Practical night time help

[TheWeatherGirl1]

18 wk old baby doesn't sleep. Up every hour and been the same for months.
I've asked for advice and tried to implement routines but somehow it's still awful.
Before I jump off a cliff face does anyone have thoughts on what I can do/who I can contact to get some actual practical help?
No friends or family close by to help out.

I contacted a highly recommended night nanny who's been great at trying to help me over the phone but refuses to come to us until we have him in more of a routine.
Last night he was up 8 times between 6.30pm and 4.30am when I got up.
If you factor in the resettling times then that's pretty much no sleep most nights.
I passed the end of my tether months ago.

[MrsOverTheRoad]

How is he fed OP?

[TheWeatherGirl1]

Mostly bf but I've been topping him up with formula after feeds for the last few days to see if that helps.
It doesn't.

[PotteringAlong]

Do you co sleep? Feed lying down and it all seems better. You have my sympathy. Some babies (like my ds1!) just don't sleep...

[TheWeatherGirl1]

We've done bits of co sleeping but I do hate it.
It used to guarantee us a bit more sleep but somehow that's changed lately and he wakes up regularly.

[TheWeatherGirl1]

Has anyone had experience of night nannies?

[Meepmoop]

What's his sleep in the day like?

[Myusername2015]

Yes we’ve got a 4 month old and we’ve used one once a week since birth. Anything in particular you wanted to know about night nannies?

[TheWeatherGirl1]

His daytime naps are shit unless being pushed around by me in a buggy.


Myusername2015
Re night nannies, I guess my questions are; how does it work? Is it ball breakingly expensive? Are your babies already in a decent sleeping routine or will I find a nanny who's willing to come and deal with a baby who wakes constantly?
Thank you

[Myusername2015]

Hi; we used a night nanny for two reasons; firstly we had no living family and secondly I wanted help getting baby into a routine. They definitely will come even if baby is awake all night that what they get paid for! My nanny says her work is split between helping establish routines and just giving parents a night off. I’m formula feeding so she did 9pm-8am at £120 a night would do everything for baby and dress fill in diary in morning. She advised me on daytime routines for him but it was up to me whether I did or not. You may find them cheaper if you don’t need as much experience. Honestly although this board doesn’t approve of them it’s the best money I spent; touch wood most of the time my baby is sleeping 12 hours a night how and just that once a week relief at the beginning got me through some rough days. Knowing baby is was such safe hands. She would do whatever we wanted at night; happy to cuddle him all night if wanted or to help with establishing independent sleep. She’s now become a good friend and does babysitting for us. Any other questions just shout x

[FATEdestiny]

Have you tried giving your baby a dummy TheWeatherGirl1?

How much/often do you feed during the day and during the night.

How much does baby sleep during the day and how long between naps?

How do you get baby to sleep? Have you got/tried a bouncy chair (minus the play arch?

I have no experience of night nannies. I would imagine employing a maternity nurse might be a good idea - someone who can give you practical help in establishing feeding and sleep habits.

[TheWeatherGirl1]

Thank you, Username, such good info.

He's a dummy refuser, he won't sleep in a bouncy chair, he won't nap in his crib, he wakes CONSTANTLY unless, like now, he sleeps on me but that doesn't seem sustainable for the future...