Leg thrasher/thumper

[Dominae77]

My 15 week old DS, now for some reason whenever he is trying to get off to sleep or even whilst sleeping will constantly fidget and lift both legs and slam them back down on the matress. He can often be doing this for around an hour in his sleep before waking for a feed too.

He sleeps in his Moses basket right next to me and it's so noisy that I just can't sleep through it. it is EXHAUSTING, TBH he usually ends up upsetting himself and crying.

I've resorted to sitting at the edge of my bed and putting my leg across and just above his midriff to try and stop him thumping his legs and this does seem to calm him down until he eventually drifts off peacefully. But this can't be a permanent solution.

He used to just have his feed and settle back down almost instantly.

Might just add it's not just night be does this he does it during the day too during naps.

Does anyone else have a babe that does this could do with some advice please.

Thanks

I had one. She grew out of it but it was loud. Sleep sack and a soft surface. So at least she did they cold.

Move him away ? Put him in another room ? Mine were sleeping in their own rooms by about 12 weeks - it worked fine. There isn't any rule that says they have to be right next to you all the time.

There isn't any rule that says they have to be right next to you all the time.

There is a recommendation actually!

Aw this takes me back, I had a leg thumper from birth. The poor lady next to me in the post labour ward commented about it after a long sleepless night!

Wide awake with my leg thumper. She managed to thump herself 180 degrees around the crib, v confused when I finally turned on the nightlight to see if she was awake or not. (If she's not crying or grizzling I just put a pillow over my head to tune out the thumping.)

My DD does this to soothe herself. Ear plugs and leave her to it!

I've been awake for two FUCKING hours with my six week old who jerks around like she's trying to shadow box a swarm of bees. This isn't preparatory to going to sleep, this kicks off as I try and put her down/extract myself after feeding her to sleep. The second I'm not actually pinning her she's off like a mad wind-up toy. Then she gets stressed by it and cries.

I have no advice. It's driving me fucking nuts.

Six months on our son likes to go to sleep (usually in a sleep sack) by thumping for 15-20 minutes quite happily. Only seems to be at night and he looks pretty content.

He's always been one for moving around at night but other than that is a decent sleeper

This is probably his Moro reflex making itself known.... if I’m right the compulsion should go at around 6 months.

I’ve had a thumper and we did a firm half swaddle (so arms free) and another blanket across the legs shoved down the sides of the cot and tucked under the mattress (I hope you’ve got a room fan as this is challenging in this weather).

I’d suggest getting him into a cot sooner rather than later. You can’t really blanket their legs down effectively in a Moses.

I of course sympathize with you completely. But I have to admit the way you've written this made me chuckle. I feel you hun, it drives me bat shit crazy!!!

Reading this has just made me realise that my 10 month old has actually stopped doing it. Not sure when it stopped but I’m suddenly aware that it finally bloody has. Used to drive me insane! Sleep sack only made it worse in my experience, it would catch the air and make an even louder noise! He used to do it so hard that his snuzpod would band against the wooden frame of our bed. Sounded terrifying from downstairs! You have my sympathy. It will end eventually!