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Original poster

Non-sleepers unite...

999 replies

Jellybean2017 · 18/01/2018 22:40

New thread for night (and daytime!) chatter for those awake more than they'd like with a non sleeping baby/child 😊

My DS is five months. First baby likely to be only baby if I don't start getting more sleep He is a nap and sleep fighter but incredibly cute so I choose to forgive him 😂

OP posts:
xxrealistmumxx · 21/01/2018 09:21

user1489931797 so sorry to hear how hard you're having it. My LO had reflux and would only ever take daytime sleeps in a sling. At night we'd swaddle him and wear him in the sling for at least an hour after his last feed, then put him in the cot next to me propped at an angle. I introduced a dummy and tried really hard not to feed too much through the night as it was the feeding that used to upset his sleep due to lying back down after. I managed to get him down to one feed in the night, I'd hold him up for at least half an hour after the feed. This was our routine til 4 months. He didn't sleep wonderfully but it was so much better than he does now - the 4 month sleep regression / growth spurt hit and he's not recovered from that yet. But that's by the by. Mostly just wanted to share what worked for us.. .oh and he also just slept on us for the first six weeks or so till we worked out the above.

We also took him to see an osteopath which helped him feel a bit more comfortable lying on his back.... But it's only really now at almost 5 months that he'll tolerate that for and time.

And before bed is spend ten mins massaging his tummy and doing leg twist etc

Not too bad a night here amazing how perception of a not bad night changes

It's soooo blissful having the house to myself :)

AMagdalena · 21/01/2018 09:24

Sorry to read about all the bad nights thst were had Sad

My DD slept like a log and I fed her twice whilst asleep. It's probably due to the cold.
She didn't pee all night, so I was getting worried, but she certainly made up for it when she woke up!

xxrealistmumxx · 21/01/2018 09:25

Hope you some more sleep sakura03

catscatsandmorecats hope the hot shower helps and you're feeling better soon. I reckon the sleep deprivation definitely wreaks havoc on our immune systems.

@zampa eurgh, tax returns. I always procrastinate till the last minute. Not my forte!

Sakura03 · 21/01/2018 12:12

xxrealistmumxx I didn't get more sleep, I literally laid down and he woke up and was ready to play, hard to resist his big smile - so he's forgiven and I got roughly 5 hrs broken sleep. Instead I made myself a nice cup of coffee and some toast. Tesco delivery has just been so I've got some healthy snacks for next week but I'm sure I'll have a few treats inbetween too but as long as I'm cutting down on siger then I'm happy😊 it's bloody hard though...

xxrealistmumxx · 21/01/2018 13:16

sakura03 it''s really hard to cut down on sugar when we're sleep deprived - the body automatically sends signals for the most easily usable fuel to keep it going so we're fighting against a biological urge! Eating often can help. What have you got to snack on? Dried fruits help me and I try to eat more protein too. I'm a big foodie but also into good nutrition, though I love cake, chocolate and biscuits too and definitely don't believe in deprivation!

Original poster
Jellybean2017 · 21/01/2018 14:01

We took DS swimming for first time this morning #moststressfulexperienceofmylife
And it's snowing. And he hated the pool. Home now, he is asleep (on me) and I have a cuppa with caramel waffles to keep me going while DH cooks a roast dinner which I will have to eat with a spoon 🙈 #mumlife 😂

OP posts:
Meepmoop · 21/01/2018 14:13

I really need to cut the sugar as well! Biscuits are my downfall, I always need to eat the whole packet

Just had the longest shower using all my fancy stuff and even shaved my legs! Feeling fancy. Off to the in laws shortly for a roast.

xxrealistmumxx · 21/01/2018 15:12

Me too meepmoop it's the crunch! Although easier to devour the pack when dunked in tea....yum!

Oh no jellybean2017 hope you're not all too traumatised. Swimming sounds lovely but with my other two it didn't start to feel fun until they were much older so we didn't go much when they were babies. Plus I hate cold water and the pools round here are never warm enough for me. Enjoy your roast - being a mum forces us to be ambidextrous!

WhoAteAllthePercyPigs · 21/01/2018 15:57

Afternoon all! Meant to post earlier but was trying to avoid screen time last night.

Not a great night as restless from 1.30am. But DH took him for a couple of hours early morning so I got extra sleep. DH woke up at 4 and couldn't get back to sleep so he's very grumpy today. I took pity on him and took both DV out to a local farm museum thinking that DD could run around as it gas nice big corridors and ramps and a good sensory play room. That backfired when it started to snow heavily as soon as we got there, so we had to cut our visit short as I didn't want to get stranded! Now lying down with DS asleep on me. Tv on for DD...sometimes it's just needs must!

Know what you all mean about cutting down sugar. It's my downfall! I'm trying to cut down but also going easy on myself- it's all about survival right now. Plus I'm not drinking alcohol so I gotta make up the lost calories Grin

actino · 21/01/2018 16:25

Yeah now that my birthday is past I have to cut down on sugar. I just went to the shop and didn't replace the biscuits that we just finished and also didn't buy any more wine (I'm an 'if it's there I'll have a glass' kinda person).

UtterlyConfused111 · 21/01/2018 17:08

I love biscuits :-)
I need to make 10 pounds of pregnancy weight...

Sakura03 · 21/01/2018 17:38

xxrealistmumxx I’ve got carrots, cucumber and peppers that I’m going to prep in a minute (cut into sticks and placed in fridges for tomorrow to dip in hummus), quorn mini eggs and nakd bars. I’ve bought whole meal wraps that I can fill with falafel and salad stuff. I’ve got some smoked salmon too with can go with the wraps or with some rye bread. Oh and I’ve bought some skyr yoghurts - apparently higher in protein than normal yoghurts and some apples and bananas. I nearly forgot to mention my avocados, love avocados on whole meal toast with a bit of pepper and lemon juice, can you tell I’ve just had my food delivery😊
What a weather we’ve had today, snow turned into rain but by 3 pm I had to get outside for a bit of fresh air, ds hadn’t slept much all day just catnapped, so took him out in the pram and myself dressed in wet gear. We walked for 1.5 hours (picked up a hot chocolate at a local cafe after an hour’s walk, lovely😉). Ds fell asleep the minute we got outside and he is still asleep 2.5 hours later, good boy!
Hope you’ve all had a nice Sunday despite being tired, at least some of you have had roast dinners cooked for you😊 I bought a beef, Stilton and ale at the local marked last weekend, so that’s what we’re having with mash and veg.

Sakura03 · 21/01/2018 17:42

Okay.. I’m not prepping so much veg that it needs to go into “fridges” and... we just have one fridge like most people do. The beef thing is a pie.... I really must remember to proofread before posting...

Any other ideas for snacks?

Original poster
Jellybean2017 · 21/01/2018 17:44

Ooo sakura your snacks sound healthy... I got flapjacks, chocolate, Danish waffles, biscuits.. Whoops! Maybe next week 😂 roast duck was lovely. We have a fruit crumble for dessert which we are just getting round to eating. DS is asleep on the boob again so I think the swimming tired him out if nothing else! Can't believe it is Sunday night again. Weekends just fly.

OP posts:
WhoAteAllthePercyPigs · 21/01/2018 18:53

Ha ha @sakura I had an image of a huge kitchen there with your multiple fridges Smile

Sounds amazing on the healthy snack front! I do like Nakd bars, they're my go to snack for the night shift.

Just had a roast...cooked by me, oh well. Very tired household, it's quite good that DH is understanding how knackered I feel after a sleepless night! We had a good honest chat about the challenges of being parents. He was saying he's feeling very stressed- he's having a nightmare at work right now. And everything to do with DD is on him. It's hard to listen and not go 'but I'm not getting any sleep!' That's not fair though, he is such a good dad and we are 50 50 parenting- not his fault that he doesn't have boobs! It's made me realise I need to cut him some slack- we're both in this parenting gig together and finding it a struggle.

DS asleep on me, DD getting a bath. Hoping DD can be persuaded to partake of an early night so we can get to bed early...

WhoAteAllthePercyPigs · 21/01/2018 18:55

Oh and does anyone else find that sleep deprivation makes them feel sick? I've been on and off feeling pukey at certain times during the day. Don't think it's a bug as it a been lasting a few days but doesn't result in sickness. I think my system is basically out of whack!

Tmgc123 · 21/01/2018 19:20

Well... she went into her cot quietly, down awake, and was asleep in minutes! This is day two of the Cheshire baby whisperer!

God knows what will happen tonight but that’s already good. I’m expecting it to be a slow process so not expecting miracles tonight.

UtterlyConfused111 · 21/01/2018 19:20

All this talk of food is making hungry :-)
LO had a good night last night and has been napping really well today, went down after her bath on time too.
And yet
I have this uneasy feeling that tonight is going to be another bad one because last night was good. I think she is lulling me into a sense of false security that she is turning the sleep corner

@whoateallthepercypigs
You sound really put together and empathetic and lovely and calm re DH and situation with no sleep. Well done. It’s impressive.

@actino
I am the same for wine. I was trying to resist a glass of wine the other night by using what my mil told me - same calories as half a doughnut. I resisted the wine but spent the whole night dreaming of doughnuts. I’d kill for one now...,

Taylor22 · 21/01/2018 19:24

Hi. First time posting here (I think I could've done it during the night but I don't know)
I'm the exhausted mother of a 19month old who's going to find herself out the window very very soon.

user1489931797 · 21/01/2018 19:57

At my wits end 9wks of an unhappy baby and gp's just playing at trial and error

DS been put on gaviscon for reflux which didn't really do anything and has been on Nutramigen for 2weeks due to potential CMPA and it reduced the vomiting but brought on severe constipation so then he got put on lactulose!

all I've known for the 9 weeks of DS life is an unhappy baby that won't sleep anywhere but our arms with 5/10mins a day of smiling

Now the vomiting and inconsolable crying has returned

I need sleep and rest and most importantly want my baby to be comfortable.

Do I push the GP to refer us for a paediatrician appointment?!

Catscatsandmorecats · 21/01/2018 20:18

whoateallthepercypigs Yes! I totally get to the point of near vomit at times, I am sure it is the sleep deprivation - they use it as torture for a reason.

user1489931797 yes, push push push push push.

xxrealistmumxx thanks, it really did help. Like meepmoop I treated myself and epilated then had food cooked for me at MIL's - luxury!

Both boys down by 7.45 - DS1 had a nap today and I thought it would make bedtime a nightmare but no, all good, we will wait to see if he sleeps through.

I've downloaded the no cry sleep solution, it's troubling me that other than after a night feed DS2 doesn't go down without a fight and shouting. He did used to self settle but now doesn't want to seem to miss out on whatever is going on. It is stressing me out a bit, I want both of them to go off to sleep happy and stay asleep. I'll let you all know if the advice works.

And why is it when you have a cold coughing and sneezing fits only seem to happen whilst you are trying to transfer/burp a sleepy baby?!

Original poster
Jellybean2017 · 21/01/2018 20:21

@user1489931797 definitely push for an appointment. My DS was just as you've described. We looked into reflux and cmpa, tried meds and cut dairy from my diet. Nothing ever really identified though and he has improved a lot from four months onwards. You need to put your mind at rest there's nothing wrong though so keep talking to HV and GP to get a referral. I know @AMagdalena has had similar issues too.

Ready for another night shift and he's sort of asleep but headbutting and hitting me in the boob.

OP posts:
Lallypopstick · 21/01/2018 20:32

@Tmgc123 I’m eagerly awaiting updates from you, as we’re considering sleep training soon.

@Taylor22 welcome to the thread no one wants to be on. 19 months of crap sleep sounds like hell.

yolkybokey · 21/01/2018 20:32

I felt like shit today, I can't tell if I'm ill or if it's just the sleep deprivation! I keep getting head rushes and feeling dizzy, plus I have a hacking cough.
DH looked after DS for most of the afternoon while I had a lie down...why do I feel guilty for doing this perfectly reasonable thing??

DS seems to have got the message that 7pm is bedtime! He won't go down in his cot but he will go to sleep around this time, we have had a routine of 6pm bathtime for weeks now and it seems to have finally done the trick.

He is still waking every hour wanting feeding though 🙄

UtterlyConfused111 · 21/01/2018 20:49

@user1489931797
Yes! Push push push! These GPs need to be kicked sometimes....