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So exhausted

6 replies

mummaliketoeat · 31/07/2020 09:47

My LO is 5 1/2 months and I love her to pieces. She really is the light of my life and I don't know how I ever lived without her previously!!
But my god... I am exhausted. She is waking every 3-4 hours at night time for feeds and I just feel like I can't go on like this. I don't know what to change
So at the moment, night time routine is she has some food (we've started weaning early) about 5pm, then bath and bed time followed by milk, usually down around 6:30pm
The lack of sleep is just wearing me down, and I don't fall asleep easily either. Normally takes me a few hours as I have so much on my mind...
I'm becoming less tolerable to everything and it's just not fair on my baby girl for me to be grumpy and tired as she picks up on this too!
I'm at a loss of what to change, but I feel like I'm doing everything wrong as I've googled and said that babies should be sleeping through the night now...
Any thoughts/tips much appreciated x

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Thornhill58 · 31/07/2020 09:57

She is very young not even 6 months old. Unfortunately most of us live exhausted for a long time. I used to force myself to rest during naps. It is a struggle.

PlinkPlink · 31/07/2020 10:22

No no no no no no.

Don't read that shash about how children should be sleeping through the night.

They don't. And before someone comes on here and says "Oh mine slept right through the night by the time they were 3 months", its not usual. You were very lucky 😂

It is normal for babies to wake many times. Its normal for toddlers to wake many times. Its normal for them to wake more during development leaps, growth spurts, teething, upset stomachs, illness, immunisations, anxiety, bad dreams, changes in the house. And a whole myriad of other things.

My first born still does not sleep through the night. He's 3. But he will eventually.

My second born (currently napping on me) is 5 weeks old. She sleeps very well. Wakes fully maybe once a night.

Co-sleeping saved my sanity with DS. He refused to sleep on his own. He refused to sleep in his moses basket. I caved and tried sleep training. Worst 6 weeks of my life - just made everyone miserable.

I highly recommend reading Sarah Ockwell Smith's Gentle Sleep book. Totally non judgmental. Very gentle approach. She explains the sleep of infants and things you can try to get them to sleep longer. She is my go-to for all things child related.

I wish you all the luck in the world for finding something that works for you. For us, it was white noise and co-sleeping.

mummaliketoeat · 31/07/2020 11:02

Thanks so much @PlinkPlink Smile x

OP posts:
Yesterdayforgotten · 31/07/2020 11:05

I'm so sorry OP I have a baby and a toddler so cant nap when baby naps as toddler doesnt take a nap! It is tiring and can last a long time depending on the child and how good a sleeper they are. Be kind to yourself and just set small things to do each day. This will pass and you will sleep again.

Yesterdayforgotten · 31/07/2020 11:08

Oh and I hate that sleep when baby sleeps advice because my first never napped for more than 30 mins at a time. Def use the time to rest though and have a cup of tea as even that helps alittle.

Hellothere19999 · 31/07/2020 11:17

My kid is 6 1/2 months old and does not sleep through.... sometimes I find giving her less food and more milk helps as once I gave her too much and she was restless all night working on a big poop 🤦🏻‍♀️ Honestly, it’s different every day, her new thing is to only have one wake up but then at 4.30 be AWAKE. I keep her in the bed with me and let her have a roll around and tire herself out so we can nap again from around 5.30-8. I really think every baby is different and you have to figure out what works for you..... maybe a later bedtime? An extra bottle during the day? Lots of rolling around to tire them out? It’s really tough but everyday you’re closer to a baby that sleeps through and then you’ll probably miss the cuddles! That’s what helps me anyway hahaha. She once randomly slept through and I still woke up and then I kind of missed her 🤷🏻‍♀️

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