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Stupid question alert - can babies have insomnia???

8 replies

fantus · 09/03/2011 12:38

Ok, as the title says, I know it is a stupid question - but I really don't know what else could be wrong with DD. She is now 11 months old and has never been a great sleeper but things have got steadily worse over the last few months. She regularly wakes in the night and is then awake for usually around 2 hours at a time. I have tried ruling out all the usual suspects, teething, hunger, cold etc and she is still awake. I know she is tired, she is yawning and rubbing her eyes, and she is not trying to get up and certainly doesn't want to play.

If I leave her in her cot she will cry but if I pick her up she doesn't sleep but will lie in my arms quietly. The past couple of nights I have brought her into bed with me thinking this would settle her but it doesn't. It is as if she really wants to sleep but can't get comfy so rolls around and shifts position. Last night this went on from 2am till 4am, the night before from 3am till 5am. It isn't every night but it is every week and sometimes up to 5 nights. I am struggling by on less than 4 hours broken sleep a night (also have DS 4 who has nightmares most nights) and am running out of ideas!

Does anyone have any clue?? Please??

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sedgiebaby · 09/03/2011 12:43

Don't know - but as a thought, is DD the alert sparky type and easily excited/overstimulated, might she have trouble switching off? Is it any better when you have had a very quiet calm day? I am thinking of myself here and traits I think I'm seeing in my own dd...

GotABadAssNow · 09/03/2011 12:48

Wind? Developmental milestone - crawling, walking, talking?

fantus · 09/03/2011 13:42

So not insomnia then Grin

Yes she is the very alert type - I wouln't say easily excited but she just never keeps still. Complete opposite to DS who was a very placid laid back type. This is why I know she is tired as there is no way she would lie quietly if she weren't.

I'm pretty sure it's not wind as we have had this problem on and off since she was born so I am used to the signs by now and she doesn't display any, doesn't seem to be in any discomfort at all apart from rolling around a bit.

Developmental - could be but she has been crawling, cruising and babbling for months now, there has been no significant new skill. Also it has been going on for months - would it be more short term if it was developmental?

Thanks for your replies

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LiegeAndLief · 09/03/2011 14:03

I have no idea but I wanted to let you know that you are not alone as dd did/does the same thing. We went through a phase where she was awake 1.5-3hrs most nights. Also have 4yo ds who occasionally wakes so can appreciate the sleep deprivation! She is 19mths now and better but Monday night was awake from 4-6am.

I think in hindsight some of it was teeth, although she never responded to calpol/teething gel etc so no real help there.

Things that have helped her sleep as she got older - less sleep in the day (I have to wake her up after 30min, she hates it and screams but at least she sleeps better at night) and a lot of running around in the day, preferably outside. I think she genuinely doesn't need that much sleep, so she wakes at night and is still drowsy so doesn't try to get up and play but not tired enough to go back to sleep. She currently has about 30min nap, goes to bed at 8-8:30 and is often awake before 6. Very happy and playful in the day, doesn't seem tired.

fantus · 09/03/2011 14:29

Thanks Liege, I also sometimes think it might be teeth but same here, calpol etc. doesn't seem to help. Do you remember how much sleep your DD was getting in the day at this age? DD can sleep really well in the day and is still having 2 naps but I do try and make sure she doesn't sleep too late and too long although like yours she hates to be woken

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LiegeAndLief · 09/03/2011 16:26

I think she had dropped to one nap by then, maybe 1.5-2hr? Very early though, she would fall asleep by 11ish. Her sleep was awful though so whatever it was wasn't helping her sleep at night! She got better about 12-13mths and then had another bout of teething and it all went to pot.

Most people say more sleep in the day equals better sleep at night but that has definitely not been true for either of mine from quite an early age (sadly!). Terribly envious of people whose 2yo sleeps for two hours in the day and 12 at night...

LiegeAndLief · 09/03/2011 16:28

PS she would also sleep really well in the day - she would still nap for hours if I let her!

fantus · 09/03/2011 20:19

Sounds like my DD! She seems to sleep much better in the day. She is also ready for a nap very early - usually falls asleep on the way back from school and is back in her cot by 9.30am. She will then have another nap early afternoon so I'm wondering if maybe too much daytime sleep but she doesn't have more than 3 hours total so not sure.

Also when she is tired it is a nightmare trying to keep her awake in the day. I'll see how things go tonight although not sure what I can do different tomorrow if it is just as bad Confused

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