Sleep issues in 7 month old

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I've ended up cosleeping with my now 7 month old. I'm really not happy with it to be honest. I can't sleep properly and I like some space. Problem is, he really hates sleeping in his own space. He cries immediately on waking which is something ds1 never did. He's a really loud crier, so if you leave it too long he wakes ds1 up which means carnage!

He also wants to feed constantly during the night, it's driving me crazy!! Any suggestions?

He always starts off in his cot but by 2 am I'm usually done in and need sleep for my children's safety the next day. Otherwise I'm a zombie.

Dh has tried being the one to settle him but he screams and wakes up ds1. I've tried cot in the room, he doesn't settle. He stayed one night at granny's recently and slept from 7-2 had a bottle and then slept until 7. So he can do it. I'm considering just offering bottles at night. Has anyone had any success doing this and still bf during the day?

Sometimes he'll go through until 4. There is no rhyme or reason to it! He suffered a lot with being sick and I'd imagine stomach ache from the acidity of the sick. It's better now he's more active but he still gets a lot of wind. Perhaps this is a contributing factor?

Ds1 was basically sleeping through by 6 months so this is a shock!

Tia

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I'm sure you've probably tried it, but have you tried swaddling?

Ds2 always used to sleep better swaddled, when it came loose, he'd wake and scream. Then at the beginning if 7 months he decided he didn't want it, anymore but does need a blanket. I'd stopped swaddling and my mum convinced me to have another go and the difference was immediate.

Ds2 went to bed late last night as inlaws were round and he was over excited and overtired, but he slept until 1.30, had an hours feed then until 5, 10 min feed then slept in my bed until 7. Much better. Going away for a few days though so probably back to square one when we get back.

I couldn't get back to sleep though after the 1.30 feed, so spent the night reading. So infuriating as I feel shattered now but I can't switch my brain off.

Hope others had better nights.

[glorious]

jimjack I wish I knew. I'm sorry. I've also come to the conclusion that nothing I do makes much difference which has meant less stressful days at least as I'm not obsessing over naps. That was making me miserable in the day as well as at night so I'm glad it's not worth it.

Is there any way you could get some extra sleep to catch up a bit? e.g. sometimes I go to bed at 8 with DD and DH deals with wakings until midnight by rocking her. She takes that from him much better than from me. Though if your DS demands booob I guess it might still be a rest if he was brought to you for feeding only and you didn't need to resettle him?

[jimijack]

I'm getting nowhere here.
High carb supper, big bf, bedtime routine all make no difference. He still wakes every hour some nights.

Last night I let him cry, did the pick up put down but he just screamed & screamed. Screamed 7-9pm, woke then at 11.30, 1am,2am, 3'30, screamed then til 5am, slept til 6ish, then up for the day.

Only settles with the breast.
Only good thing is that the screaming didn't stress or agitate me because I am teaching him a new way of falling asleep that's all.

Why though do they wake so frequently? I don't understand why they wake so often. Ds 1 did this until he was 5 and at school.

[glorious]

Tempting, I'll keep an eye on eBay. And yes, the sling has its downsides too though it's been good for losing the weight and I find I can sit down on the bus...

buttery don't worry about the cot too often imo, just don't leave it for months like me So maybe try once a week or something just to see?

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m.fisher-price.com/en_US/m/brands/babygear/products/51911

I bought mine from ebay for about £ 30 though. My dh travels a lot with work so it has paid for itself big time. I'm now putting him in it less and less, especially now he sits confidently by himself but for the moments he can't switch off and is definitely tired it seems to do the trick.

He had a great nap in it today, just over an hour and I turned the swing motion off.

[ButteryJam]

roundtable and glorious, thank you! :)

Roundtable, which swing did you use? I need to buy one ASAP

Glorious, you are right, I need to keep trying the cot. I get so put off to put her down as I think if she stirs its going to result in another 30 min of stress

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Not too bad here either. Went in and did a quick feed after a posted on here. Fed next and 2.30am and then he woke ready for the day at 6am.

Yes to using a sling although I found that for ds2 I had to keep moving for him to stay asleep, so better than buggy where he will roar until he is picked up but no good for home as I didn't want to pace the house! I sound evangelical about the swing but it really helps me.

[glorious]

Sorry I also meant to say it is draining and you have my sympathy

[glorious]

Yes buttery she is still tiny and that's very normal. How about getting a sling and seeing if she'll sleep in that so at least your hands will be free? Keep trying the cot too, I think I left it too long when she would've gone in it sometimes.

On the other hand perhaps you shouldn't take advice from me as I can't get my baby to sleep!

Not a bad night last night and we're only just up. Perhaps she doesn't need naps .

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Buttery, I wouldn't worry too much at the mo, she's still very little although if you're finding it too much, see about getting a swing, it's been a godsend for me. Hopefully it'd work for you.

I've stayed up way too late and I'll regret it but good luck everyone!

[ButteryJam]

Can I join in please too? my DD is only 3 months, but I'm sure you folks will be able to share your wisdom.

It takes me 30 min of rocking or walking around to get her to sleep. She will only nap on my chest, and mainly less than 30 min. After an hour of awake time or earlier I settle her down for a nap. It is just so draining as its constant putting to sleep etc. Any advice?

[glorious]

Well happy 23 months to DS1 instead

The hives have mostly gone thankfully. DH is away tonight so fingers crossed it's not too bad. She's feeding calmly at the moment.

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Ds2 isn't 8 months today, he's still 7! Ds1 is 23 months. Gah, I can't believe he's going to be 2 soon! Sleep deprived brain.

,Glorious, that's not good, hopefully she's getting it out of her system now.

Good luck tonight everyone.

[glorious]

Ooh glad there's potential progress ninja.

DD feeds for 1.5 hours before bed round but is quicker at night. I do prod and swap sides or it's even longer.

We had teething screaming last night for an hour and so far no naps despite a total of 4 hours trying. She's also come out in hives after her lunch. Not doing well.

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I think Aiden, the guidelines are only until they can sort themselves out, which it sounds like he can.

Leave him, this might be the start of something wonderful.

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Just realised ds2 is 8 months today!

Well done Aiden! Today you'll probably feel really tired as the amount of sleep will send your body into shock. ds2 is in a vest, sleepsuit, sleeping bag and blanket. He gets so cold. Ds1 is the total opposite though.

I think he's feeding. If I try to take him off and slip the dummy in he becomes frantic and shouts. He took an hour when my mum bottle fed him too.

Ds1 is still asleep. They really are chalk and cheese!

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Hope your night went alright amy.

We're currently on feed 2. Fed at 12.30am and 4.30 but these feeds go on for so long. Tonights was quite quick at midnight, and went on for an hour and a bit. Still currently feeding from the 4 one.

I feed from both sides before bed, that takes over an hour too. Is it normal to take, so long? However, ds1 ended up bottle eed and he would take an hour to drink that. I must just have slow eaters.

Gosh I hope he finishes soon!!

How are we all getting on?

[Amyksays]

I've had 20 min naps yesterday and today, plus 1 hr 30 screaming before sleep last night and 1 hour tonight... Feel there is change again in the air!

Seems like she changes her routine every 6 weeks or so, just I keep on toes..! Is still waking every 3 hours for feeds, but doesn't seem that interested for some of them, so will start trying to cut out the first one (soon - shattered at the moment, plus have house guest).

Is taking some formula from sippy cup, but not bottle - perhaps that is option for you? Hoping to build up and cut down the bf.

Well off to bed for a couple of hours.. X good luck everyone

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Jim - calpol needed in your house up think!

Glorious - welcome. I bought a swing to rock the baby in otherwise I'd have lost my mind. I got in from ebay second hand. Otherwise the battle I have to get him to sleep as he doesn't often feed to sleep, is epic.. Ds2 also fights naps, I think he's had about half an hour spread out during the day. I put him down, he wakes up screaming a minute later. Today he woke ds1 so I was rather frustrated.

Mya could your dc sleep in with your dh? Maybe try at the weekend? He may not wake as much as he doesn't smell your milk? It seems to work for me when dh is here.

I'm currently grappling with ds2 who's rubbing his eyes but shouting and flinging himself about on me. This is where the swing comes in handy, in he goes... Good luck tonight everyone!

[mya22]

Yes a lovely little support group..just reading makes me feel a bit saner! Last night ds went to sleep well initially at 6.30, then woke at 9 and then 10, then 1 and then 3, 3.30, then 4 ten awake and smiling at 5.30!!! All good intentions went out window as had Migraine all night so just feeding/semi sleeping...at 6am in tears gave bubba to hubby!! Every night is like the time I took the overnight sleepertrain to Arles....nod/wake/nod/wake...wake feeling like have been beaten up having slept on edge of bed in contorted position!! ....well after that...tonight DS in cot asleep after bottle/breastfeed...hoping for better night as big day at work tomorrow...hubby probably would help at night but works with power tools and I'm scared he will loose a hand!! Good luck tonight all of you (again sorry not listing all names) x

[glorious]

Can I join you? DD is 6.5 months and slept well until 3.5 months but now... dreadful. She starts off in her cot which is now in her room. She wakes at least hourly all evening and night until I bring her into bed and then not sure how often she wakes but not much better. I've only recently started cosleeping with her so I don't think that caused the wakings. I just can't function otherwise.

I also have no idea what to do next. She fights naps like crazy but I know they're important so do I carry on getting her to nap at all costs (I.e. in sling / feed to sleep and hold or put down if feeling brave) or do I try to improve nap habits first?

I take my hat off to those of you with more than one.

all round. It's horrible. And why does everyone else's baby seem to sleep.

[jimijack]

Every fecking hour last night. He was doing a strange thing. He would feed to sleep, seem out for the count then began cying as if in pain. I'm thinking teething possibly.

SO tired..