What is this bloody squirming about?! Arrgh

[narmada]

Just looking for fresh ideas, as have run out of them myself.

My DD 12 weeks (formula fed) is a terrible sleep-fighter in the day, prone to horrific overtiredness and overstimulation (I think). He is also been treated for reflux by the paed (posted about this elsewhere).

When he is trying to get to sleep he burrows and shuffles and squirms endlessly in my arms, sort of turning his head from side to side to side, until he finally, hopefully drops off. Usually for half an hour. There is NO WAY on god's earth that he will go down in his cot during the day unless he is deeply asleep where he will again only sleep for one sleep cycle before waking up still tired but unable to sleep. He cannot self settle at all. Bless him, he is not nice to cuddle, more like wrestling a hyperactive octopus to sleep. He also does the squirming and head-side-to-side thing when he comes into a light sleep cycle if he's still in my arms.

I have just about accepted that he will only really sleep in my arms or in the pram during the day, but this squirming is driving me nuts.

Has anyone else experienced this or have any ideas why he is doing it? I have to now just put it down to the reflux but this seems to be better controlled now he is on a stronger medication.

narmada Not a problem at all. I was at rock bottom before the napping kicked in, so if any of it can be of ANY assistance to you, I would be happy. It took about 2 -3 weeks for it to kick in with her. And I had a lot of tears during those 2 - 3 weeks believe you me.

Life is good now! Best of luck and please do let me know how it goes!

Hi just wanted to add that my wee one was like that also and he too likes to have his naps around about the same time every day. However I think a lot of the squirming in his case was caused by wind. I found when he was smaller it was really important to make sure he did a really good burp before going to sleep (I usually bf him to sleep). He was also happier at an angle or with a bit of pressure on his stomach (either my hand or just lying with his stomach on mine). If he didnt burp he would often wake with a start after 20/30 mins. Apparently if wind is a problem its good to give them gripe water or infacol with feeds but I could never get the stuff down him. Hope you manage to get some rest.
Oh also with the walking and popping into coffee shops thing, I was lucky enough to have mine in the spring which meant I could walk to coffee shop and sit outside pushing pram back and forwards constantly while drinking my coffee and eating massive cakes

pleasethanks yes, rock bottom just about sums it up!

I think one way or another I am also going to have to wean DS off the dummy - he is extremely sucky but of course wakes up when it falls out..... eek. He has been putting his fingers in his mouth, so I am hoping he will learn to suck them instead but they're really looooooooong and he pokes them too far in ATM, gagging himself.

goodname I will try the winding thing too. He swallows a shed load of air because he has a high, narrow palate which makes sucking without doing so a little challenging. Poor wee mite.

Your thing about moving the pram endlessly made me laugh - I have done this too. Doesn't always work mind. If his little eyes pop open and spy something interesting (and to him the velcro strap attaching the raincover is totally fascinating) then you can jiggle all you like and nothing is going to keep him asleep! I do hate all this rain and sludge - makes pram walks much harder work.

narmada I just laughed out loud about the velcro strap - I see my wee one staring at it with an intense look on her face when she should be dozing and I really just want to say to her "Really? You are staying awake to look at a velcro strap?"