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

Zambo We've just had our phone consultation with Millpond and are getting a plan of action put in place, based on gentle techniques such as gradual retreat and so on. No crying it out/controlled crying.

The reason we got in touch was because we were at a loss trying to formulate a plan to deal with DS's night wakings and weren't even sure we were looking at the right things to try. It's weird, but having a plan put in place by someone who understands baby sleep feels comforting, and I think it will be easier to stay consistent with this, rather than us coming up with an idea and then, when things are hard, thinking 'oh, maybe this isn't helping at all anyway' and reverting to old ways.

It was a bit expensive really. Got 25 per cent off as they had a special offer, but it was about £230. Yikes.

Just got to see it through now, when we begin...

Feeling a little less wobbly about hearing aids now, thank you.

Joyful hope you managed to have pletny of cake?

tickle Hope Millpond's going to have some useful stuff for you.

DS is 1 in 2 weeks. I can't believe how quickly it's flown. He's cruising now and I think he won't be long til he's walking - eek! None of the others have walked this early! We've had a few good nights, and then last night was hideaous but DH was a star and jumped up before I even woke twice! Back to reality now though - single mum til Friday. I'm taking him to the dr's again on Wednesday as he's fretting at his ears a lot. I think it's just eczemna inside, but I just want them checked so when we have our appointment with the specialist (11 days...) I can say we've ruled out a, b, c, etc.

Joyful also glad I was backed up by allergy mums. I thouhght it sounded like mumbo jumbo but I never like to say so strenously!

Hello all! Sorry not been around lately, went on holiday and returned to having to take mum to hospital, where she has been now for over a week. But that's another story....
I'm losing it tonight. Dh is currently doing PUPD, ds, who turned 1 on Saturday, is having none of it. I just wanna go and lift him but dh is adamant!!! Sleep has totally went downhill, ds wakens now ever half hour until I go to bed and take him in with me. I've decided to put him into a bed, so that I can lie beside him. But that will take some time. It's been going on for a while now, and really has to stop!

Not had time to catch up with thread yet, but I will, when I get a proper chance. Just needed to vent. Feel so bad listening to the cries- his wee voice is hoarse now. But if I go up then dh will totally blame me for this sleepless child.....

Mampig Sorry you had a rough night lady :( It is awful hearing them crying. I hope you all managed to get a bit of sleep.

Joyful Oh no! Hopefully he will be able to reschedule? Not surprised you were angry. The feeling of realisation when you realise you have missed something so important is horrible too. Thinking of you. Don't they have to tread a bit carefully if he's been off due to an accident?

Well, Operation Get DS To Sleep Without Needing 4 Feeds Per Night started last night. He is now on a 4-hourly schedule for night feeds - if he wakes before he's due a feed, DH has to go and try settling him with gradual retreat. We're meant to wake him at 6.45am to reset his body clock.

He fed at 6.30 and settled to sleep at about 7.10pm. Woke at 10.22, so waited till 10.30pm to feed. All ok. Then he woke at 1.30am so DH went up to try and settle him. He showed zero signs of going back to sleep without milk. Wasn't full on crying but he did howl whenever DH put him down and left the room for a few seconds. At 2.30am I fed him and he zonked straight to sleep after his usual short feed... He then woke at 6am, half hour before he was due a feed, but considering he'd been awake for a full hour in the night, I fed him and he went back to sleep. We all then woke up at 7.15am. Oops...

I know it us going to get harder before it gets easier. But I have to start shortening his already very short feeds next, not looking forward to that at all. I'm desperate for better sleep but taking him off while he's drinking seems so mean :( We're thinking of trying formula in the night and reducing the number of ounces instead.

Wonder what tonight will bring. More of the same I imagine. In the office today, bleh. Apparently they are closing the magazine that I work on, which sucks. Most of my work is online so at the moment I'm safe, but working on the magazine was the best part of my job :(

Hope you all have good days.

Oh Mam just reread your post - I hope your mum is doing okay lady.

Sounds like everyone's a bit fed up at the mo

Repeat as necessary

joyful- I'm angry for you- hope it gets sorted!! And thanks ladies, at least I know u all understand!!!

Well, it went on for hour and half, by which time I needed to be on bed. Dh was stubborn, but got around it by suggesting that ds needed a feed. So I went in and 'fed' him, no more wanted fed, but at least I got to cuddle him to sleep. Dh now happier with bed idea- what do u all think- put him in a single bed, so I can sit with him or climb in beside him to settle... Worth a try???

Joyful Sounds like something my dh would do- not in badness, but sheer stupidity!! I really feel for u!! But it's done now, so no point in looking backwards, try and stay positive (hard I know).

tickle thanks, mum doing much better now, but the doc only told her today that she was close to death!!!! Getting home tomorrow, so while she will need looking after, it's not an hour long trip to see her!

Hope everyone has better nights than we've been having!!!

Hope you're all alright ladies. Joyful I hope things go ok at your hubby's meeting today.

Dreading tonight. It's our 4th night on our sleep plan and we're not supposed to pick him up if he wakes between feed times, we're to comfort, pat, stroke him back to sleep. I have a feeling that zero sleep will be likely and that despite this being the gentle method, crying is going to be inevitable. Sigh. I do need him to sleep better, I need to set my mind to this and at least try. But I so wish that I didn't have to.

Hi ladies, QK here - I fancied a name change after getting into a few bunfights about routines/co-sleeping/GF etc!

Haven't been around much, mainly because DS has started sleeping and I used to do much of my MNetting at night! Don't get me wrong, he doesn't sleep through but we are down to just one or two wakings and, crucially, he is now seeing the evenings through regularly. It's heaven being able to eat dinner and have a bath! Just like having a normal baby.

I think walking has made a huge difference, he is so physically knackered by bedtime and although it can still take up to an hour to get him off - once he is gone, he's gone!

We haven't changed anything else, apart from chucking a mattress on the floor in his room as we were worried about him falling off our bed. I still creep in with him after he wakes (usually around 12/1ish) and co-sleep for the rest of the night. Think that is more about me than him though, I sleep better snuggled next to him!

Anyway, hope that gives you a little hope that things can get marginally better without too much change. I know it's probably a phase and he'll be back to his wakeful self at some point but I'm enjoying it at the moment.

Hope you're all coping!

Hi all, been back at work a bit this week so hardly any mn time but will catch up when I can.

Quick question... Got dd weighed this morn, mentioned sleep problems and hv gave me details on cc... Would you do it?

She is 6mo now & totally only waking out of habit, definately nothing wrong!

How are you all?

Thanks so much Joyful The night before last, he had his 10.30pm feed as usual, and then woke up at 2am (half-hour early for the next one), but DH managed to soothe him back to sleep really easily and he slept till 3.20am, which was great.

Last night he had his 10.30pm feed at 11pm-ish, and then woke at 1.55am (an hour and 5 minutes before his next one was due) and, like the first night, he just wouldn't settle for DH and didn't sleep until I fed him at 3am. I know there are going to be advances and regressions. I just wish I was feeling braver about this.

QK/Apollo Nice to see you, lady :) Glad to hear your little one is sleeping better for you!

Oh, and in more positive news, a shiny new Ergo is winging its way to me :) It's so pretty, it has stars on it! I was so tempted with a woven wrap, but I think the Ergo will be easier for DH to use - and seeing as he's with DS and taking him out more during the week, I think that's best.

Weeeeeeeeee new stuff!

:( Joyful :(

I'm so sorry, lady. Can your DH not look for another job? Thinking of you. Be back on. Bit later if you need a hand.

Sodding tube delays - am almost too late to feed DS before he goes to bed. I must must get home, I can't bear the thought of not being able to pick him up when he wakes in the night if I haven't held him since this morning :( And even then... Sigh. Thank you for your lovely support Joyful, it means a lot

I made it! Phew! DH was just zipping him into his Grobag as I got in. Gave him a lovely feed, lots of hugs and kisses and he's managed to fall asleep on top of his cuddly elephant. Love him...

Just chilling out a bit now before the night of hell begins...

Let me know if there's anything I can do to help lady. PM me if you ever fancy a chat/rant :)

So sorry to hear that Joyful, you must be so worried.

Maybe have a good clear out and huge Ebay session to tide you over until DH finds something else? Rubbish idea, I know, sorry! Have a hug instead. {{{ }}}