please help- im at my wits end

4 replies

kbaby · 14/09/2006 21:06

DS IS ONLY 6 WEEKS OLD AND IS A GRUMPY BABY WHO CRIES CONSTANTLY AND IS ONLY SETTLED WHILE BEING HELD. THIS WAS OK AT FIRST BECAUSE IT ONLY EFFECTED THE DAY AND COME THE NIGHT HE WOULD SLEEP ON HIS OWN, HOWEVER THE PAST 2 NIGHTS HE HAS REFUSED TO BE LAID DOWN AND CRIES EITHER WITHIN 15 MINS OR STRAIGHT AWAY. THE ONLY WAY TO GET HIM TO STAY ASLEEP IS TO HOLD HIM.
LAST NIGHT DH HAD TO STAY UP WITH HIM AND JUST HOLD HIM AND THEN I DID THE 3-6AM SHIFT, HOWEVER IT MEANS WERE ONLY GETTING 3HRS SLEEP A NIGHT PLUS WE RUN THE RISK OF FALLING ASLEEP OURSELVES WHILE HOLDING HIM. IVE TRIED CO SLEEPING BUT HE CREID UNTIL HE WAS PICKED UP AGAIN. EACH TIME WE TRY AND PUT HIM DOWN WE THEN HAVE TO SPEND 20 MINS RESETTLING HIM.
I GUESS IM JUST AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT WE CAN DO, I FEEL AS IF THERES NOTHING WE CAN TRY. WE CANT CARRY ON SLEEPING 3HRS A NIGHT BUT IF HE WONT LAY DOWN WHAT OTHER OPTION DO WE HAVE. DH SAYS TO LEAVE HIM CRY BUT I CANT DO THAT.
PLEASE HELP US

OP posts:

katyjo · 14/09/2006 22:40

Will he settle if you stroke his forehead, or have you tried heating the blankets before you put him down, we used to use a microwave beanie dog to heat the blankets! Is it because he doesn't like sleeping on his back?

Crotchety · 14/09/2006 22:55

I can identify with that - had to hold my first son all the time to make him stay asleep. A lot of people on another thread are recommending cranial osteopathy which can really calm a baby down - I did this and it helped. Didn't completely solve the problem but certainy helped...Also swaddled him, which would get him off to sleep, but at about 4 in the morning he'd start fighting his way out of the blanket.

wrinklytum · 14/09/2006 22:58

Hi there!!Sorry you are going through it.Have you tried any of the following?

A sling to carry him in during the day so you have hands free,yet he is still close to you.
A rocker/swing thing.
Swaddling
Taking him out in the car and driving around till he nods off.(Have done this at 3am)
Ditto putting him in pram.Did this with mine but it was summer obviuosly nights getting darker now.

I have to say with both mine I ended up with them sleeping in my arms/over my shoulder for the first twelve weeks.It is very tiring but it passes.(Not much help when you are horrendously sleep deprived I know)Then they just took to their cot.

Have you excluded colic/overtiredness/hunger???

It will not hurt to leave him to cry for a short while if you are at your wits end.(Not hours though,obviously)

Have you got a parent you can leave him with for a couple of hours so you can get a bit of sleep???

Some people swear by cranial osteopathy for a very unsettled baby.I have never tried it,so cant share any tips re this.

Finally,although it is really really dreadful while you are going through it believe me it does pass.I have done it twice and those first few weeks are bloody hard work!!!Its an endurance test.Honest honest honest it gets better!!!!!

colditz · 14/09/2006 23:04

you tried swaddling? Does he sleep if you walk him in the pram? Maybe he feels a bit poorly, ds2 is 5 months but still insists on cuddles when poorly.

Don't leave him to cry if you can help it, apart from anything else it will give him wind. Have you tried (this sounds absurd) putting him on a flat cot sheet, then picking it up and rocking the 'swing', then he stays on the sheet he fell asleep in when you put him down.

Flip