to sit through lots of crying and screaming. 🙈

@hourbyhour101 @MamOfFive I'm almost certain DD would be too young still to be considered for melatonin (as well as I'm sure there are criteria she would have to meet to justify it anyway). Out of curiosity though, how long have/were your DC on it for, how is their sleep now if they're no longer taking it, and were you warned of/did you read up on any long term implications of being on it?

I was advised years ago to take some as part of a health protocol, but the person I sought advice from wasn't in the UK and wasn't aware melatonin isn't OTC here (which they thought was bizarre), so if the benefits outweigh any risks I'll certainly keep it in mind as a suggestion to the GP if things don't improve by say, 18 months.

It didn't last long but my DD as a newborn didn't sleep until midnight/ 1am, woke at 2.30am for half an hour, 4am for half an hour and then was up for the day at 5.30am. She would nap but only for 15-20 mins at a time so any day time nap o did get was only 10-15 mins, once i had managed to settle myself. It was hell.

But I really can't complain reading these other posts.

@hippygirllucky I know what you mean. In the thick of it, it does feel like it really couldn't get any worse but some people's experiences just go to show... it really can. 😳