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Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

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Original poster

Baby will not sleep. She's had 12 hours in the past two days.

41 replies

GiraffesAndButterflies · 12/10/2013 14:53

DH and I are in despair. DD (7mo) has never been sleeping ttn but has been waking just a few times and usually resettling ok after a feed. Over the last couple of weeks things have got worse, and worse, and worse, and worse until last night we were awake from 1am till 6am trying to get her off.

By the book we have a good bedtime routine, bath, story, feed, sing. She used to settle herself after we sang to her but doesn't any more. I've been sat next to the cot for about two hours now trying to get her to nap. She has bags under her eyes and must be so overtired but she won't sleep. I've tried rocking her, white noise, singing, patting, shushing etc etc etc but she won't sleep. She just won't sleep.

OP posts:

Georgethesmartestgiant · 12/10/2013 16:08

Hope she is now asleep for you. If not could you try taking her out in the pushchair or car ? I know it's only a temporary solution but may give you a bit of respite.

Original poster

GiraffesAndButterflies · 12/10/2013 16:30

Thanks George. Not sure DH or I trust ourselves to drive but we may try that tomorrow! (And no, still no sleep yet...)

OP posts:

NotQuiteCockney · 12/10/2013 16:33

Could she be teething?

And yes, the pushchair might work.

Like us, they can get overtired, and then be unable to fall asleep ...

Aquariusgirl86 · 12/10/2013 16:50

Have you tried playing white noise? Worked a treat for both my children. You can down load apps or get a cd.
And also I feel for you, I have two insomniac toddlers :-P x

silverangel · 12/10/2013 18:28

Take her for a walk in the pyuschair, I know its the last thing you want to do when exhausted but needs must and all that. I remember putting DT1 in the puschair one night and walking round and round in circles in the garden when she would NOT sleep AT ALL. When she finally nodded off I spent the night on the sofa while she slept in the buggy as there was no way I was risking putting her back in the cot.

Have ytou tried calpol?

silverangel · 12/10/2013 18:28

Have ytou tried calpol?

noblegiraffe · 12/10/2013 18:35

Car, pushchair, sling. You need to pull out the big guns, shushing, patting, singing are for when they are sleeping well.
When they are overtired, unfortunately it is harder for them to fall asleep and to stay asleep, so you're going to have to force her to.

If she seems distressed, calpol and teething gel are also worth a punt.

IComeFromALandDownUnder · 12/10/2013 18:37

Hoover? Works for me when I am desperate.

Original poster

GiraffesAndButterflies · 12/10/2013 18:52

Thanks guys. I guess we need to force ourselves out then. Tried Calpol and teething gel last night, no discernable effect, also a variety of white noises. Maybe I'll dose DH up with caffeine so we can go for a drive!

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bigwellylittlewelly · 12/10/2013 18:53

As we'd say in our house 'take it from the top'

Clean nappy, comfy loose bed wear, full feed, white noise and movement (rocking chair, car, buggy, sling)

Our dd1 was a horrendous sleeper, I feel your pain

YourStoryTime · 12/10/2013 19:20

Try giving her a warm bath and clean sheets - it works a treat for us! :-)

Original poster

GiraffesAndButterflies · 12/10/2013 20:35

In the car, baby finally asleep!! Heading for home now I just hope she doesn't wake when we stop...

OP posts:

CreatureRetorts · 12/10/2013 20:38

Have you just started weaning her? nything new in the diet? Just wondering.

Fluffycloudland77 · 12/10/2013 20:40

Have you tried stroking inbetween her eyes just above the nose?

SoulTrain · 12/10/2013 20:46

Totally read that above comment as "stocking her between the eyes" was very .

I know it might not be what you want to do, but what would happen if you laid down with her in the dark? You might all get some sleep. They just get so overtired and don't know how to come back from it.

Hope you all have a more restful night.

Original poster

GiraffesAndButterflies · 12/10/2013 21:10

She slept for 40 mins in the car then woke up as we got home. :( :( :(

I had started solids but have stopped again in case that was the problem. Yep we've tried the nose stroke thing. I actually wore that one out with her when she was a bit younger, now she just thinks it's funny

OP posts:

Original poster

GiraffesAndButterflies · 12/10/2013 21:12

Really appreciating all the suggestions and solidarity by the way! Hope I don't sound dismissive it's just we really are reaching the end of our tether...

OP posts:

Andcake · 12/10/2013 21:17

Ds was the same at round 6 mo. we broke it by DP sleeping in a different room and ds coming in the big bed with me for a few nights. Ds slept 8-6 without waking!
Just google safe co sleeping first

adagio · 12/10/2013 21:29

I read somewhere (maybe here) that baby sleep cycle is about 45 minutes, and it seems to be true - if I get home at about 45 mins into a nap then no chance of transfer; 20 mins in can work (sometimes).

I second the walk in the pram - then park in hall approach; or co sleeping. In times of desperation I do find my sleep-breathing on her face keeps the baby asleep longer.

Oh and less PC - piriton syrup, perhaps a load of wine if you are BF

good luck and chin up x

Original poster

GiraffesAndButterflies · 12/10/2013 22:27

Hmm might have a go at pram and/or co sleeping tonight then. She's fallen asleep on me now, we're 50 mins in and counting. The more she sleeps the less overtired she'll be and then things will get better, right?

OP posts:

Waswondering · 12/10/2013 22:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

magicstars · 12/10/2013 23:19

The only way we ever got our over-tired dd off to sleep is with motion as she was always getting over tired and forcing herself not to sleep. It was relentless, I really feel for you
she is now 18months and will self settle in her cot at night with a light show which also plays music, but we still take her out in the pushchair or car for naps and probably will for as long as she needs to sleep during the day.
Have you read or watched happiest baby on the block? Good tips there.
If it will save you sanity, just take her out in the pushchair and try to ignore the 'rod for your own back' comments from nosy neighbours!
Have you tried music? We have a love/hate relationship with one nursery rhyme cd that dd adores, we have heard it so many times but it works wonders to settle her.

Original poster

GiraffesAndButterflies · 13/10/2013 00:00

I've been breastfeeding every chance I get to try and make sure she's not hungry but it is a possibility- she was blw though so not that many solids were going in to begin with.

Magicstars- the neighbours would probably offer to take a turn pushing after the night we had last night!! We have tried singing to her. I am not sure if a droned, out of tune 'Twinkle, Twinkle' counts as music though so we could try something nicer, thanks for the tip.

We're two hours and counting into this sleep in my arms so I am desperately praying that will help the deadlock.

OP posts:

Original poster

GiraffesAndButterflies · 13/10/2013 00:01

help break the deadlock!

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adagio · 13/10/2013 00:18

Thinking of you OP!

2 hours is great - based on 45min chunks she is now into number 3 and hopefully will stay asleep another hour before stirring again.

Hope you are on the bed or something to doze a bit x

another that has helped my sanity is classical lullabies for babies download on iTunes - 39 tracks, long playtime, Its running in the background now for me

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