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Sleep

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I've been told you guys can solve all sleep problems...

5 replies

squidkid · 20/11/2013 13:07

never posted on here before…

Cracking a bit with lots of things, sleep is just one of them. I wonder if anyone had some suggestions.

Baby is 13 months and historically a pretty good sleeper. Fantastic (10 undisturbed hours most nights!) between months 2 and 4, and then other than a few weeks of sleep regressions here and there, mostly slept well between 6.30pm and 6am with a night feed (just one). She's exclusively bf and we didn't try any routines or sleep training, just lucky!

She got quite ill around 2 months ago and basically we held her in our arms every night while she was all coughing and wheezy. Now she's better but sleep has not recovered. She goes down ok most nights, but needs re-settling a couple of times before 10 or 11 when she wakes properly and won't go back to sleep unless me or boyfriend (usually boyfriend) has her in bed with us. Wakes screaming for milk at around 1am. Sometimes goes back to sleep easily, sometimes it takes an hour of soothing. She wriggles around like crazy all night. I love the idea of co-sleeping (and we did when she was tiny) but just cannot sleep through the gymnastics. So we do it in shifts in the spare room. Still just one night feed. Which I want to stop but keep chickening out.

I work part time but long shifts on my feet (including night shifts) and am cracking with exhaustion. I am not really into sleep training and have always been of the ride-it-out school with sleep problems - before they have always just sorted themselves out with time and she's gone back to sleeping beautifully. But it's been 2 months and I'm so tired. I miss my boyfriend.

thoughts? Suggestions? Just sympathy might do right now I am sobbing into my coffee. People keep saying teething - she still has no teeth!!

OP posts:
AnyLemonFucker · 20/11/2013 13:15

I can offer sympathy - wish I had some advice but I thought I'd just say I feel your pain. I am in a blizzard of fatigue right now with a very unsettled 3 month old and a lively 2 and a bit year old.

Baby, DS2, wakes countless times in the night. He's hard to settle. Mostly he's in with us. It's uncomfortable for me to sleep in the rigid cosleeping position - arm up and over around him, me laying on my side but a bit twisted back to offer the boob.

Urgh. Am crying a lot in the day. Just so tired. DH and I peer at each other through our stress and tiredness. We miss each other too. It's tough.

Coffee. That's all the advice I have Smile

squidkid · 20/11/2013 13:17

I think the hardest thing is feeling I've done something horribly wrong. Like I said she used to sleep….

OP posts:
squidkid · 20/11/2013 13:19

Yeah the frozen co-sleeping position is so hard! I am so envious of heavy sleepers who co-sleep and wake up with their babies between their legs or something, I just wake up every time she turns over.

I'm sorry anylemonfucker, it sounds really tough. And at least I get a rest when baby naps in the day (like now), no such luck with a 2 year old… Hilariously enough I am actually quite broody!

OP posts:
AnyLemonFucker · 20/11/2013 13:24

You've done nothing wrong. You could have done everything exactly the same and it might have had a completely different impact. All we can do is meet our babies needs best we can at any given time. Don't beat yourself up!

We did sleep training with DS1 when he was 7 months - left him to self settle for a minute or two, went in and comforted him, left the room, repeat repeat. Wasn't hardcore CC or anything - just gave him a chance to self settle/calm down and went in when he was upset.

The very next morning he was so cheerful and well rested I was so relieved! It took some time for him to sleep through but that first attempt made such a big change. His wakings reduced significantly.

You may not want to try anything like that but it was great for us.

We will try the same with DS2 when he's older.

I'm so tired I opened a cupboard into my face earlier. Cried like a baby appropriately... Grin Sigh

AnyLemonFucker · 20/11/2013 13:30

Thanks squidkid Smile It is so tough but wouldn't have it any other way. DS2 is utterly gorgeous, just like his big brother.

He's just a bit high needs

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