Best thing to try

[Jojo1st]

Hi,

I was hoping for some advice, I'm not sure what to do.
My LO is 5 months next week, has cmpa and silent reflux, just weaning at present advised by his paediatrician. Up until 4 weeks ago he was a great sleeper at night, only a catnapper in the day. But I could cope as slept at night. His dummy would come out and didn't wake for it.
Since hitting the 4 month mark, we barely get a catnap now and nightimes are waking every hour.

I've started self soothing last night and that was the worst night yet, I cannot count the amount he woke up. He loves to take his dummy out and then can't get it back in, or just can't get back off.

Any tips, in struggling now I'm not getting time in the day or night. It's taking its toll!

It's totally normal sadly. I had this at 5 months. It settles itself. What do you mean you've started self soothing?

Is there anything that DOES work for naps? Will he sleep on the bed with you next to him etc? Or would he sleep in a sling? You could try a dark room with loud white noise that works for us.

I sewed a ribbon onto the chest of all my sleeping bags, with a press stud at the end to attach a dummy.

I also keep the cot next to my bed until baby could find and reinsert own dummy (about 7-8 months for us) and didn't need me for resettles.

It means that reinserting dummy could be something I could do without moving from under my duvet or even opening my eyes.

Short (30-45m) daytime naps are developmentally normal. To avoid baby getting over tired you need to keep them frequent. Try maintaining no more than 90m awake time between naps.

An over tired baby is harder to get to sleep compared to a well rested baby, will have lighter sleep and so wake more easily and frequently so that it cycles and bad sleep becomes worse sleep.

To get out of an over tiredness cycle I would work on the basis of "any sleep, any how" and offer lots and lots of help to get baby sleeping as much, as easily and as frequently as possible.

Good sleep also spirals so that good sleep quality promotes better sleep quality. So i wouod focus on getting the cycle going towards better sleep. I wouldn't consider reducing or removing sleep props until sleep is easy and straight forward, so that the prop is less needed.

I had this for 5 weeks during the 4 month leap. I honestly thought I was going to brake. Then one day she just went back to normal - which is still 2-3 times a night, but that's manageable for me. It will end.
I did learn that I was going to her too quickly - now I leave her unless she grizzles for more than 10 minutes or actually cries. 7/10 she will go back over now.

Oh - and what FATE said. I followed her advice for any sleep anyhow to get put of the cycle. This also forced me to slow down and take more rest as she wanted to feed to sleep and be held. Now she needs to go to sleep between 90-120 minutes after waking and the minute I see her mood shift I put her sleep. It takes less than 10 minutes. Otherwise it can be 30 minutes and I know I'm on for a rough night.

Thanks all.

Last night I put him down sleepy but awake and it took 15 mins but he went off, but the. Woke up every 30 mins till this morning.

I don't mind a few times a night but every hour is torture isn't it, especially during the day when he doesn't nap and then I feel broken by bedtime again.

As much as people tell you nothing prepares you for the sleep deprivation. I need to not rush in. But for so long he was in pain with silent reflux I automatically think it's that, but it seems to be settling.

The whole sleep promotes sleep is right it's just getting him to sleep during the day, he's tired most of the time because he's awake so much at night. It's a vicious circle! X thank you all xx

God last night every half an hour until 5, I'm at work today and I feel knackered!

Sorry @Jojo1st. Did he sleep a long stretch in the early evening? If so, especially if you work, I would try to get to bed early and get in that big stretch with him xx

Last night he did about an hour and half before starting. But then this morning from 4 ish he slept through till 7.30!

Oh that's good! Did you manage to sleep in that time? X

I slept till around 5.45, as had to get ready for work. So tired, just keep thinking it can't last forever!😴😴