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4 month sleep regression- oh.my.god.

955 replies

hazel88 · 19/06/2015 21:52

So my DD has just hit the 4 month sleep regression hard. It sucks. It really sucks. for a short while she had been doing 6 hour chunks for the first part of the night followed by 1 or 2 wakings after. On the rare occasion she would just wake up once for a feed then that was it. BLISS. She's now waking up more times than I can count and I'm wondering if she'll ever sleep better again. I know about the 4 month sleep regression inside-out but would really appreciate experiences from others who have either gone through it or are going through it. I need some sanity restored...please?!

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mariloulou · 07/07/2015 10:27

I did gradual retreat with my eldest at around 10-11 months. I don't think it wouldbe suitable at the mo.
yes DD1 finishes preschool this week. Poor thing at least got 3 hours of entertainment whilst there. God knows how ill keep them both entertained. I don't have any energy to even go out!

Sycamore76 · 07/07/2015 10:29

I am the same today ! Luckily I stocked up on new colouring books ...

mariloulou · 07/07/2015 10:46

Excellent thinking!

hazel88 · 07/07/2015 10:48

Ladies I'm sorry this is all so shit for you Thanks All our DD's sound the same right now! DD was sick too yesterday which is unlike her.

she's been tugging at her ear a bit so I wanted to rule out an ear infection so she's just seen the gp who said she's fine. dribbling all over the place though and started sucking on the drs hand haha.

I know I really need to break the co-sleeping habit when she's feeling well. it's finding the energy to the able to persevere through the night though Confused

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hazel88 · 07/07/2015 10:55

Sycamore I couldn't get a night nanny- not only could I not afford it, but moreover I wouldn't want someone else seeing to my child when she needs her mummy, I want her to know that I'm there for her. As run down as I am I couldn't pay a stranger to do that. I agree about being grateful that we have healthy babies, sleep deprivation is nothing in comparison to what many are going through.

Mariloulou I hope things improve once DD is in her own room. I know it may seem mega tough (for a very short period of time), but if all else fails would you consider cc? I NEVER thought I would, but it's only meant to be tough for a few nights, a week max. It could be SO worth it for not just your sleep - deprived DD but for everyone in your house. We will definitely consider it when she is 6 months.

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Sycamore76 · 07/07/2015 11:51

I was only suggesting as many mums benefit from one decent nights sleep . I would rather do that then end up with PND if I was feeling desperate . Many mums do end up with PND following weeks of sleep deprivation and that is not good for baby . I don't think it makes me a bad mum for thinking about it if things get worse.

hazel88 · 07/07/2015 12:02

Oh no I'm not saying it is, it just isn't for me.

DD is as grumpy as they come today and it's all down to teeth. I'm running out of ideas to try and help her Sad

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Sycamore76 · 07/07/2015 12:25

Def teething ! I say these things when I feel desperate but I never do it . Doesn't help that dh cannot help during night .

hazel88 · 07/07/2015 12:37

My DP is the same, he does what he can by getting bottles and changing the odd nappy but he can't do more due to the nature of his job and I wouldn't want him to as his job is dangerous enough as it is without being severely tired. I long for the weekend and hate the start of the week.

I've resorted to taking DD our for a drive in the car. I don't know what else to do and need to get out of the house. I wanted to take her for a long walk but I'm worried I'll knacker myself out too much as I'm already pooped!

where are more of these women with success stories?!

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hazel88 · 07/07/2015 17:42

What a shitty day!!!

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Sycamore76 · 07/07/2015 18:25

Yes it was ! Dd was so grumpy , arching back and crying despite calpol, teething gel and teething powder. Starting to wonder if it's het reflux but she has symtoms . Do they arch back with any pain or just gas pain ?

hazel88 · 07/07/2015 18:41

I'm not sure? I think DD does it when she's in pain generally but I always think it's the reflux as I'm always on the lookout for it.

DD has been so grumpy today, I had to PU PD SO many times earlier for her nap and she wouldn't have it after endless attempts so I eventually got her to settle then had to lay with her on the bed. DP has bathed her and is currently trying to give her a bottle which she just won't have- she's hysterical. She's barely fed all day I don't know what to do Confused

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Sycamore76 · 07/07/2015 18:49

Sorry that was meant to read teething signs . Do you think it's an over tiredness meltdown? I just put dd down swaddled lightly , dummy and white noise and she has settled for now.
I think your dd must be teething if she is refusing bottles . That said it is a reflux sign . When you put gel on her gums does she seem in pain ? I feel broken now ! So shattered ...

Sycamore76 · 07/07/2015 19:19

On first wake up of the night , it's a really angry cry :-(

hazel88 · 07/07/2015 19:50

Oh your poor poppet Sad

it's definitely teething over here. You can hear the pain in her cry, hot cheeks, dribbling, gnawing on her fist. I'll try Cosleeping tonight I think with another dose of calpol through the night. I can't wait to see these teeth now!

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Sycamore76 · 07/07/2015 20:37

I am really hoping it's teething and not the silent reflux as I was hoping that was starting to improve ! Just been up again, she is so unsettled . My friend has a boy a couple of weeks older than our 17 weeks olds and she has an horrendous week and then a bottom tooth popped out ! Think I will do a calpol dose too.

hazel88 · 07/07/2015 20:45

What I do when I suspect reflux flare up is get DD weighed then ask the doc over the phone what the max dosage is that she can have for her weight. To be honest though I've just slightly increased the dosage myself before Hmm Your poor DD. Mine has only taken 16 oz today, yesterday was 31oz by this time Sad

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mariloulou · 07/07/2015 20:55

Seems like we all have teething babies!! I put DD up at 7pm. Woke at 7.20pm, then 7.40pm, and I gave up and brought her down as I was about to serve dinner and and she just sobbed her little heart out! So many tears, just looking into blank space. Her cheeks were hot and red, she's constantly dribbling and knawing on anything she can. She has literally not slept today and had only 15oz of milk! Something is happening :( ill be co sleeping tonight too. I sense its going to be a bad one.

hazel im glad dr ruled out an ear infection, they are nasty! Yes to your question earlier, I am going to do CC, I broke down to a mum at the school today who has a DD of similar age and she said it was the best thing she did.

Sycamore76 · 07/07/2015 21:29

Mariloulou - honestly cc was very effective with my ds and he was so much happier after getting a decent sleep.

DD has woken up so many times already , I just don't know what to do. Calpol doesn't seem to be touching the pain , maybe she is spitting to much out . Also tried powders and gel. How do you guys do it? Especially during the night .
Hazel , I have a doctors appointment Friday so I will speak about increasing the dose if she is squirming and arching her back still.

hazel88 · 07/07/2015 21:31

Oh mariloulou your poor DD too Sad sounds just like mine today. how odd that they're all teething today. poor little loves. DD went 2 hours before first wake up and is asleep on me in bed at the mo. I don't even want to try putting her in the cot when she feels like this, just lots of mummy snuggles in our bed.

oh really that's interesting to hear another experience of cc. I've heard so many great success stories. sorry to hear you've been upset Sad Thanks

I've gone 6 weeks in to this shitty sleep without crying so far (before hand I had a lot of days of crying so I'm surprised that since things have been pretty tough that I haven't) but today I had a moment. Just because a taxi forced me to reverse down some lanes then told me I was stupid and i should use my head, that was the last straw! Hopefully once these pesky teeth make their grand appearance we'll have happier girls Smile

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hazel88 · 07/07/2015 21:36

Sycamore I gave calpol via syringe earlier and it seemed to take a good hour before DD relaxed a little. she did spit some out after I managed to jab her in the gum with it (oh fucking hell Blush ) so I gave her another ml. It then took loads of rocking and PU PD before she stayed asleep. had to put her down asleep too. .
I read that when babies teeth they need extra fluids if you can get them to take it. I've tried the foods she likes too just so she can get some calories and eating from a spoon seems less painful for her.

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RevoltingPeasant · 07/07/2015 21:39

Hello all, sorry to hear about so many awful nights!

So our drive up was really good. She slept about four hours in total, PLUS had a nap in th buggy after we got here. Ditched normal bedtime and routine and have just fed her to sleep and popped in snuzpod which we brought with us. Let's see what tonight holds!

For those who asked, No Cry Sleep Solution is supposed to be an alternative to controlled crying. It's supposed to be a means of teaching your baby to self settle with no tears. Basically it's a lot ofmhard work but I think her methods work! You do a sleep log for a couple of days and note down various things, like nap duration, number of night wakings etc. Then there is a "menu" of solutions you choose and compile a personal plan.

You do the plan for ten days then reassess and tweak.

She reckons most people see results in a month, which she admits is much slower than controlled crying, but she thinks leaving babies to cry is wrong.

An example of her methods is using delatching from breast before they fall asleep to teach not needing bf to feed to sleep. She has specific plans for teaching co sleepers to move babies to cots etc too.

I am only trying it out myself but I so now a lot of people swear by it.

Anyhow exhausted after driving from Devon to Yorks after four night wakings (!) so going to try to get some kip whilst DD thinks it's nighttime!!

hazel88 · 07/07/2015 21:51

I've just waited until DD was fast asleep on me then offered her a bottle while she's still asleep and she's downed 8oz!

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hazel88 · 08/07/2015 06:45

RP glad to hear you had a good journey and that your DD got so much sleep! Hope you had a good night!

Once DD isn't teething my plan is to take a flask of coffee to bed and try my best to stay up and persevere with PU PD as she does so well with it during the day, but struggles at night and I can't find the energy to persist which is the main problem.

Last night we had the same amount of wakings as the current 'norm'- about 6 I think which I thought was great bearing in mind she was teething. She did 2 hours then awake and fell asleep on my chest in bed (she never does this), I then fed her while she was asleep and she drained 8.5oz. I then laid her on the bed with me on top of a fluffy dressing gown and she slept nearly 3 hours, offered the bottle again then back to sleep for 2 hours, then it was a bit bitty from there. Offered the bottle about 4 times during the night as she hadn't taken much during the day. Coslept all night and gave her calpol at midnight. She woke up at 5.15 and is very much still teething.

Has anyone noticed green poo before with teething?!

Hope everyone had good nights

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zombiemeow · 08/07/2015 07:41

Hi Smile

Can I join.

Am still trying to catch up on reading the thread, it's difficult on my phone!

My ds went into the 4 month sleep regression, he's now 7 months and no better. He's never slept through but would always have a feed then drop off again. Now he's up usually around every hour crying for his dummy, he stays awake for 1.5/2 hours in the night and is up at 5 Hmm

Having started reading the thread though it looks like there's babies on here older than ds Confused doesn't give me hope! Grin

I'm so tired!

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