Can anyone help? Back to work soon and getting no sleep.

[EnglishGirlApproximately]

Ds is 6 1/2 months and a bad sleeper. He slept through from 11 weeks but at 19 weeks he had an ear infection which disrupted his sleep pattern. Then he learned to rolll over and constantly wakes himself up. It can take anything from 30 minutes to 2 hours to get him to settle in his cot. He goes to sleep being cuddled but as soon as I put him down he rolls over and wakes up. Between 7 and 9 last night he woke up rolling over 6 times until I went to bed and co slept. He rolls less and sleeps better when we co sleep as I can cradle him to keep him still but that means I get no sleep.

I go back to work in 7 weeks and I have a long commute. I'm really worried about driving after 2/3 hours sleep so I need to find a solution. I've tried rolled up blankets in his cot to stop him rolling, I've read the no cry sleep solution but can't really see what it wants me to do?

We have a routine of story, lullaby, bottle and cuddles. We don't have a bath as he doesn't like them and he gets agitated. Naps ok in the day but generally on ke or in the pram.

Any ideas?I'm dreading going back to work but can't afford to take any more time off.

Do you put him down on his front or back? I put both of mine on their tummies once they could roll easily and they slept better for it. I also would (and will) co sleep to maximise rest.

Is the train an option for you?

Also plenty of rolling practice in the day for baby!

He sleeps best on his side, as soon as he rolls onto his front he wakes up and starts crying. Co sleeping is great for him he sleeps much better but I only get a couple of hours. Unfortunately the train isn't an option, its a 25 minute drive to the nearest station and would be a 30 minute walk at the other end!

I'm in the same sort of situation - no commute but only doing 1-2 days and massive pressure to get huge amounts of work done. dd2 up every 2-3 hours crying.

Might try front sleeping idea Iggly - I'll try anything once!

DH thinks I should nightwean her. i'm pretty sure it wouldn't work! Does your ds feed every time he wakes?

He's been ff for the last 2 months. Weaning is going well and he doesn't want milk when he wakes. He just moves so much he wakes himself up.

Have you tried really tucked in blankets/sheets over gro bag?

I have, he kicked his way out! Maybe I need to try getting bigger sheets so they go all the way round. I would ned to get him to go to sleep on his back then wouldn't I?
Maybe I should staple his grow bag to the bed

Can you side-car the cot to the bed so that you both have your own space? That way he can be on his side whilst you pat/shush him a little and then when you are both asleep you will find your own space.

I was back at work fulltime from 14 weeks and have found cosleeping to be a life saver, it also means we have a few more precious moments, otherwise I'd only see her for 30 minutes a day in the week.

Has his sleep gone doolally since he had formula?

Also with dd, when I put her down asleep, if she wakes, I pat her back and whisper in her ear and she usually settles back down after 10-15 mins (it's to get her used to settling in the cot).

I tried to put the cot to the sid of the bed but it made no diference. He spent all night roling, kicking his cot etc. I bought an airwrap to stop him from grabbing the bars but he just scratches that instead. He stopped sleeping before he went onto formula so don't think its that, its the constsnt rolling and kicking thats waking him up.

Sorry, I know I sound really negative about suggestions but I've tried everything I can think of. Co sleeping just isn't working, I'm getting about 3 hours sleep. I really don't want to do cc with a 6mo, I don't think I have it in me.

Mmm it's a nightmare isn't it :( my dd calmed down once she stopped flapping about. Cosleeping didn't work in that period. Cc might not work if is developmental (ie the rolling). Sometimes it would be wind thoug waking her up (eg a little burp).

God, its so frustrating. He's been in bed for an hour and woken 4 times already. I can't remember the last time me and dp ate together, most of the time I just end up eating cereal in bed because he won't be left. Dp i sup there now because I'm getting stressed and tearful, I really don't think we can carry on like this but I've no idea what to do.

It wouldn't be so bad if he was easy during the day but he just screams all the time. He'll play or go in his bouncer for 10 minutes at the most. He will not go in any sort of rocker or chair so I end up carrying him around all day. I'm so worried about going back to work

Just wanted to say I feel your pain as my nearly 7mo isn't sleeping either. He has got marginally better since rolling has become a bit more controlled, but he still wakes up at least 3/4 times a night.

Sometimes if I go to him just before I think he will wake up, and move his position slightly (I turn him on to his other side usually) then that can stop him waking up when he would have (does that make sense?!)

Basically though, Im just surviving on redbull and hoping like hell this ends soon.... It has to end soon right?!

Ok the screaming in the day thing would indicate something is not right.

How are his naps?

Have you had his ears checked? My ds gets blocked ears which last for months after a cold/infection. This would give low level discomfort, make it difficult to sleep etc.

He had an ear infection a few months ago and thats when his sleep started to go wrong. I assumed that he had just gotten out of the habit of sleeping when that happened iyswim. Is it possible that something is still bothering him from then?

I clean his ears but only as far as is safe with a wriggly baby.

sillymilly sorry I missed your post. I really hope it ends soon

Don't clean inside his ears... Leave well alone.

No the blockage is from the inside iyswim. So a build up of mucus and gunk (think about when you have a head cold and your hearing goes muffled). You can't get it out by cleaning, it needs to drain itself.

Yea take him to the doctors and get his ears checked. The behaviour in the day and the poor sleep would indicate that something is definitely wrong - it doesn't sound like habitual waking to me.

Get a GP who is experienced with babies to check his ears. I kept took mine to one on one day who said they were ok. Next day, I went again and a different one said they were not.

I'll call the GP in the morning. Unfortunately my practice has only 1 GP full time so I'm limited with who I can see. Thank you so much, I just assumed as it seemed to have cleared up after taking antibiotics then the problem had gone but maybe not. Its got to be worth a try

Yes def rule out ears and get them to check him over (not sure what else could be though)...

Good luck - I hope it is ears as that's fixable.

Fingers crossed - I'll let you know what they say :)

Only other thing to try might be a consultation with cranial osteopath?

pomme I have looked at that but feel a bit cynical. Have you done it with your dc?

I did but she was diagnosed with silent reflux and given omeprazole at the same time as the sessions so never sure really What helped.

Now as the reflux has faded she is ok during the day so might have done. I did 3 x £35 sessions so not small money.

I took dd out of desperation despite being cynical. Lady was nice enough but it didn't work.

Wanted to update you as I took Ds to doctors and his ears were a little blocked. The nurse drained them and we were advised to clean with saline for a few days.

HUGE improvement! Slept 7-7 Saturday with one wake up, 7.30- 6.30 Sunday and Monday with one wskr up then last night went 7.30 - 5 without stirring

Thanks so much for pointing me in the right direction