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Original poster

November 2012 - Any tips for surviving the 18-month sleep regression?

999 replies

StuntNun · 08/04/2014 15:57

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/2035882-November-2012-Are-the-LOs-old-enough-for-Mothers-Day-yet

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
BigPigLittlePig · 13/04/2014 22:05

Wanda I love hearing about your time with your girls, always raises a smile Smile

YW I am the boring sensible one in our house, so will agree with those who have said, save your nest egg until the new baby is here.

Pidj nothing to suggest really, except perhaps try forcing awakeness for a little longer in the morning in order to get one epic nap early pm, and perhaps a less early start to the day? Or just ride it out? Babies are odd critters, they like to keep us on our toes.

Have had a nice day, but overshadowed by anxiety. Always creeps in if am feeling low, bastard. Just awful what-ifs, and imagining ridiculous scenes. Am off to bed now, hoping for a decent stretch of zzzzs and fc a better day tomorrow.

ChasingDaisy · 13/04/2014 22:05

Yep, I should get it GT. I only earn 7k

ChasingDaisy · 13/04/2014 22:11

Wanda, that poor woman. Hopefully some wise quichesters will be able to offer some advice.

Feeling utterly let down by JFG. Despite everything, he is one of my best friends, and he knows how much I crave company at the weekends. So I shall go to bed in an angry, lonely, strop.

Night quiche x

YellowWellies · 13/04/2014 22:15

The existing fireplace would need to be enlarged, a new flint plinth installed, we want the opening / inglenook lined with reclaimed brick, the old gas fire and back boiler removed and supply capped, and the chimney lined with a zinc liner (15m) as per Building Regs, and a new chimney cowl. TBH its a big job and going by the installation costs for our Rayburn and my second degree in green architecture (which means lots of installer pals!) - its a fair price. Also our heating bills are less than £1.5k a year so it's not going to save enough to cover nursery / cleaner costs for my mat leave.

PurplePidjin · 13/04/2014 22:18

Wanda he's so clearly exhausted. If we're out I take him straight up as soon as we get in and he settles without a murmur, the sign that he was ready as if he's overtired he cries and struggles. Bearing in mind that a long nap up until he walked was 30 minutes, and he didn't sleep during the day for more than 20 for the first 9 months of his life, an hour and a half is epic for him iyswim? It's the same at bedtime - if I try and play after tea he's grumpy and clingy, if I ask if he wants to go for his bath he switches the tv off and makes for the stairs! It was moving bedtime earlier that got him sleeping this well - battling to keep him up till 7 meant wake ups every 2 hours through the night. He really really doesn't cope with over tiredness at all Sad

ChasingDaisy · 13/04/2014 22:23

Pidj, you know R better than anyone else in the world. Stick with your instinct x

PurplePidjin · 13/04/2014 22:26
Thanks
ChasingDaisy · 13/04/2014 23:03

Reading your last post back, the bit about him not coping with over tiredness well, makes me think that it is perhaps over stimulation? Perhaps a few quiet days will help Smile

PetiteRaleuse · 14/04/2014 04:23

Ouch that does sound a lot of work yw

I guess in that case I'd wait and see.

Fucking insomnia. I really needed to sleep thisweek I have so much to do. Have been awake since 2. It's making me so angry. Which hardly helps.

Lily311 · 14/04/2014 04:31

Same here pr

Original poster
StuntNun · 14/04/2014 06:49

YW there's a saying here in NI "You're better looking at it than looking for it." Why not hold on to the money for now and make the decision on the wood burner in late summer.

Sounds horrendous Pidj hopefully just a blip? 18-month growth spurt happening early? I'm a big fan of tiring toddlers out. An hour or two in the park and they crash out heavily asleep for at least a couple of hours. At least that way you could get your bath in the evening.

J has woken screaming at 5:30 for the last four mornings which is getting quite wearing. He seems to be starving hungry as the only thing to stop him crying is milk. He's on Koko milk at the moment and I'm wondering if it's too low calorie at less than half the calories of cows milk. He certainly drinks more of it than he would have with formula milk but he can't drink more than twice as much - that would be two full bottles. His eating hasn't been great lately and the only things he eats a lot of are carbs: toast, crisps, chips and biscuits. He hardly touches meat and vegetable any more. He does still eat fruit but that's hardly filling. Tbh I don't know what to do with him any more. He screamed for two hours yesterday afternoon, arched into a backwards C and completely inconsolable. Maybe tired/overtired, maybe in pain, maybe hungry, who knows any more?

OP posts:
PetiteRaleuse · 14/04/2014 07:04

I was awake from 2-6. I actually managed to give myself a mild anxiety attack Hmm at all the stuff I need to do this week and how much I need the sleep to do it.

LO didn't wake again. If her regression is evening wake ups that'll be fine with me.

PurplePidjin · 14/04/2014 08:29

i take him out morning and afternoon so i might cut that back a bit and catch up on the laundry for a few days. he definitely gets tired, i walk him like you would a puppy Grin

Elizadoesdolittle · 14/04/2014 09:17

pidj I take the girls out a lot but sometimes they just need some quite time at home. I still get them out in the fresh air but will either be a low key trip to the shop, quick family visit or garden time. I can tell when it's getting a bit much so just rein it in a bit. plus like you I get very behind with washing as you have to actually be in to sort it out!

PurplePidjin · 14/04/2014 09:37

i'm fairly well on top of it because of the nappies - they take 3 hours so can bungalow them in then rinse at nap time Smile but am definitely going to try some down time.

i found his old amber anklet so have popped that on in addition to the necklace. might work! he's happily pattering in the living room, which has been rare the last few days but normal before that, so fx Grin

PetiteRaleuse · 14/04/2014 09:50

LO back from the paed. Jabs postponed til May. All good. Has grown 4cm since Dec and is now 79 cm weighing 10.7kg.

BigPigLittlePig · 14/04/2014 10:51

Awful dream, there was a spider on my bed. I woke up and leapt out of bed and made dh check all the sheets etc.

He was not impressed.

ditsygal · 14/04/2014 11:09

Arrghh F is starting to refuse his cot at nap times and wants to fall asleep on us instead. I thought it was just when DH was here as he doesnt want to miss anything with him but he is doing it again today- starts screaming as we walk towards his room (even though he is tired) so I just brought him straight back down stairs to play a bit more and will try again in 10 mins. uggh, just when you think you have got something sorted!

Passmethecrisps · 14/04/2014 13:25

Afternoon.

How are we all? Sunny here.

P had a dreadful night last night. Awake and standing in her cot twice before midnight then awake at 2:15am until 5:45! DH went in with her and ended up settling her to sleep with them both cuddled up on the floor.

Each occasion she woke she seemed disoriented and upset but couldn't / wouldn't settle herself.

She has a molar coming through and has had a chesty cough for a week.

If this is a sleep regression what advice would you all give? Should we just keep endlessly resettling and leaving? Or should we try to cuddle her in to sleep?

DH is taking her to the doc today to see about the cough.

This is what she was like on holiday as well so it could also be over stimulation from granny and grampa visiting and then people over for lunch who stayed until well after she had gone to bed

ChasingDaisy · 14/04/2014 13:43

Pass, as P is usually such a good sleeper, I would probably cuddle her to sleep and do whatever is necessary, as she obviously has the ability to sleep well when she needs to, so you won't be 'ruining' her sleeping abilities by 'giving in' for a while. I hope that makes sense, and obviously I am no expert.

PetiteRaleuse · 14/04/2014 13:50

I agree with Chasing

ChasingDaisy · 14/04/2014 14:06
Passmethecrisps · 14/04/2014 14:50

Thank you ladies. I don't want to freak out worrying about a regression if actually she is poorly and needs cuddles.

Apparently she has ABs. I have no idea why as DH just texted to say she had them.

ValiumQueen · 14/04/2014 16:01

I agree with Chasing too Smile hope the antibiotics fix her pronto Smile

I am feeling utterly fucked off today. I went for an interview and got rejected again, although very positive feedback. I am fucked off with DH for not having a career so all the pressure is on me, I am fucked off at me for working 25 years in my career and still not getting anywhere, fucked off about all the bad decisions I have made over the years. But I know if things had gone different I would not have had at least one of my darling children. I am still fucked off though Angry

YellowWellies · 14/04/2014 16:02

Pass we always find in regressions its a case of do anything you can to maximise sleep - don't worry about starting bad habits. Equally as sleep is jeffed anyway we found regressions a good time to implement planned changes (i.e. crib to cot, into own room). We also found sleeping in shifts i.e. one goes to bed when she does and the other covers wake ups til 2am. Then the partner that goes to bed earliest covers wakings after 2. That way you both stand a chance of getting a good 4-5 hour stretch.