Queen of the props - now a bit desperate!

[ComeTalkToMe]

Hi all,

I've posted here before but the sleep situation has considerable deteriorated since then and I'm wondering if anyone has any advice.

My DD, who is now 20 weeks, was a fairly good sleeper with one night waking until about 16 weeks. Things have now gone bananas. She now wakes every 60 - 90 minutes. In desperation we have used many things such as white noise app, Ewan the Dream Sheep, dummy, rocking to sleep, co-sleeping etc. We've now ended up in a situation where none of them work. If the white noise goes off - she wakes up, dummy out - can cause a wake up etc.

I'm feeling pretty desperate as she's never been a great napper and I am sooooo tired. My DH does help but I always wake up as I hear her so quickly. I feed her once during the night but she's not bothered for any other feeds so it's not hunger.

Does anyone have any hints? Or good books that have techniques I could try?

Thanks

I feel your pain as have had some similar issues. Try the Baby whisperer's shush pat? How long has this been going on, as there is a sleep regression at four months so it should be temporary, if that helps. Do you breastfeed? Make sure you eat food rich in iron and magnesium as that can help sleep too, well, i'm doing it and it might be helping my 40 minute waker!

I've done shush pat but I think we could possibly revisit it - it's the constant waking that's getting too me as I don't drop off quickly myself so it's tough! I was breast feeding but stopped at three months due to issues so she's now bottle fed. This has been going on about 4 weeks, fingers crossed it's temporary. I've also wondered if teething is playing a part...

Thanks for replying

Hello. I think we have met before on my thread about my 14 week old! Nothing new to offer, sadly, we are still in sleep hell. She took from 7pm to 1am to settle last night.
I have heard that the no-cry sleep solution works for many, we have a copy somewhere but I'm too tired to go hunt for it!
On the props front, DD seems to be the only baby alive who hates dummies and white noise. Also grobags :(
I hope things improve for us both soon.

So much changes at the 4 month mark both biologically and developmentally. The regression that is often referred to may be temporary, but for some, it also sets up habits that become permanent, eg using sleep aids, feeding every time baby wakes for comfort not nutrition. This is what I would be wary of.

Your LO is waking every sleep cycle and can't settle herself (not at all unusual at this young age). Shush pat is generally regarded as the gentlest method of sleep training at this age, although I think the baby whisperer says you can do pick up/put down from 4 months (could be 6, so do check that).