January 2020 babies new decade new babies

[muddypuddlejumping]

Would anyone like to join as I can't find a thread for the January babies. DS is a few days old born early via emcs but we're doing well. This is our second.

Currently surviving the night feeds by keeping the Jaffa cake production in business and the odd daytime nap.

@MGC40 sadly, whilst she went down at a good time (about 8.15) she woke up at 3 and ate comforted on me for almost 2 hours and woke back up at 6.30 😭 I know, it really is hard just now. Who knows, maybe the mums with babies that sleep get a raw deal at a later stage. I've found that side feeding in bed gets her some sleep but it's not so great of I want to do something. I know it will pass eventually but it's such a struggle right now. I think also having lockdown so we can't give her to family/friends to watch and give us a break is compounding the stress. I totally know why we need to follow lockdown, I just find it hard at times.

@MGC40 you’re not getting it wrong. I feel a bit rubbish to be honest seeing on here that others babies are going for long stretches/sleeping through.
My LG has never slept through and still is up every night every 1.5-2 hours. Still haven’t managed to get her in her cot and she will only nap during the day if held by me.
She won’t sleep for her dad. She won’t take expressed milk in a bottle anymore. She won’t go to sleep anywhere but in the bedroom with me led next to her both for daytime naps and nighttime sleep.
People keep talking about the regression but if my LG gets any worse I don’t know what I’ll do! She’s recently started waking at 4:30 or 5:30 ready for the day 😩
Feel like I must be failing as I spend most of my dad alone in our bedroom with the baby and get no time for myself 😢

@HMSsleepy and @ReyGal Thank you for sharing. It's so comforting.
It is so hard at the moment. I guess that if more people shared their true experience we'd probably find that everyone is struggling in some way and it would provide the comfort we all need, rather than thinking we are alone in our struggle.
I know I get affected by seeing mums, mainly "famous" mums on social media posting nice pictures. It's only a snapshot but in your head you paint a whole picture of how they seem to just be doing it all. But, many probably have help behind the scenes.
That's the tough bit about this lockdown, you can't even pass baby over for a cuddle. I'm struggling not talking to professionals or even other mums to ask "what's going on?!"
Or "is this normal" and "what should I do?!"
I feel I am winging it!
@ReyGal My girl won't settle for her dad either. So it's always me. I get jealous of those dads or partners that can help get baby off.

Sorry about the long post. But it's good to chat. ♥️ Maybe I should start putting the real struggle on social! 😂

Hey @ReyGal, @MGC40 and @HMSsleepy! Thanks for sharing your real life experiences! @ReyGal, you're not alone, I too feel like I'm spending most of my day in a darkened bedroom trying to get DD to nap and then sitting quietly whilst she continues to nap on me. I occasionally get her into the cot but more recently she's been stirring very easily and wakes up so I have to settle her back down again on me.

DD has been struggling to settle for her naps generally and I'm wondering if I'm not quite timing them right and missing a sleep cue. I've started using the Huckleberry app to plot her sleep and predict her next nap time and it's working fairly well but I think I'm maybe relying on it too heavily. Does anyone else use it?

It is getting increasingly more difficult as the weeks pass. Just hope the sleep improves soon as I find it so mentally and physically draining at the moment.

How's everyone coping with the heat too? Our room is regularly 24 degrees now and was 27 last week. We have blackout curtains and I have the windows open before the sun gets round but the bedroom is west facing so gets all the afternoon and evening sun. Any tips on keeping the room cool? We have a fan but it's not particularly effective and I don't like leaving it on all night.

Anyway, rambling post sorry. Hope you're all keeping well and had a nice bank holiday weekend!

Hi everyone. I am writing this while listening to annoying white noise in a dark room trying to get dd to sleep. It's all gone to shit. I guess now the true 4 months sleep regression or whatever baby stuff has set in.
To everyone who is struggling with their baby at the moment: you are not alone
Last night: screaming to sleep but managed by herself, then awake every 2 hours. Up at 6 am... Esswntially instantly tired and grumpy
Doesn't nap longer than 1 hour max and is therefore never happy.
I just had a major cry on my partner's shoulder, who came back from nightshift in covid icu, it's not like he doesn't have to deal with enough misery already...
So I'm essentially alone most of the time with a miserable 4 month old.
Additionally to that I am constantly worried about her small head. She's on the bottom line for head circumference and being a freshly graduated medic makes me think all kind of things. GP and HV say not to worry as long as she achieves all her milestones. So now I am getting paranoid about everything :-(

Hi everyone,

It's been a few weeks since the last activity on here, so thought I'd say hello and see how everyone is getting on?

DD is still struggling with her sleep, it's been about six weeks now, and last night was absolutely terrible. Honestly didn't think it could get much worse but wow! last night was a real challenge. She was very overtired as she struggled to nap during the day. She was awake every 50 - 90 mins overnight and it felt like just as I was getting to sleep she was waking up again. I'm hoping that it was a one off last night due to the napping and that I'll get her back on track today.

How is everyone else getting on? Anyone made it through to the other side yet? Or has anyone started any form of sleep training?

@Felinewoman sorry you were having such a tough time at the end of last month, how are you doing now? I hope things are improving for you.

A friend told me that she found the first three months the most difficult, and that after that it's much easier... She obviously lied to make me feel better at the time

Hi Everyone!
How is DD doing @Mahonia ? My girl did the same the other week. One night she woke up, at one point, every 30 mins! It's true, they sense when you are about to drop off and then they stir!
My girl is doing well. She is now letting me put her down for some of her naps!
I started some sleep training two days ago...it's not easy! The first time I tried DD got really upset, and so did I. So I have changed the way I am doing things.
I bought a guide from Little Ones, but am mainly getting help from The Parent and Baby Coach.
But I am trying to just go with the flow, as I get super stressed/anxious and put too much pressure on myself and bubs.
I got in to a routine now with naps. The problem is I now worry how the hell I ever leave the house?! DD doesn't really sleep well in her pram! 🤦🏻‍♀️