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Original poster

Medication to make 11 month old sleep?

42 replies

NoCapes · 03/10/2016 16:56

I don't even know if there is such a medication to help a baby sleep?
If there is, exactly how bad does it have to be before a doctor would prescribe it?

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 03/10/2016 16:57

There is something but only on prescription and you'd be unlikely to get it these days tbh. Are you having a rough time?

Original poster
NoCapes · 03/10/2016 17:02

Oh

Worth asking anyway do you think? Or would it only be prescribed alongside other problems?

Rough is not the word, I wouldn't even know where to begin talking about it tbh

I am absolutely in my knees
I feel like I'm dying, the DC asked me to squeeze some tooth paste out of the tube for them this morning and I actually couldn't do it, I'm just so weak now, I'm not sure how much longer I can carry on like this

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 03/10/2016 17:05

Talk to your HV? Sounds dire. They wouldn't prescribe unless it was along side other issues and for the benefit of the baby. you can't really drug a baby so you can sleep- as tempting as it isWink

Doesn't sound like you have much support?

oldestmumaintheworld · 03/10/2016 17:06

Having sleepless nights is really hard, but unless its for a medical condition, a prescription is not the answer. There are many techniques parents can adopt to teach a child to self-sooth and go to sleep; we used the process described in Teach Your Child to Sleep through the Night, but they all work in similar fashion. Please try a form of sleep training first before you visit your doctor.

Original poster
NoCapes · 03/10/2016 17:08

oldest I've tried everything - pupd, cc, co-sleeping
I've not just gone from zero to drugs after a bad night

I'm desperate

OP posts:
Original poster
NoCapes · 03/10/2016 17:09

It's not just for me by the way, he is miserable too

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Mybeardeddragonjustdied2016 · 03/10/2016 17:10

In the old days (ds is 24)drs did prescribe such a thing!!
And in near days gone by (ds 15)a chemist asked if I wanted the 'sleepy version' of an over the counter cough syrup!!
Except for the quite recent thread on here about the dm who gave brandy to her baby - us real world parents have to use more acceptable methods now!. I would suggest speaking to your Dr about a sleep programme. I did one with the ds now 15 and had him sleeping through on the third night at 11 months old.

DurhamDurham · 03/10/2016 17:12

It sounds like one you are exhausted but as others have mentioned a medical professional wouldn't prescribe medication to make a baby sleep unless it was for the baby's benefit, if the baby is thriving I don't think it would be an appropriate thing to do.

What you need is help and support. Talk to your HV, they might be able to suggest strategies and a way forward. Do you have family or friends who could help you out so you can catch up on some sleep?
I hope you get help soon as you're clearly struggling if you're desperate enough to think medicating your baby is the way forward.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 03/10/2016 17:14

Have you talked to your HV?

dalmatianmad · 03/10/2016 17:15

Sounds awful, I really feel for you.
Are you on your own with them? You need a nice soak in the bath and an early night, can someone have ds to enable ds to do this?
Can he stay at grandparents for the night so you can catch up on some much needed sleep?

DoItTooJulia · 03/10/2016 17:18

Why don't you tell us everything and then you can use it to show HV/GP too.

Flowers I hope something helps soon

Original poster
NoCapes · 03/10/2016 17:18

I spoke a little bit to my HV at his 9 month old check, her advice was to give him less milk and 'try to get him to fall asleep by himself' Hmm gee thanks

OP posts:
oldestmumaintheworld · 03/10/2016 17:19

Sorry, NoCapes, and apologies. I'd didn't think you had. No-one would. I just assumed (wrongly) you'd been soldiering on without trying anything.

Having said that. Perhaps then a trip to the doc to check out the baby might be an idea. I would also say that sleep training is hard work and really helps if there are two of you doing it. Do you have any help? Ours took three days, some children need a week..

Do you have anyone who could babysit for you so that you can get some sleep during the day? I remember those days so clearly and its tough.

Original poster
NoCapes · 03/10/2016 17:20

dalmation my mum has him once a month and has the other 2 every fortnight for a sleepover, she's brill Smile

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Original poster
NoCapes · 03/10/2016 17:24

oldest last night marked 3 weeks of doing CC, he slept for a period of 40 minutes at one point, then another of 35 minutes and another of about 20/25, besides that he screamed all night
At 5:15am I got the pram out of the porch, strapped him in it in the living room and went upstairs and put my head under a pillow for 10 minutes because I just needed to not hear it, just for a while

I'm on my own with them

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 03/10/2016 17:28

Doctors- just rule out reflux or anything else.

He's feeding ok? Feeds ok at night?

Original poster
NoCapes · 03/10/2016 17:32

He was on gaviscon for silent reflux a few months ago, but it made him constipated and actually made it worse, he's also on soya formula now as I suspect know he's allergic to cows milk but they won't do any tests on him so I can't be sure it's not anything else too

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RockinHippy · 03/10/2016 17:34

Epsom salts baths, with a few drops of Lavender & Chamomile aromatherapy oil can really help.

The epsom salts bath will get magnesium into your babies system & it helps sleep, relaxation, pain (teething) & much more. Modern diet means we can easily be deficient too. You can also buy a magnesium spray oil which could be used in baby massage

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 03/10/2016 17:34

I thought they didn't give soya to boys, or is that just the milk?

Awww poor little thing , get an emergency appt with the GP ,it IS sn emergency and ask for an alternative to Gaviscon.

Original poster
NoCapes · 03/10/2016 17:34

Sorry missed the questions, he eats breakfast well, lunch and dinner are pretty hot and miss, especially dinner as he's usually just knackered by then
He just wants milk. All of the milk
But all the advice is that while he's having lots of bottles he won't sleep, so I've been trying to cut it down in the hopes he'll eat more solids during the day, but it's making it worse tbh

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Original poster
NoCapes · 03/10/2016 17:39

I asked for an alternative to gaviscon and was told there wasn't one?

OP posts:
RockinHippy · 03/10/2016 17:42

Just spotted your updates re reflux etc

Ask your health visitor/GP about testing him for B12 deficiency

Is there any chance your levels are low? Is there Pernicious Anaemia in your family? Are you vegan or vegetarian & not eating much diary or eggs ? Did you have an overdose of Nitrous Oxide in labour - lots of antibiotic use when pregnant? Taking PPI drugs for acid reflux??

All of the above depletes B12 levels & if your levels are low when pregnant, his will be too.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 03/10/2016 17:42

There is, it's mentioned here a lot, can't remember the name.

I think feeding constantly is a classic sign of reflux.

Doctors first thing x

ShutTheFridgeUp · 03/10/2016 17:48

There is definitely an alternative to gaviscon!! This didn't work for us (massive faff with breastfeeding, and made DD constipated) was prescribed low dose omeprazole and after 3 days had a completely different baby! Was a bit of a battle to get it prescribed, but worth every second of it to have a more settled, happy baby.

Tootsiepops · 03/10/2016 17:53

Whoever told you there's no alternative to gaviscon is a fucking idiot Angry