can anyone offer any support? 6 MO waking every 2 hours. exhausted and can't function.

[nello]

The title says it all really. I just don't know what to do and I am now sat here trying to feed her solids and have no energy and just feel sick and dizzy from lack of sleep. And i can't stop crying and feel so guilty becuase I am her mummy and should be able to deal with this and she shouldn't be seeing me cry. I haven no idea why she is waking so much, or what to do. Any ideas...?

Hi nello so sorry you're having a bad time - just wanted to let you know you're not alone!

DD turned 6 mo last week and I think a combination of starting her on solids and moving her into her own room has really disturbed her.

I had my own meltdown last week exactly as you described crying and feeling useless and guilty. My mum happened to call round just at the right time. She put DD down for me - DD started crying and my mum said "just leave her for a minute" (normally I would have gone straight in and picked her up). She then went in and patted her a few times and went back out. This happened 3 times and then DD went to sleep - within 10 minutes!

I was but tried it myself - just going in patting her and then going out of the room and it has worked.

I must admit it works better when DH/DM do it so maybe your DH could try settling her. I would never leave DD to cry but have figured out when I know she has been fed/changed/not ill etc she sometimes just needs a little cry before sleep.

It doesn't work all the time but I have had some success. Agree also that the Baby Whisperer has some good ideas so maybe have a look at that?

Look after yourself I'm sure it does get better!

Hi mimmee again good to hear that i'm not alone! it really does help. i have a lot of friends with sleep-a-throughers (?!) so i feel like i'm the only one having difficulties. my mum doesn't live close but is coming to stay for a few days in a couple of weeks so i'm counting down to that!

I know it's so hard when you feel like everyone else's baby is sleeping through the night and when you're exhausted it's easy to think that you must be doing something wrong - but it's not the case!

I think all babies are different and go through different stages - my DD was like yours and slept through the night from 10 weeks to about 4 1/2 months and then it all changed!

It definately makes a difference when you have some support so it's great that your mum's coming to stay.

My cousin who has 2 LO's just said to keep telling yourself it won't last forever - and she assures me it doesn't!

Hi Nello
Caught your thread as I'm cruising looking for ideas to start night weaning and I felt your pain!
DS now 14mo and vg sleeper till around 5mo when went nuts - every 1.5/2hrs. I was so worried as going back to work. Looking back now, I think these terrible times are developmental - 5mo was rolling, got one not so bad around 9mo - crawling, horrid one recently - walking. I get cross as we're made to feel we're failing - but this is normal, it's what babies do.
My answer - you might not like it! - co-sleeping.
I was so anxious thinking I was supposed to put him in his own room, supposed to get him to sleep by himself, and it felt all wrong. Not sure your DP may like it but have had wholehearted backing from mine.
Result - happy babe, gets all the cuddles he wants, happy mummy - gets all the sleep she needs.
Now I'm starting night weaning so watch this space!
To repeat what lots of others have said- it does pass, it's normal and you need to be able to look back and be happy you've done your best - whatever that is, it's what works for you and yours.
As my Grannie would have said, keep your pecker up!

Hi nello. Was just going to post basically what Alibaba said. Try offering her food in some form every couple of hours during the day and see if that helps. DD 9mths (and other little ones I mind) goes something like this during the day:
7am milk
9am breakfast
10.30 snack and drink
12pm lunch
2pm bottle
4pm snack
5pm dinner
6.30 supper
7pm bottle

Plenty of food and drink plus plenty of fresh air. If she still wakes up then you will know it is most likely either teeth or for comfort. If she is generally happy during the day then prob not teeth. And don't worry - you sound like you are doing a great job

thanks balijay...could I ask you how I would do this kind of feeding with my LO, as I am just moving into solids (first tastes) and am used to giving her milk every 4 hours and have been adding solids into this. This is what I have been doing more or less:

7am Breast milk
7.30/8am Breakfast

(9am napping)
11am Lunch
11.30/12 Breast milk
(1 napping)
3pm tea
3.30/4 Breast milk
6.30 Breast milk

I'm worried that if i bring the feeds too close together then she will become a snacker and not eat properly at each feed.

When they first go onto solids it does feel like they are feeding every 5 minutes doesn't it! The routine you have posted actually sounds spot on and i appreciate what you say about not wanting to turn her into a snacker. I would probably give her some baby rice at about 5,30/6pm and see if that helps. Snacks are easier once they can manage finger foods - things like ricecakes, breadsticks, fruit pieces are all good.

also...even though she wants to feed in the night, i am not sure she is hungry as she only feeds for a couple of minutes...before falling to sleep.

last night was AWFUL. bed at 7, woke at 8, woke at 9.20, woke at 11, woke at 1.15, (then i fell asleep whilst feeding her and woke up ane put her in her cot at 3.15) and then woke at 4 and wouldn't go back to sleep. gave to DP who took her into his our double bed and she fell asleep eventually until 7am. cream crackered again :(

Hi nello - sorry you had a bad night. Just wondering if your DD will take a dummy? DD has one for sleeping because she likes to comfort suck - sounds like what your DD is doing.

For example this morning she woke at 5 and I didn't think she could be really hungry as had fed her at 11.30 and she can (and has) gone through the night. I brought her into bed and she slept for another 2 hours with her dummy and cuddles (DP not impressed but hey ho!)

It really has worked for us - she only has it for naps and at night and never wants it at any other time. At 6 mos they don't need to feed through the night every few hours especially if fed regularly during day.

Could be worth a go - it certainly saved our sanity!

back to the feeding - I slowly swopped a feed for a meal, so that DS wasnt getting both and I ended up just Bf morning, bedtime & in the night. Later on I started to give DS a yoghurt instead of a BF if he was hungry between meals (i think he might have been 10ish months and had been on solids a while)

Both DS had dummies, although, I doubt a 6 month old would take one now, if never been introduced. We were always very strict - only allowed dummy in cot/pram/carseat and only if going to sleep - if they woke up & were alert then they had to give up dummy.

Hi nello sorry you had another bad night. Just wanted to second the suggestion of having a read of the Baby Whisperer - Tracy Hogg has some really good, gentle ideas. Can't remember if you said you have tried a dummy..? DD will only suck the old style 'cherry' shaped ones, she spits the orthodontic ones straight out. Might be worth a try if you are not opposed to them and could save your sanity! Good luck tonight