Arrghh when does this 'sleep regression' end?!?

[AJ279]

I have a 23 week old DD, diagnosed with CMPA at 8 weeks and slept through the night since. Until just before xmas and now she's waking up constantly through the night, she's not hungry, uncomfortable, too hot etc. She just wakes up and will either just want her dummy or she will lay in her cot wide awake babbling, which turns to frustration and then you turns to crying. My DP is away during the week so I'm doing it on my own and due to return to work next month- I'm SO tired. How am I going to cope?! When does this so called 'sleep regression' end?!?! She's a joy and such a happy baby and I try not to take any of her for granted but when it's 4.30, the 8th time I've been up with her and I've been sat at the side of the cot for 45 minutes trying to get her to sleep it's hard to think of anything else other than sleep!!

Mine would last three weeks. So yours is a bit longer.

Maybe worth thinking about your routine and if it is just a regression? Is she napping enough / too much? Is she going down by herself? Any sleep associations? Could she be poorly? Teething? Has she got a development leap too? Sometimes they can pick up unhealthy habits which they continue agree the event has passed?

If you're sure none of the above is applicable? Then have a Plan B in place for these regressions and going back to work? In other words think about safely co-sleeping to get through it?

Has her sleep been worse since Christmas (so 7 weeks ago, from baby being 15 weeks old), or is this a recent change?

I wasn't sure from your opening post.

Have you stated weaning? Difficult to manage for babies with CMPI.

How does baby sleep in the daytime?

Thanks both for your replies. Her sleep had just gone down hill since Christmas completely. We have got her in a pretty good bedtime routine of bath, bottle and bed. We have started weaning and generally give her a tea time meal. She's not waking up hungry and I usually end up giving in and putting her in my bed with me but I hate co sleeping. I can't relax knowing she's in the bed because I'm a shuffler in my sleep.

I just don't know what to do, she's not waking up upset or uncomfortable but now she's learnt to roll over she's fully waking herself by rolling onto her stomach.

I know the terrible sleep did coincide with a growth spurt but that's been and gone and we're on to the next one- she was sleeping half 9 till 8 and now it's more like 8.30 to bed then waking up 4 or 5 times till 11, waking at 12.30, then at 2.30 then again at 3.30 which seems to be when she needs to come in with me.

I feel awful complaining because I know I'm lucky to have her and she's such a great baby but I'm SO tired!

Sorry- she doesn't have a nap routine as such- apart from bedtime I let her lead and just get her to sleep as and when I start noticing signs of tiredness, usually 2 or 3 hour long naps a day.

I guess she's got into the habit of needing you there to settle her when she wakes - sleep associations. I'd be inclined to hang on until you think there is nothing going on with her ie growth spurts and tighten up the routine. So that when she wakes you shush pat or leave a minute or similar. Sounds like she needs you being there. Mine did this and it was usually quite easy to resolve.

Could you put the cot next to your bed, so that you just need to lean in to re-insert her dummy?

She might benefit from your hand on her chest, as a reassuring presence and also to help her keep still. Then re-inserting dummy as needed.

As she approaches 6 months it might be worth starting to routine her daytime naps, it should help. I would initially try for naps at 9am, 12pm and 3pm (ish) if they are an hour long. Try re-settling her by re-inserting dummy and firm hand on chest at the first sign of rousing awake from a nap. Maybe then you can lengthen naps to two longer naps of about 1.5-2h.

Thank you, I will try the hand on chest thing tonight and see how we get on. She's in her own room at the moment but like suggested may be worth moving her back in with us for the time being! Think I need to remind myself that even though she's growing up quick she's still a tiny little person who needs a bit of comfort on a night. She's so independent during the day I forget really. Thanks for your suggestions though- I will try them!!