HELP! 9 month old getting worse not better.

[AlCrowley]

DD has always been a terrible sleeper. I joked before she was born that I was due a non-sleeping baby this time after DS who slept through from 8 weeks and it really has come true.

After months of struggle, we'd finally gotten to the point where she was finally having 1 nap in the day then having a BF at 7pm and going to bed and waking at 1.30-ish for a feed then sleeping till 5.30-ish for a feed and being wide awake from then until her nap. We weaned at 5 months on the advice of the HV because she wasn't napping during the day at all! She now eats really well.

Again on the HV's advice, 4 days ago, I added a FF at bedtime along with her BF. She's never taken a bottle - just screams if you put one in her mouth - so we've been giving "bedtime milk" from a tippy cup. She maybe takes an ounce or two before she cries for boob at which point I BF her to sleep as normal. But since then, her sleep has gotten even worse. We now have the 7pm feed, an 11pm feed, then the 1am feed and an extra 3am feed before the 5.30 wake up. The only bonus is that her nap has extended to more like 90 mins most days.

So I'm giving up on the HV and asking MN - what do I do now? Do I ditch the FF or should I give it a few more days to see if she settles? Is there anything else i can do to encourage her to sleep through - or at least go back to just 2 wakes? DH, DS and I are all desperate for a full nights sleep now

Any advice would be appreciated

Hi Blatherskite, sorry to hear things aren't so good at the moment. We're back to feeding to sleep too for some reason, maybe connected to the ear infection. It's certainly not for food, just comfort, otherwise we just get yelling.

Woke once at 4.30am, 6oz bottle & back to sleep - 10 min all in which ain't bad.

Hoping you get a better night tonight.

Afternoon nap lasted for 10 minutes and the screaming has started again

She can't go a day on 15 minutes sleep!!!

I found days like that so hard, I used to resort to calpol and taking them for a walk in the buggy if it helped them to nap ((hugs)) I suspect you'll need to do dinner early and get her to bed pronto. Tonight at 11pm I'd offer calpol and a feed tbh as something is obviously bothering her. More ((hugs))

I went up, said "nap time" and laid her back down. She screamed for about 5 minutes and then had another 10 minutes sleep.

Not great but better than nothing.

So today she's had 5 minutes nap this morning, 10 mins in the car when we took DS to hairdressers, and maybe 20 minutes total this afternoon Periods came back today too so today is really sucking what with being tired and grouchy and DD being tired and grouchy too. No pre-school for DS today either so it's been full on today.

Was talking to a friend at DS's swim lessons just now and think I might try choosing a nap time and then feeding her and putting her down regardless and then just going up occasionally to lie her back down until she falls asleep or i give up. Sound OK? She was saying she's always amazed at the nursery her DS2 goes to that they can just say "nap time" and 20 babies all lie down and sleep. Must be the routine? If 9am and 2pm is nap time, she'll soon get the idea right?

Book seems to suggest an earlier bedtime so I'm moving it forward by half an hour tonight and will start bath time at 6pm. Will do DS at the same time. He's been getting up around 6am since she's been born and I'd rather like to get our 7am wake-ups back.

It wouldn't be so bad if she'd stop the 11pm scream. She didn't do that for ages! She started crawling yesterday. Do developmental leaps upset sleep patterns?

Yes developmental milestones do effect things.

Well as I've said before by now I'd moved the naps for my two to 10.30am and 3pm and it seemed to help a lot. My 2 will be in bed by 6pm tonight as DD hasn't had a nap today and DS had a short one and they'll both be sparko within 10 mins. It does get better ((hugs))

She's definitely tired by 9am. She's usually all heavy lidded by the time we get back from dropping DS off at pre school. She's usually eye rubbing by 1pm too so even 2pm for an afternoon nap might be pushing it. If I could get her napping properly, we might even manage that third nap the book talks about!

Managed bed by 6.30 tonight even though I had to bath both the children on my own because DH was held up at work. Noticed in the bath that she has another blister next to her new tooth so it looks like she's getting a second tooth straight away. It definitely wasn't there earlier. Have dosed her with Calpol and rubbed some Bonjela on too so hopefully we'll avoid the screaming at 11pm. Maybe, if she can sleep through that, she'll be better rested and the daytime sleeps will get back to normal. It seems like they've suffered since she's been waking at night again.

Bonjela (I think) lasts 3 hrs, calpol 4 so when it wears off she'll wake. Dose her again lovey and don't feel guilty. Needs must and a quick feed if it makes her dosy again. You can go back to trying not to feed her at night again once she's over this hump. I have no idea why teething pain bothers them more when sleeping but it definitely does. Maybe give her bonjela before a nap too? ((hugs))

I saw this thread here and thought of you. Maybe you could post some of your tips you've learnt on there? Unless you've posted and I missed it already

No need for top ups. She had a couple of whinges around 11pm but no screaming and fell asleep again by herself and then slept till 6am this morning!!

Our first even full nights sleep!

Considering using Bonjela and Calpol at nap time too. Is that bad?

DS has school photos this morning and DD is supposed to be in them. I'm thinking Bonjela before we leave so she's not sore and less likely to be clingly so she'll sit to have them done and then half a dose of Calpol and a feed when we get home. Is that OK do you think? It seems like these teeth are really bothering her. Never had to treat DS when teething and worried I'm dosing her for the sleep not the pain.

It's only calpol and bonjela, you're not over dosing her but it is important she sleeps for her and for your sanity and it certainly doesn't sound OTT what you're suggesting. Stop feeling guilty you're a good mummy x

So glad you had a good sleep last night. You deserved it.

Hey Blatherskite, great performance last night! Agree with teaandcake that Bonjela and Calpol are not heavy duty drugs, especially when teething. We managed 8pm to 6.15am last night, and tooth 6 was spotted yesterday. Let's cross our bits and hope they're finally getting the idea.

We've done really well with naps today too.

Nap was a bit late because we were at the school doing the photos. She had a feed there because she was hungry, then smiled beautifully for the photo and then we came home, she fed again and had a 1h20min nap.

We had friends over this afternoon and she was too excited to sleep but she was grotty by 3 so I cuddled her. She was wriggling and crying so I put her in her cot and she fell asleep within minutes! I think it was about 3.40 when she fell asleep. I'm wondering now if I should wake her to make sure she'll sleep tonight. Will let her have an hour and then get her up at 4.40 I think.

Bathtime at 6pm again tonight and bed by 6.30 as it worked so well last night. She's not needed any Calpol or Bonjela all day but I think I'll give her some again at bedtime to ensure she's comfortable and ready for another good nights sleep.

That's really great

Didn't have to wake her in the end as she woke just after I posted having had 50 minutes sleep.

Did bath time at 6 again and while she did have a bit of a moan and need resettling once, she went to sleep relatively easily. I've given her Calpol and Bonjela again so I'm hoping for a good night.

Am actually a bit anxious though because if she does wake early, I'm going to be so disappointed. Fingers crossed that she'll prove me wrong though

We had a whinge (not full on cry) at 4am last night but she put herself back to sleep and then we got up at 10 to 6.

Not bad :)

Well, morning nap last 10 minutes and then a dirty nappy woke her up. I've changed her and told her it's nap time more than once but she doesn't seem to be buying it

Going to give up in a minute and take us all to soft play instead. Will take the buggy for if she wants to sleep while we're there.

Maybe she wasn't as tired after the good nights sleep? Hope soft play went well. Last night sounded a great success

Agree with Sunshine that's a good point.

Thanks Lee, that does help :)

She has crawled and climbed and played at soft play and was really tired. Fell asleep in the car so I've put her in her room in the carseat with a blanket over her. Had the foresight not to put her coat on thankfully. She's been out for 40 mins so far :)

Crawling could be a breakthrough I think - now she's getting physically tired by moving herself around.

Had a bad night again last night. She screamed for 2 hours between 10 and 12 even after I re-dosed her with Calpol!!

She's fed loads today. Much, much more than normal so she's either wanting comfort or she's having a growth spurt and is hungry. I've fed her whenever she's asked during the day but she's still been clingy and upset most of the time.

She napped for just 20 minutes this morning but it might have been DS shouting that woke her. This afternoon she had 50 minutes. She was very tearful at bath time and just wanted to be held. Have dosed her with Calpol and Bonjela again and so far so good. Off to bed soon as we're both tired after last night and DH has another very early morning at work. Fingers crossed for a good night.

Oh dear, so sorry to hear that

I bet it sometimes feels like two steps forward and one step back. But you are making progress ((hugs)) Hope tonight is a better night for you, sleep well.

We got a full night again last night. Up at 5.58am on the dot but she went down at 6.30pm with no problems.

She's been a little sick again this morning though so that's 4 mornings in a row. It's only ever a little bit (about a tablespoon full) and seems to stop by lunchtime

She's still feeding lots too. I fed her till she came off by herself each time and she was fine - for about 10-15 minutes, then she wanted some more. I fed her 3 times in an hour this morning!!

Do you think she's swallowling a lot of saliva due to her painful gums and that's why her stomach feels horrid and she's bringing a little up? I think feeding from you must be comforting for her right now. So glad you slept well. I didn't, my DD dreamt about a snake and woke at 12.30 scared witless so I had a munchkin in my bed all night slowly squashing me more towards the edge of the bed as she likes to sleep right beside me

Maybe. I had wondered too whether it was just down to her drinking too much milk while she comfort feeds and not being able to hold it all. The bit she brought up this morning was after her 3rd feed in an hour!!

DH has been around today and I've been doing the washing and making some baby food and she's been fine. Just fed her and gotten her down for her nap now. I wonder if it's just because I'm around that prompts the extra feeds??

Sorry you had a bad night DH is tired too as he was up at 2.30am to go to work! We've not had nightmares with DS yet thank goodness as then I'd be up with 2 of them. How old is your DD?