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HELP!! 6mo is totally unable to switch off and sometimes stays awake all day :-(

5 replies

KatM90 · 17/01/2018 15:27

Hi, second attempt at posting!

My little boy is 6 months old and from the age of 8 weeks old it was like a light switched on in his head, and from that point onwards every single nap time is a complete battle, and some days none existent!

On a night he does sleep but needs constant resettling throughout the night. But will only fall to sleep and stay asleep if swaddled. And as he’s now so big I have to sometimes swaddle him 3x to get him to be able to wind down. He’s literally NEVER sleepy. When he starts to get tiered he gets really hyperactive and thrashes his whole body around screeching.

He’s never been a particularly happy or easy baby, breastfed but colicky, reflux, etc etc. He won’t be cuddled to sleep, pram doesn’t work, car works 20% of the time.

Without putting him into a silent, pitch black room, swaddled he will not sleep.

HV suggested leaving him one day see what he does. Well we did and he stayed awake for 12 hours solid with no signs of caving. He was gouging at his eyes and screaming in a way I’ve never heard before he was THAT tiered. The day after he was no better.

I haven’t created the swaddle as a sleep association as he stopped sleeping before we introduced it.

He’s in the middle of leaps at the moment and he’s worse than ever.

We’ve paid for cranial osteopathy, Sleep programmes, and believe me when I say I’ve tried everything I really have. Today he’s been up since 6.10am and it’s now 15.25pm and he’s had 20 minutes nap in the car as we’ve had appointments. He’s still thrashing around so I’m going to have to go swaddle him in a dark room.

I feel so housebound and isolated missing stuff because he just can’t seem to handle life! He hates baby groups, busy places etc, he gets so over stimulated so fast then just cries!

At my wits end here :-( x

OP posts:
ScarletBegonia1234 · 17/01/2018 20:12

Poor you! No advice but watching with interest as I also have a 6 month old who doesn't want to miss anything by napping! Not as bad as what you are going through though. She longs for a quiet dark room but with a toddler as well it jyst isn't happening! I saw someone with a blackout cover for the pram, might that help?

ScarletBegonia1234 · 17/01/2018 20:13

They're called snoozeshades...

Tika77 · 17/01/2018 20:21

I had to rock one of mine to sleep for ages. Do you have a rocking chair? white noise?

JaneBanks · 17/01/2018 20:36

Controversial but your baby sounds exactly like my 6 month old. We did controlled crying. It was AWFUL for a week and the most heartbreaking thing ever. I would have caved if it wasn't for my husband and mum, was in tears myself. However, now he literally goes into his cot, rolls over and goes to sleep at nap times. I put him in his cot the minute he shows signs of being tired, usually after 2 hours of being awake. Nighttime he'll sometimes have a bit of a fuss for 10 mins but falls asleep. He now sleeps through the night too as he can settle himself.

It is NOT for everyone. I think it's also recommended not to do. I was at my wits end as I had a baby who was awake from 7am - 10pm relentlessly doing manic thrashing limbs from around 3pm, escalating to screaming.

I read Dr Weissbluth's book. Didn't follow it to the letter as I actually went in more in line with Ferber methods, but explained sleep really well.

Good luck. It's so hard. Whatever you decide to do it won't be forever. Wine and chocolate to get you through. X

KatM90 · 19/01/2018 12:13

JaneBanks that is exactly what he is like! I might give them a read you know. Honestly controlled crying is the LAST thing I wanted to do but if it works I feel like it will help him in the long run! Might go buy myself wine and chocolate and think it over! Thank you xx

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