6 month old still waking twice a night... arrhh

[time4tea]

my DS2 settles to sleep pretty well but wakes twice a night (usually around 1-3am and then again 4-5am) given that my day starts at 6.30 with 3 year old DS1 without relent all day I am knackered.

He has two short naps, one after breakfast and a couple of hours around lunchtime, is generally happy. He recently switched from bf to formula, but tends to take up to 4oz several times a day rather than big drinks. he's enjoying his food and is generally happy as larry.

Don't suggest DH helps with night feeding as the bastard sleeps through the crying (at one point I got paranoid and thought that he was feigning sleep with the aim of making me unstable - really - and confronted him - I've got that sleep-deprived and deranged)so I would get woken anyway, in order to wake DH up and then negotiate with him to actually get up and make the bottle etc

really at wits end

Are you a SAHM? If so, then arrange some rest time during the day and really rest. Eg does 3 yo go to playgroup or pre-school? Or you could insist on some quiet time with 3 yo, eg just after lunch. If you make it a routine, this can work, even if 3 yo doesn't actually sleep.

Don't take it out on dh. He can't help being a man!! Accept that he's not going to do night feeds, but ask him how he's going to help you get more sleep. He could let you get an early night, for example. Once when I had a lo and a toddler, I went to bed at 7 pm. Still had to wake in the night, but it really helped the sleep deficit.

This phase won't last for ever. I thought it was depressing going to bed at 7 pm but in fact only had to do it once.

thanks for the sanity check ElasticWoman.

feel a bit frustrated at the limitations tiredness gives, to me having a bit of free time etc, but must focus on the beautiful cuddly 6monther I have and enjoy him...

gecko is 7 and ahalf months and wakes 2 to 4 times every night
I feeeeeeeel your pain, it sucks

The baby stage is all too short says she whose baby is now borrowing all her clothes and shoes .....

Oh for the time when she fitted into the crook of my elbow!

My ds is 10 months and last night woke 5 times!! I am exhausted as this is a normal night for us, so am watching this thread closely for any tips!

My lo is now 9 months old and has been a terrible sleeper. From brth to 3 months she was an hourly waker then until 7 months she woke 2 hourly. I was so tired I thought I might die....

I did try everything from cc to cooled boiled water at night, co-sleeping and so on. In the end i just got beside myself not knowing what to do for the best.

In the end i though I would just have to accept it as I certainaly couldn't change it. It actually made a lot of difference. I co-slept and BF lying on my side half asleep (I always thought I would NEVER co-sleep - baby should be in their own bed - ha!ha! How things change when you have your own baby and youre exhausted!)

My DH is lovely but not that keen at getting up to give EBM in the night. However, his shift takes over at 6am and he sorts out lo's early waking while I stay in the big double bed by myself until 8 am as he leaves for work....lovely.

Also -get those early nights in - I used to go to bed at 7pm one night a week - it did help. Also when you older child is in nursery - can you try cuddling in with your baby and napping together? My lo used to half half an hour sleep in the morning but if I cuddled in with her she would sleep 2 hours. I used to worry that I would mess up her routine by doing this but it really doesn't make a difference.

Don't listen to all those mums who are extreemly lucky to have sleepy babies - all that advice made my head spin and made me feel as if i was doing 'something' wrong as my baby wasn't sleeping well.

Remember - everything is only a phase (my new motto in life!) - they will soon get over these night wakings and sleep through. My lo is now 9 months old and sleeps from 7pm to 7am with one wake up for milk at 5am. Soooo much better!!!

Good luck - before you know it this exhausting time will soon be over!

x

Sorry - just reread your post and your bottle feeding - can you buy those ready made cartons (I know they are ridiculously expensive - but we are taking about your health here) - and keep next to the bed with a pair of scissors to open them and a ready sterilized bottle. It will save you getting up in the night to go downstairs and make up a feed.

I agree with Reesie esp the bit about dh's shift starting at 6 am. Well remember my dh putting the hoover on to lull lo back to sleep! Come to think of it that's the last time he ever used the damn thing ....

This may be obvious so I'm sorry, I give baby room temperature formula so i only need water in the bottle then just tip in the measured amount from a dispenser (buy at chemists). I'd leave baby asleep and the last person to bed (around 11.30) give the bottle withiut waking him. Be prepared to pat the baby if he stirs at the usual time.Keep bringing the time back as you get away with it!In 2 months my baby went from last bottle at 11 to the last bottle at 7. If you know they're not hungry it's easier to pat them before waking.

Lispy - how come some people warm the bottle and some don't, then?