13 week old has given up sleeping in cot. Please help

[PinkFondantFancy]

My DD is almost 13 weeks old and EBF. From 8 weeks she's been pretty good at night, settling about midnight, one wake at 4 ish and up at 7 ish. However, all of a sudden she is really struggling to sleep anywhere but on me. She'll be fast asleep on my shoulder but as soon as I put her down she writhes, chews madly on her fist and cries. She falls asleep again the second I pick her up. What is going on?? I am beside myself with exhaustion as she only power naps for a few minutes at a time during the day.

What can I do? Cosleeping isn't an option as our bed is too small. Same problem stops me feeding lying down. She won't take a bottle so no chance of DH taking a feed and letting me sleep. She won't take a dummy either.

I don't know how many more nights like this I can take. I can't stop crying. I am beyond exhausted :(

Hello. Just wanted to say hi - and been there. I wonder though from your description whether it might be silent reflux. Have you tried putting blocks under the head end of the cot? If that doesn't help maybe once you have fed her get your dh to take over for a couple of hours at least. It will get better. I didn't ask my husband for enough support when I was in your shoes as I felt that as I was the one on mat leave it was my job to deal with it. Not true - it is a phase you all need to work through together - it's no good if you're too knackered to be useful. Ask him to take a day off to cover things while you catch up on sleep if needs be. It won't last forever. Really good luck. X

Pink i have no useful advice to offer - but know you from the 'pregnancy' thread so wanted to check how you were doing today (I'm here on the sleep board too!). My baby is now 6 weeks and chews on his hand when he is over tired and it's often not a feeding cue... I remember from DC1 that there are growth spurt weeks when they are real pains about sleeping.. not sure which weeks they tend to happen but it might be worth a google. I think you are doing brilliantly well so don't worry - these episodes tend to pass, until you get to the next one and go through it all again..!

With regard to day time sleeping, does she sleep if you push her out in the pram or take her out in the car? I often head off the shops just to make sure that DC2 drops off and gets a good hour's sleep - I leave the pram outside when I get home as long as he has gloves on. Then you can try and get 30 minutes rest on the sofa?

Good luck and I hope that things are better for you today.

x

Thanks v much both. After three nights like the one I described, she has, touch wood turned a corner and will tolerate being in her cot again. Even though she's feeding every 2.5 hours or so at night it's such a relief to snatch some sleep!

bryzoan I've been thinking it might be reflux too. I've booked a cranial osteopathy appointment for tomorrow and gave eliminated tomato, onion, garlic and chocolate from my diet to see if it helps. I've got a suspicion she could be teething and I've read that can make reflux worse so it all ties together I guess. I asked DH to help and he took het out for a couple of hours today so I could get some sleep which was fab, and he's taking time off next week too. having just those few hours of sleep has made me feel so much more human again-it's so much easier to cope when you've had even just a bit of sleep!

Hi Katherine thanks for your support, it's good to hear from you! Congratulations on your new DS!