High-Need Baby Support Thread III

[TitaniaP]

Well as I'm awake I thought I'd start thread 3!

The high-need baby thread has been moved from breast & bottle feeding to sleep. In the early days of the thread I think feeding was a significant issue for many of the posters. I think those that post regularly on the thread would now agree that's it's mainly sleep that's the issue.

So if your baby fits the following criteria come and join us for wine, chocolate, coffee and matchsticks as we delight in our active, inquisitive, curious and restless babies or toddlers!

1. Feeds frequently daytime
2. Feeds frequently nighttime
3. Needs to be constantly held
4. Wont sleep alone
5. Hates the car seat/pram
6. Short naps

I was going to suggest testing the power of The Moob! Although that just makes me think of the scene in Family Guy, when Stewie latches onto Peter's nip...

Sorry Puddle. Sounds tough, I can't imagine trying to do this with a second child. You are doing it though. And you will all get through this tough baby stage and out the other side as a family. Things will get better I promise until you have DC3.

:( Joyful Sorry lady. You are some kind of super woman though, going through this with a little girl to take care of also. I am in awe of women like you.

It will pass, as I keep telling myself. Lean on us as much as you need lady, if we can be of any help or support.

DD has JUST gone to sleep. This is not unusual. That's pretty crap isn't it?

I estimate she woke 10 times between 9pm and 5.30am....

10 months....

Oh Puddle, that does sound so rough.

I'm sure you'll have tried this already, but have you tried a sling with DS? Might that give you some time with DD? I have no idea if that'll make any difference.

I'm still convinced that DS will be an only - I've just got him down in his cot for the first time since Saturday. I thought we were on the mend, but he threw up everywhere after tea tonight. Joy !

Oh and I made the mistake of reading the "Birth to 5" book the government hands out.... it basically says that by 6 months old they should be sleeping through at least sometimes, if not all the time, and try controlled crying (not that it calls it that)

But the thing that gets me is that I NEVER get more sleep! Not one night of more than 2 hours sleep in a row for months, and 3 hours sleep in a row a handful of times since she was born 10 months ago.

There's got to be something wrong with her isn't there? It must be medical! I'm going to take her to the GP I think - but he'll just look at me as if I was exaggerating wont he because NO BABY sleeps this poorly do they?

And forget the cot! NEVER slept in it...

Sorry for self-indulgent rant... :(

LWL, ime, GP will tell you to let her cry. I took dc1 to GP - counted one night when he was a toddler- he'd been up 14 times!! I seriously would have considered sedation at that stage!! That was all the advice I got- let him cry....

Not holding out much hope for u, but worth a try I suppose!!

Hi to everyone else! Wishing you all some zzzzzzzzzzzzz for tonight!!!
Ds has suddenly started really fighting with me as I rock him to sleep, our previously cuddly (and my fav time), has turned into a battle for no apparent reason. Hope this doesn't last!

Mampig - how old is your DS? Mine is nearly 11 months and was doing this a couple of weeks ago. He's going through wonder week 46 or leap 7 which seems to start at about 41 weeks. It seems to be a killer, there's a 10-month sleep regression too, which I'm guessing is linked.

We've had hideous sleep and nighttime battles here for about 2-3 weeks now. I've found that he needs to be really knackered to go to bed now and he won't go to bed less than 4 hours after waking up from his afternoon nap. Means I need to really make sure he has his afternoon nap by 3 at the very very latest if not 2, I struggle with this as I don't do routine. I've discovered that I can either battle with him for hours or I can just let him play for longer and wait until he's really tired. Easy with 1, not so easy with 4 though I grant you.

LWL - cant remember if I've suggested this before but have you tried a cranial osteopath. Milk Matters recommend them after a TT snip. It really seemed to help with DS travelling in the car (screaming is now the exception not the norm) shame it didn't help his sleep. Also have you seen Milk Matters are now running a bf group in London (I seem to remember that you're south when we all said where we were based). AA/Charlotte does a lot about sleep too - it might be worth a visit or a call? Sorry I sound like a Milk Matters advert. Ann Dobson came out to see DS when we were having weight gain issues. Unfortunately she didn't magically fix the issues, but made some good suggestions which did help.

Mmm- he's just hit 10 months!!! Feeling better already- he was very unsettled all night! Thank you!

I've just discovered that ds will actually watch peppa pig!!! . I put it on for dd (2), and he's actually sitting still, totally engrossed!

Mampig - I downloaded the wonder weeks app to my phone it was only 70p or so. I put in DS's due date and it gives you a pictorial representation of where they are in the "leap" timeline. DS is under a big black rain cloud at the mo and has been for several weeks. It's nearly over though. I keep hoping well come out the otherside with a baby who sleeps!

Oh and Puddle how are you feeling today?

I'd have loved to do the PS course but somehow never found the time!

Titania - yes you did suggest a cranial osteopath, but I didn't do it (as I don't really believe in them!) but I'm now willing to try anything - even homeopathy!

I'm just doing the PS course now, despite going back to work next month! As a teacher though I can help in school holidays, which is when the other helpers with more kids struggle to help out though...

LWL. I was like that, but my Aunt swore by Cranial Osteopathy when her daughter was born. I saw an osteopath when I was pregnant as I had SPD and it enabled me to keep mobile ( I could hardly walk when I first went) and I was desperate when DS was young as I needed him to be ok in the car as all my family live miles away. I figured what harm could it do. Admittedly it could be a waste of money!

DS also would not be put down on his back at all, but now he will. He might have got there all by himself though.

morning all

joyful thats a great thing you are doing to help others despite all you have on yourself..and you can always come and moan here :)

dd has been more whiney than usual this week, maybe she's going through a 7.5 month wonder week! i also find she does better when we are out in a group of people (perhaps more to distract her?) or if my mum has had her she says she was really good....then she is unsettled for me. dd has never had the separation anxiety - but i did read recently that if a baby cries when they see their mum after being away, that this can be because of separation anxiety. i hope this is the case as i would hate to think she's crying cos she doesn't like being back with me again!

thinking of you all

I've heard it can work wonders too. Didn't really notice any difference in DS after his sessions but we mainly went just to make sure there were no residual issues from his forceps birth :(

Had 2 pretty good nights by our standards. Last night normal service was resumed. What is it with these babies..DS seems to have a never ending stream of greenies hanging from his nose at the moment, poor lad. Hates having his nose wiped as well. Wish his cough would clear up too. Keeps waking him up in the night more often than he's normally awake...

tickle ds screams like he's being skinned alive when I wipe his nose