Insomnia

[RadioGaGoo]

For the past four weeks I have been wide awake after the first night feed (around 00.30 - 01.30), even though my 8 month old has been fast asleep. How is this fair?!?

My DS was a shocking sleeper, up hourly or less, would only BF back to sleep, wouldn’t let anyone else settle him, wouldn’t nap in the day etc- to the point I thought it would break me However, when we moved him to his own room at about 5 months things got better. At 7 months he wakes once for a feed between 3-5am. However, I am up at least 3 times before he wakes- not just for a minute a proper wake up- and then after the feed I’m pretty much awake till he gets up. It’s so annoying, the more worked up I get and frustrated the more I can’t sleep. I still go to bed at 9.30 to compensate but on a bad night I’m still awake at 12 even though I go to bed exhausted. I have no issues getting up to go comfort him, but i used to be able to pretty much go straight back to sleep, it’s so frustrating.

What we do is DP gets up when DS does- he never wants a feed straight away so I always get another hour and a half that way. It’s the best and deepest sleep I get. Probably because I know I’m going to get to sleep and the monitor won’t go off. DP never gets a lie in but is it really a lie in if I’ve hardly slept?

You could be looking to drop night feeds at 8 months old Insomnia2, or at least drop in-the-night feeds and having just a dream feed.

That may well solve your insomnia by bypassing it if you don't wake at all.

Is baby breast or bottle feeding? Do you have an alternate ways you get baby to sleep that isn't feeding to sleep?

This is my problem! I realised my tiredness is much more related to how I cope with the wake ups than the frequency. It's difficult because my son isn't very consistent so some night one wake up (rare but does happen) and some nights 4-5 so often I find myself awake waiting for a wake up that might not come.

I've really tried to focus on calming myself - happy thoughts not related to the baby, deep breathing etc which often works. My MIL recommended under the pillow radio and audiobooks!