SLEEP REGRESSION part 2...Roll up, roll up folks! Swap tales of woe, ideas, enjoy solidarity and get support here

[cakebaby]

Thought I'd start a new thread as I couldn't see another one yet (will get HQ to delete if already up and running).

Tis good to talk.....

mirrhi that's great! how did the rest of the night go?

DS pretty much slept through last night, a couple of grizzles but nothing major. I fed him at 6am and then he slept until 8:30. I swear this child knows when it's a weekend and I could have a lie in after a rubbish night and saves his bad nights for when I have to be at work the next day. Racking my brains to think what I did differently yesterday, he did have a two hour afternoon nap which is unusual. I wonder if that helped?

crappy night here. I saw most hours... on the plus side she's had an hour nap in the cot this morning and 20 mins into the second. normally 30 mins max and on me/pushchair.

These babies really are smarter than we think aren't they miss?
Our night went downhill from there sadly, he woke shortly after I posted, fed and went back to sleep in his moses basket fine. Then woke 10 minutes later and spent 20 minutes thrashing and shouting whilst I shushed and patted him. He eventually went off again, woke 2 hours later and repeated that performance every 2 hours for the rest of the night.
keep that sounds like a rubbish night, but positive start to today. Hope the positive continues.

Mirrhi sympathies, those are my worst kind of night.

I'm wondering whether DS can pick up on me being more relaxed on weekend nights and maybe it's me being stressed that is making him wake during the week. Or am I over thinking things?

I think we all over think things re our baby's sleep (or lack of it) as were desperate to know what we have to do to help them sleep (all night) better!! After over a week of one or two (short wake ups) we appear to be back to every couple of hours, unable to settle himself without co-sleeping or 15mins of boob!!

Feel like breast feeding is part of the problem as ds is a bit of a boob monster I really don't feel ready to stop bf but can't help but wonder if it would improve his night time sleep???

Also feel really sorry for anyone else who is suffering this is getting tough now ds is 8mo in a couple of days & I feel like I'm 1 step forward 5 steps back!!

boo agree re bf, or lo are just a week or so apart. However, I have been so thankful for bf & feeding to sleep during the last 8 days of illness, I think I'd have expired by now without it! Ironically we've had the best sleep ever in the last few nights bound to go to rats now I've admitted it he did a good stretch 10-4 last night, feed then woke at 615 for a 5 min chat, up for day at 730. Brilliant for us if you ignore the sleep crawling with eyes open at 2am
Also, as he's been struggling with his cough when lying flat, afternoon nap has been in pushchair. WTF didn't I do this before? Goes out like a light & sleeps at least 90 mins. Beats the cot battle hands down.

Boo and Cake. Big waves.

I always think of BF as being part of the solution!

I fed DD1 with a bottle of formula at night from 3 months and then she was FF totally from 4 months. She didn't sleep 7-7 until 18 months. I was so bloody exhausted. But honestly I can't really recall what it was like in detail. You forget.

Co-sleeping and BF have made settling DD2 so much easier at night. I'm knackered but nothing like I was with getting up to make bottles, cleaning bottles, having to make sure you had bottles for out and about. To be fair I've been lucky as DD2 is so chilled and happy during the day which also helps.

I am convinced it's all down to luck. I can also reassure you that my friends who had babies who slept through also had plenty of sleepless nights. They just didn't have as many, but they still had them.

all round. I'll get doubles in.

it's good to have those of you with older children who KNOW it'll pass. I mean, we're told that but I can't really believe it... 2 hourly last night mostly, but dh took her from 6 so I went back to sleep

cakebaby that's brilliant

I see your point soup re bf. if you have to feed then it's obviously easier. but I am sure bf encourages night waking by being so lovely for the babies. which is and . also of course if you don't bf you could share things more easily with a partner. I love bf on the whole, but do resent it at times for the very reasons I love it.

an hour into a cot nap again today!! I'm amazed, quite frankly!

boo at 8m have you tried just refusing to give boob at night? make bf a daylight activity only...? I'm sorry sleep has gone backwards that's the pits

Well keep when he wakes as early as 9.30/10pm I refuse to bf & just rock him or pat him etc but I've not had the guts to do it during night wakings as he becomes more & more awake & ultimately it takes even longer to settle him which I've usually given up & resorted to boob anyway, I know I need to toughen up but what can I say I'm a wimp!!!

May half term which is two weeks away & my goal is to refuse the boob at night but I'm already nervous at the prospect, plus I think I have a touch of the last baby syndrome as in he is our last baby & I'm probably a bit reluctant to force him onto the next stages (I know I need to get a grip!)!!!!

Also soup yes I know you're quite right there I have two friends with baby's just a week either side of me, we all bf one of my friends ds has slept through since 3mo my other friends lo is up even more than mine so it is the baby I'm sure! I must admit my ds is a delight in the day, naps are no issue, weaning (so far) has been a breeze - you can't have it all can you!!

Hi ladies
I'm with boo on this one too,..last baby so am very much a wimp and soft with her! I actually last night tried the no bf between 12-6 thing and it wasn't actually that bad - she woke at 3.30 and was wanting it - throwing herself at me and the like, but there were no real upset tears just some rage and anger - and I managed to settle her with cuddles after about 20 mins. Then she woke at 6.05 (clever!) and I fed her, she then went back to sleep till 8.45! So a good result. Am going to stick with this 12-6 ban and see how it unfolds, then all being well will extend it to say 10-6 in a few weeks. She's 8 mths next week.

I'm the same boo, no energy to refuse!

cakeis that sounds really positive. and what a clever 8mo to understand you and tell the time and wake at 6.05

Can I ask you about division of labour in your home re DC? Am trying to get some perspective after a very trying morning. Dh works FT, shifts, has 4 days off,also had a lot of AL recently (eg 12 consecutive days), I am on mat leave. Don't get me wrong he's a great hands on dad, plays with ds, does bathtime & some mealtimes when he's here. I do every bedtime, night waking (15+ at one point for months), every morning, breakfast etc, naps (equally hellish til recently). Is it out of order for me to want a lie in, from ds waking am? Just one? After 8 months 1 week? Not going back to bed at 9, when ds needs me for a nap at 10. Not going back to bed when I've dropped ds at mil at 11? Or at 12 after batch cooking 4 dishes? bitter

I was the same as you cakeb until just before Easter where I went into some sort of meltdown mode, I don't think DP really realised how bad it can be at night as he has been in the spare room since Xmas!!!! We are now on a better footing where I still do the night times but if were having early starts 5/5.30 DP comes & gets him & takes him downstairs, looks after him does his brekkie etc & I get up around 8! I would probably prefer a full nights uninterrupted sleep but I will take this for now!

Thanks for the reply boo. I find myself increasingly fucked off about it. I know he's working ft shifts and its a hard job (I do it too) and I'm on ml, but I think ONE lie in is a reasonable request. Anyhow, he's taken it all wrong, taken ds out (as mummy needs some time - FFS) and somehow I've ended up apologising as he extrapolated my request as he's not a good daddy or some shite. Wish I'd never mentioned it now

We'll I don't see being on mat leave as at all relevant I'm on mat leave, I have a demanding job but I tell you what I feel like I'm working harder than ever right now as I never actually actually clock off, it's 24hours being on duty!

My thoughts exactly. Dh hates his job & loves being at home, but don't we all? It doesn't make 8 months of broken sleep & getting up when someone else wants to or is ready to, regardless of what time that may be, then having to entertain them any easier or less exhausting

It's more complicated here as we has 2 other ds's although our oldest is 13 DP will often suggest I get him to help but that is madness I trust our 4yr old to be more responsible!!

Maybe look at your DH's off duty when he has his four days let him pick which two he wants to have as his lie ins & the other two days are yours!! My DP said he was having ds for the night a few weeks back - on that night I did the 10.30 re-settle & DP brought him to me at 4am saying "I think he wants you darling" (aka I've had enough of this now)! He often reminds me of this night where he had him!

I think I'll suggest one lie in per set of days off, preparing to accept this every other week though.

Well I think you're letting him off lightly!

You're not being unreasonable asking for this at all. Our deal is that I do the night wakings (which is the best solution as DH tries his best but makes such a palaver out of it he ends up waking DS up even more) but if I need more sleep on the weekends he will take DS downstairs for his first feed and let me have a few more hours.

I think you're letting him off lightly too. I do all night wakings but most weekend days dh takes her when she wakes at 6/7 until nap time. although sometimes I let him have a lie in at least he gets a full nights sleep every single night!!!

if we have had an especially bad night he does that in the week too