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Help please

3 replies

Duggeeismysaviour · 10/02/2020 09:42

I can't believe I'm back on this board again, having been on it Terry years ago for ds1(who is now fine!!).

Basically my dc2, at 12 weeks is a nightmare to get to sleep in the daytime, and at bedtime.

She only reliably sleeps in arms. I swaddle her as she goes berserk trying to chew hands... And can do this for ages, getting more abc more wound up. She has rejected a dummy despite numerous attempts.

She sometimes sleeps in carrier but not always.

She sometimes sleeps during breastfeeding but not always, sometimes she is so full up it makes her more distressed, but she just had to suck on something.

I watch for sleepy cues and try to get her down ASAP, when I do that she will go down easily enough bit it's exhausting for me as usually after an hour of awake time only... and not sustainable as my toddler needs time and attention and we have to leave the house!!

I cant see how I will manage to get her to nap in cot ie patting, persisting with a routine... with toddler at home all day I simply do not have the time this time around and don't want her screaming while he is trying to eat, sleep etc. I can't just disappear off upstairs for hours trying to sort her sleep out.

I'm at a loss, I feel almost sick at the thought of how I'm going to get her to nap each day, it's all consuming. If she doesn't sleep she's a hysterical mess. My arms ache from holding her, I'm getting migraines more often. Honestly if there was a good way of consistently getting her to sleep, I would do it, I would do whatever it took. Eg if she only slept in carrier, I'd do it every time and get on with it.

I feel so desperate. I have lots of family help but it's not every day, and each day feels worse than the last.

Sorry this isn't making much sense. I'm so tired (as is everyone on this board!!).

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Timbob33 · 10/02/2020 19:54

Have you tried the pram? My DD was similar (had to breastfed to sleep, woke as soon as I put her down etc) so I started going for daily walks for at least one of her naps. Fresh air and motion worked a treat. She fell asleep peacefully and quickly. Then I'd just wheel her into the utility room when we got home and she'd nap there. She ended up having all of her naps in the pram until she dropped them completely at 2.5 years. People used to say 'that must be awful, walking her to sleep every day' but I loved it. Exercise for me, fresh air and sleep for her. Plus, when we went out for the day, we didn't have to worry about getting home for naps in the cot. We just took the pram. It was complete freedom! It also made it easy for others to get her to sleep when I wasn't around - she didn't really care who was pushing the pushchair.

How old is your toddler? If he's unable to walk fast/far, could you get a double pushchair. We bought a cheap second hand one with chair one side, carry cot the other when my DS was born as my DD was too young to walk far. And yes, he too had most of his naps in the pram! There was even a time when they napped in the pram together - side by side! Bliss!!

Worth a try?

Duggeeismysaviour · 10/02/2020 21:06

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Happily I do have a double buggy but that's not the one she stays asleep in once home as its a small carrycot... But maybe I will try the single pram and buggy board combo. I did feel hopeful today when it was light at 430, that it will be doable to leave the house in the afternoon for a walk too. I'll give it a go!

OP posts:
Timbob33 · 13/02/2020 08:16

Great that you have a buggy board! And yes it is tricky with the lack of daylight, but nights are slowly getting lighter thank goodness! I hope the pram works, but remember that all can change from week to week given your dc2 is only 12 weeks.

Good luck!!

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