The non-sleepers are still not sleeping

[NinaMarieP]

New thread, guys!

We're still working with the sleep consultant, even though ds decided to stop getting me up for 1.5hrs a night (plus another 2 times) on the night we booked her!!!! Her main thinking is that because ds has done this long night waking since Nov, he's got sleep deprived. And because he's a good napper, he catches up in the day. We were told to do controlled crying at night which we were dreading but agreed with. He settles himself very well for naps and bedtime, but had become conditioned to patting and help in the night. We have been reinforcing his behaviour and almost disturbing him more, and it had become a habit. He had cried for 2.5hrs before with me sat next to him with just a hand in him (I was trying to support without interfering. It was a disaster) so was dreading it, but controlled crying was much better actually, think it didn't confuse him as much with me being out of the room, he went to sleep within 15mins, with timed checks, and we've only had to do it a couple of times. We're currently slaves to a routine, morning is not before 6am and aiming for 7 (we currently struggle I get beyond 5:30), 1st nap 8:30/9 for 1.5hrs max. Apparently this is an extension of night sleep, baby will do REM sleep if its soon after they got up, which is good for brain development. Second nap is 12:30/1 and up at 3:30 max. Apparently this is a nap for the body, and after lunch the body releases melatonin, which makes this a good slot for a nap. Also when they drop to one nap, this is the right sort of timing, so the morning nap will hopefully just fade away. Bedtime can be really early if naps have gone to pot, 5:30 even. 6:30 latest. Ds currently still wakes in the night but we rarely have to go in, he settles himself even if he's been sat up and chatting for 15 mins. His naps have got shorter, so presumably not catching up as much in the day. He's currently quite erratic, hard to predict how long a nap will be etc. Sleep lady reckons he's still got a sleep debt to catch up and will even out. Watch this space... Sorry this is long, sharing the info I've gleaned in case it helps anyone. She's also a fan of white noise, a comforter, and making the room as dark as possible.

Well I'd like to think the myhummy actually works.. we had a much better night. Probably one of the best in months. He woke up at his usual times but, instead of kicking off and getting into a state, he laid back down and went back to sleep before I even had chance to get off the sofa and go upstairs. So after putting him to bed at 615, I didn't have to actually go in until 130am when he did actually cry but was more of a 'just feed me the milk and go away' sort of carry on he went back down after his feed and that was that until 6am.

I'm hoping for a similar night tonight...and the next... and the next ... we'll see.

Well, Ds and DH both fast asleep, I'm exhausted but can't get to sleep. Have been in bed since 11 and just can't switch off. Bloody insomnia, as if I don't have enough problems getting enough any sleep

@mummycuddlessolveeverything I know that feeling I lie there at 1am wondering why my baby is such a bad sleeper, while she's actually asleep and I'm unable to drift off. Where on earth does she get it from...

@haypanky
Thank you for the post - it’s actually really helpful for me because my DD2 although younger than yours (6months) is currently in a very similar pattern. We are also keeping to a routine that works like clockwork during the day (first nap at 930am depending on when she woke up), and second nap after lunch at 1230ish for a couple of hours. Settles well at bedtime and for the naps. But it all goes wrong at night... last night she was up from 1am to 4am..,

Hey, haven't been on much lately. Not using my phone at night now the night feed has been dropped.

Still in the same pattern of a few wake ups on DPs nights and every fucking hour on mine.

Last night was my night off and I got a phone call before 6am because he couldn't find the dummy (I had to go crawling under the cot to retrieve it).

Naps have been all over the place, sometimes 2 hours, sometimes 30 minutes followed by moan tiredness and another 30 minutes repeated so often we don't make it out the house. Now he can stand up in his cot putting him down is an endless task of going back in and lying him down until he gives in. Fun timed!!

Thanks for posting that @Haypanky I've found it helpful for how naps should be.

I've managed to get DS to nap in his cot the past few days instead of on me and I feel like I have so much time now to do stuff.

We've got another tooth coming though so I'm dreading tonight as I just know he won't sleep.

@Haypanky my dd is in a similar routine but she is nearly 9 months. Sometimes she onl has 30 mins in the morning.

I still can't quite figure it out but I'm going with it and hopefully it's the right thing to do. If I was stuck in the house because of routine my pnd would be back with a vengeance.

Dd had a fantastic night which was SO annoying. She slept 12ish-5:30 but Dh was going in to work so his alarm was 4:30. I can't catch a break!!

Hey all! Just catching up and checking in.

Glad to hear the myhummy purchase was worth it @onone! Are they as good as everyone says they are?

After my self pitying post, we actually have had a great weekend! We were down south for a family wedding. Two nights in a hotel, all four of us. First night was awful. Both DC very unsettled after a day of travelling then an evening meal where we are way too late for DD's bedtime. Then DH went out to meet the groom for a pint, came back in just as I was finally drifting off. DD snoring loudly and talking in her sleep, then falling out of bed. DS just very unsettled. Luckily adrenalin and excitement got us through the wedding, it was an amazing day and both DC seemed to have a brilliant time and were much admired! The second night was so much better, DD was wiped out by all the running around, dancing and excitement and I think DS was affected too. So they both slept way better. Big relief!

Very tired now though. Hoping for a good night...

Hoping for a better now night for us all. Last night the only time DS slept for more than an hour the smoke alarm went off! For no reason!

Bad night already and idiot neighbour playing thumping loud music too 😰

DS fighting sleep so hard. His eyes are red from.where he's rubbing them I'd be impressed if I wasn't so bloody exhausted...

Not the best night here either. Although the myhummy has massively improved DS sleep, last night he struggled to go back down after a bottle at 130. The night before he didn't even wake for one, only his dummy, so god knows what happened last night. So I was up watching tv again until 3.

I probably could've coped but I'd had to get up at 12 to get changed.. I woke up absolutely soaked with sweat. Wtf is that all about?!

Lovely to hear you enjoyed the weekend @WhoAteAllthePercyPigs and I would recommend the myhummy. He's not sleeping through but, instead of getting up up to ten times a night and being difficult to settle, he now settles himself and wakes about 2-3 times max. Popping his dummy in or giving him water settles him straight back off though so I do think it's helped.

LO has a tummy bug

Puked his tea up all over himself and his cot at 10.30 last night and is not himself this morning. Usually he's climbing all over me from the minute he wakes but he just wanted to snuggle and he's down for his first nap after just over an hour awake. On the plus side he slept 11.15-5am without needing his dummy back!

Hope your LO is feeling better @NinaMarieP

I'm just doing bedtime feed and it's dawned on me I haven't bf DS since 1! He's had lunch after and his tea but not milk! I feel really bad but he hasn't been upset

Currently sat in the gym bar with a very nice flat white, while dh is at home with the kids thinking I'm doing aerobics... I am technically at the gym.

@NinaMarieP how's your LO doing? Hope they're ok.

Sending positive sleepy vibes to all ☺️

He has been so miserable all day.

Just fed him again and he's taking forever to fall asleep. Lots of pumps are not helping!

@Meepmoop he would have let you know if he was hungry !

Glad you had a good weekend @whoateallthepercypigs
And @meepmoop yes he would have told you if he was unhappy!
@ninamarie hope lo is feeling better

And I’m back after a few days off. Sleeping gone to pot again; up at 1am and 4am last night and on the weekend impressively up for 3 hour stretches each night in the middle of the night
Crap. I thought the light in the end of the tunnel was real. She did one 7 to 7 night last week out of the blue so I really did get lulled into a sense of....”maybe I can have my life back now”

Thanks all, I guess he would have been super angry if I had starved him.

Sorry you've had a step back @UtterlyConfused111. Being awake for 3hours must have been awful. Hopefully you'll get 7-7 again

I'm struggling to be awake this morning.

Argh typed out a long reply then lost it! Hate smartphones!

@onone like your style!
Oh no @utterlyconfused it's just awful when they lull you into that false sense of security isn't it. At least you know she can do it, she's just choosing not to! Hope you're ok.
How's your DS today @ninamarie?

Another bad night. Both DC playing up. The feel good high of the weekend has faded, it's raining here, I have a blocked milk duct again and I'm so very, very tired. Gotta keep going!

It's DS first swimming lesson today with Waterbabies. It's at 11, they are v strict about babies feeding an hour before hand (private pool so they want to avoid leakage!) Had planned it so that DS would nap from 9 till 10, quick feed then swim at 11. So naturally he woke at 530 then napped at 8 till 9! Will just have to go with it...

Soo I've learned that prune purée is very effective, 3rd poop today.

They never seem to nap to plan. Last few days we've had to be out the door so I've had to wake DS up after an hour/hour and half. Today we have more time and he's only managed 30mins. He's going to be mad later

Hi! Looking for some advice. I'm sure others on this thread have already talked about this issue and been given advice but I dont have enough time to read through the whole thread! My 12 week old twin boys (3 months in thurs) will not sleep longer than 20 mins during the day but are still tired! I'm exhausted as they've began waking for night feeds again too. Does this phase pass? Is the only option to let them CIO? help!!

Hey lovely Mummas! Looking to rant/get helpful advice from other mums in the same boat! My DS is 6 months and an awful sleeper!!! Zzzz. Saying that he has gone down to nap in his cot for nearly 2 hours now which is very unlike him... He fought it for about an hour and DH had the genius idea of gently rocking the whole cot and he went straight off and stayed asleep. Normally he naps in his pram in the day which we rock (hence the cot rocking!!) but he only ever has about 40 mins. Fingers crossed for better naps! Night time is a whole other kettle of fish though, he wakes up wanting boob, I'm pretty sure only for comfort, every hour or two. It is so draining. He went in his own room as off yesterday. And didn't sleep any better or worse really. We were Co sleeping and he was constantly waking up even though he was latching on whenever he wanted. And neither of us were getting any real sleep. Anyone have any new tips or tricks?!?

P. S the cot is not a rocking crib but just a bog standard cot that DH managed to rock. Desperate times eh!!! Haha. Anyone else do this?