Help! Weepingly tired and losing marbles-10 month old!

[Molehillmountain]

Love dd2, love bf. love co sleeping actually. But last week or so the feeding and waking has been stripping my sleep to the point of crying. Dh is fab and takes dd downstairs when she wakes up properly. Or, as last night when I fed for two hours and not in a way that got me sleep. Strongly considering formula, dummies, anything really. We're both bushed and have two older dc. Not sure what happened with dd2-she came out desperate to feed and has hardly stopped yet. I don't want to stop feeding-she's the last one and I'd planned to carry on as long as she wanted. But the being on call 24 hours a day is getting to me and making me resent it a bit. The plus side is that shes no trouble jn any other way-just wants me and milk a lot. The others were bf but never with all night feeding.

No answer for you but I have almost the opposite problem. A nearly 8 month old bf dd who doesn't feed much but never (and I mean never!) sleeps!!!

Mole, poor you. Have every sympathy as my DD went like this for a while. Have you ruled out the usual like teething or an ear infection? Remember too that 10 months is just before a huge developmental leap so that will affect feeding and sleep.

There are some things that you can do though, so don't panic. Have you read 12 alternatives for the all night nurser?. Bfing doesn't have to be all or nothing either, have you considered night weaning?.

I would ring a BFC on one of the helplines to see if they have any suggestions before you face another night.

Ooh-the dr sears article made me cry a bit. In a good way. I feel it gives me permission to use other solutions at night and that I'm not copping out by handing over to dh. Its been the 24/7 ness of the past week or so that's been getting me down. I don't want to wean-I just want a break. and had an aha moment this afternoon as dd2 started streaming with snot-I think she has a cold. You'd think I'd guess three babies in just getting her off to sleep now but feeling less gloomy about the night ahead. Dh has been struggling too-busy time at work and full on at home. Preschool for Ds tomorrow too so could snatch a nap too. Thank you!

And although I'm mumsnetting too I am looking lovingly at dd2 instead of pleadingly.

Just looked back at diary I kept briefly when dd2 tiny. I am of former self-at five weeks old she was doing a seven hour stretch!!! What happened? Prob not eating solids might have something to do with it...

Only just seen this Mole. The Dr Sears article is good isn't it . And no, I don't think you should have realised, we all miss things especially when we are sleep deprived.

How did you go on last night?

I never successfully night weaned, I day weaned at 11mo and cut the night bfeeds at 12 mo, but I still give the occasional bottle of milk during the night because I'm soft and it's the only way to get dd to settle sometimes.

However to share what the nct support line told me when I rang, they advised to NOT BE THERE at night for the first couple of nights of night weaning. This seems consistent with friends who successfully weaned when they returned to work with night shifts. Not sure how practical this is for you since you have other DC's but if you have family nearby, go stay over! good luck (mother of a 13 mo who still wakes up 3+ times per night)

Hi jjj, well, dd2 was fed four times between seven and bedtime then at least once before going downstairs with dh at one thirty for... Well not sure exactly . But the thing that was different was Mu head. I didn't resent it, although I did take a deep breath each time I heard her on the monitor. I felt that dh and I were in it together more and that if he had her it was okay rather than me giving in. She's having a feed a thon as I type-see how tonight is. I really appreciated the posts on this.

Thanks emsmaman-def considering night weaning strategies once this cold and/or teeth done.

So glad you are feeling better about it. You've already had 2 so you know it won't last forever. You sound like a brilliant mum too .

If I had another ten I might get the hang of this mothering thing....

Yeah, me too but my DH made me stop at 2 so I'm doomed to never having a clue .

So...it appears dd2 has chickenpox! Another "busy" night last night to say the least but I'm actually a bit relieved to have a reason for it-to cling onto for now anyway. Only a couple of spots but it does look like it did with the others. So...once it's over she'll sleep through, right?

Yeah, of course she'll sleep through once it's all over. Just keep telling yourself that .

At least she is getting antibodies from you, they don't call it white blood for nothing .

Thanks . Kind of slept through ish last night. As in no big wake up, just two or three feeding sessions. I realised I'm in the thick of it when my friend looked aghast when I was saying how brilliant that dh didn't have to get up til five with her! But I feel a bit less loopy today!

Ah but every child give you problems one way or another. That's what I kept telling myself when DS didn't sleep anyway .

Glad you had a better night .