Baby won't sleep

[Brigita1996]

Hi everyone ,
It's one of the few posts I have posted. Been having a really tough time ever since birth...
my little one is 8 weeks now.
Ever since birth baby struggled to sleep. At the beginning baby would sleep only for 1 hour and used to breastfeed every 1 hour to 30 mins.
Then switched to formula feeding because my milk supply wasn't good enough . He continued to sleep for 1 hour only ane wake up . Only slept in my arms . Tried numerous things including swings, carriers , swaddles , giving bath before sleep , white noise etc but nothing has helped to increase prolonged sleeping. Now he is fighting sleep everytime. We have got suspected cows milk allergy, started new milk but nothing has improved .

Little one falls asleep , wakes up after 30 min maximum now and then cries , seems to be agitated . Then he's awake until his next feed for 2.5 hours approx and then he tries to fall asleep , yaws etc so I try rocking , placing him in his cot but then he starts to historically cry . Once he does fall asleep in my arms try to transfer him into his cot with my clothing so it smells like me but still doesn't work.
I feel so shattered and unsure what else to do ? Can anyone help ? X

Firstly, who told you your supply wasn't good enough? What made you think that?

My baby did ALL of that until about 11 weeks if I remember correctly and the. all of a sudden, she started sleeping that little bit longer, and then a lot bit longer again. Then she got into a good routine with naps so I could rest/nap at the same time.

I was almost dead. But it wasn't forever - but I know what doesn't help when you're right in the thick of it!

Best thing I found was pushing her around in the pushchair and letting her sleep in that. Then I'd bring her through the kitchen, park her next to the dishwasher mid cycle and leave her while I lay on the sofa and shut my eyes ten mins (our house is pretty small so I could see her from where I she was).

A lot of nights we'd keep her Pram in the living room and push her back and forth on the spot til she fell asleep. Or i would walk up and down the room back and forth. Then it was only early evening but I'd try and get a few hours on the sofa next to her 😆

We'd keep all the tv and lights on low or one of us go upstairs to watch a tv, or we'd read a book/ watch iPad with headphones etc

I carried this on for about a month, maybe two. Then, we managed to get her to sleep in her snuzpod. But only cus it rocked and we'd rock her to sleep.

I really would just try and sleep whenever she slept. It felt a bit crap cus i didn't get an "evening" to wind down but it really was only temporary and the extra hour here and there or sleep helped a lot

Try raising his head above stomach at all times

Towel under the cot

Helps with wind and they can burp easier and sleep longs

Do not lie them flat

I seem to remember I'd have to wait ages to attempt a transfer too. If she wasn't "deep" enough she'd crY.

We used to breastfeed. She'd fall asleep. I'd try and prop her up or keep her semi upright for as long as poss cus we think she had silent reflux. In the day I'd let her sleep on me unless I was going to try and take a nap.

At night, my husband would take her when she'd fell asleep feeding and he'd try and keep her upright then spend ages walking around or rocking her until she was in a proper "arms floppy" deep sleep before transfering.

In terms of breastfeeding , he became agitated whilst on breast and used to get hungry every 30 mins. Latch was fine although I was using nipple shields because of my nipple shape.after introducing formula he would go 2-3hours without rooting. He was also consuming 90 of formula before and I could only express with an electric pump max 30ml from both breasts. I was trying to do combining feeding but stopped because after still breastfeeding 2x a day barely anything was coming out and no longer could express anything ...

In terms of sleeping my little one was sleeping 3 hours at around 3 weeks , from then this is when max 30 mins started to happen in terms of him sleeping. And we have tried the pram , but this unfortunately didn't help either .I hope things improve like it did for you :) but I'm starting to loose hope because we've been through so much and it's not improving.
Fingers crossed it will become easier ; thank you for responding.it'a good to know that I'm not the only one x.

8 week sleep regression?

Hi @Brigita1996 congratulations on the birth of your baby.

Is he your first? Unfortunately it's common for babies to wake up regularly esp. in the first 3 months after they are born (this is often referred to as the 4th trimester).

Their tummies are so small, and they need regular feeding. They also still think they are part of you so don't like being put in a cot etc. And much prefer to sleep in your arms.

If you think there is an underlying issue then do take him to the doctors.

It may help to try and carve out a bit of structure to your day to help you and baby know what is coming next.

At night time we introduced a little routine for my first child, which we now also use for the second:

• play lullaby in phone (on YouTube), while changing nappy/clothes
• swaddle (we used these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07NB7SR71/ref=psdcmw630390311t1B0081GJ038?th=1&psc=1
• last feed
• put down
• switch white noise on (basically a fan on in the room all night)

For naps during the day with my son I used to set myself up on the sofa have water, food, tv remote etc. to hand and watch tv, Netflix etc. And hold him in my arms in my chest (I would rock him to sleep). Eventually when he was about 6 months I put him in his cot for daytime naps.

With my second child I don't have this luxury so she has had learn to nap in the pram/sling. At about 13 weeks I started putting her in her crib and do the same routine I do at night. At first she was only doing 30min sleeps, but on her own is now doing 90mins-2 hours twice a day.

They will learn to sleep like us adults eventually but these early weeks can be so so brutal. Be kind to yourself.

Oh and I should that being consistent with the routine is helpful, so they get a sense of what's coming next.

Also, don't worry about letting baby cry for a bit (people may have other views as this is often seen as controversial) but sometimes they are just grizzling and then will fall back to sleep between sleep cycles.

With my second child I couldn't always be there for her because I was helping my first child with something - she has been much quicker at learning to settle and connecting sleep cycles I think because she has been given the opportunity to practice.

@stickylicky yes he is my first :) honestly I feel so bad but after this experience I wouldn't want a second baby for sure.

And we have incorporated a routine , bath time , nap times etc. During the night we have a routine as well. He just refuses to settle. I've read that apparently 8 weeks is the peak of crying like someone suggested but it seems like he has been like this ever since birth . Hasn't improved at all...

When does it usually become better ? And will it

Oh and he usually settles for 30mins for sleep and then wakes up crying. I let him cry for a bit but he ends up turning almost blue from 2 mins of crying so I end up trying to settle him back . But it is so much trickier to settle him. I've taken him to doctors multiple times. He has been having stomach issues but doctors seem to think it's normal crying for about 8 hours and baby almost chocking from crying - despite trying to settle my little one . We've tried everything , even try to go for a walk outside multiple times as this used to settle him previously . Now that doesn't help either 😔😢rocking and lifting his head up , going for a drive is pointless.

Don't let him cry

Have you spoken to anyone about possible cow's milk protein milk allergy? This absolutely isn't normal and sounds like my first DS.

If it is CMPA, you need to try a hypoallergenic formula prescribed by a GP.

@BumbleNova yes we have visited the GP and currently having hypoallergenic formula with omeprozole as gaviscon didn't help at all...
It's been 1 day since we have had omeprozole , no changes have occurred but then I'm thinking it might be too early to see the positive outcome ?

I just don't understand why they are taking so many steps and not referring us to specialists so they can diagnose immediately with any problems he might have. It's causing too much stress for my little one

Oh and we've been on the formula for 1 week, no improvements either. I'm aware it usually takes 2 weeks apparently for the formula to have its potential early best

Hmm. Which formula? There are two different types of hypoallergenic formula. One type which is basically akin to breast milk, with partially broken down protein and the next step, formula with completely broken down protein - neocate, alfamino. Neocate is derived from coconut and my DS still reacted to it. You may not have the correct formula yet, you should see an improvement. GPs are reluctant because it's so expensive and often poorly informed on allergies.

Yes - you absolutely need a referral. I refused to leave until I had one. Is going private an option? We were seen the next day.

Have you also investigated tongue tie?

Does he like being in a sling? That used to give us both some relief.

@BumbleNova a sling is out of the question for sure. We've tried a sling , carrier , swaddling . He gets even more agitated.

We've tried sma-Althera, but it's not agreeing with him I don't think. Did you end up seeing a dietitian or a pediatrician? I was thinking of seeing a paediatric dietitian, but don't know if it's worth it.

You need a paediatrician not a dietician. Ideally an allergy specialist. If you are anywhere near Kent, Dr Bala was brilliant.

Althera is only partially broken down. Id push for a different one. We ended up with SMA alfamino.

All babies are different, mine loved the sling.

@BumbleNova did alfamino get your little ones problems sorted?

I'm based in leeds. So I'll have to look at specialists here.

Thank you so much everyone for your comments

Yes. I was combi feeding, but alfamino and cutting dairy and soya from my diet did the trick.

@Brigita1996 sounds like you are doing a great job - and meeting all your babies needs!

The sleep deprivation can be a very big shock. Do you think it's definitely milk related? Their digestive system is quite immature still (both my kids grunted and seemed upset when pooing but this gradually got better over the first 12 weeks.

Is it possible that he may be a high needs baby? I don't know much about this but I've seen it mentioned on parenting websites and mumsnet?

The crying till blue doesn't sound normal though so it's good you are in touch with doctors. When your baby does this I would try and film it so that you can show the doctors what you mean - it will be help to them if you can show exactly what your concern is about. And also to your health visitor who may be able to direct you to other potential support.

My daughter also used to cry after only 30mins sleep during the day, and sometimes during the night. After 5-10mins of rocking, soothing or change of scene she would calm down but be awake! Fine during the day - not at night though. She's only 19 weeks at the moment but I think things started to turn around at 13 weeks. She also used to have a witching hours - literally from 5-7pm she would cry and nothing would soothe her, breast, rocking, pram, white noise etc. Etc.

To cope with the sleep deprivation, if you have the space, it might be worth you and your partner doing shifts in the spare room at night so that you can have 5/6 hours of uninterrupted sleep each.

It sounds like you are doing all the right things - and doing a great job. Wishing you all the best!

A lot of babies have an underdeveloped stomach muscle. This causes acid to rise in their throats which causing the crying.

By lying him flat after a feed the acid can rise.

By keeping them upright you can prevent this.

Try it

@stickylicky first of all thank you so much your support! It really helps to stay motivated and keep going.
I'm thinking it is milk related because of the symptoms he is experiencing . Such as bringing legs up , aching his back during and after feeds, crying during those periods as well. He also clenches his fists, and passes a lot of wind. Has had undergoing diarrhoea or hard stools prior to being on cows milk based formula. He has breakouts on his chest and chin , face ( think it's hormonal) but unsure . At some points he has had sort of rash patches. And after his feeds it sounded like he had obstructed airways as well , difficulty breathing / snoring sound. Also spit up milk , sometimes came out quite a lot. So we first tried to treat reflux. But it still didn't improve the symptoms.
Me and my partner have thought he might be a high maintenance baby , after all the research but I don't think crying for such periods is normal. And with all the symptoms ?
We have also tried elevating his head , although that's not recommended. Of course did it whilst under supervision , but that doesn't even help . They say if it's reflux baby will be more content with head elevated , for us it makes no difference. So I'm just a bit puzzled because with CMA babies have rashes etc but ours hasn't been that visible to say 100%.

@stickylicky congratulations with your little bundle of joy, and well done tor getting through all of it because it certainly isn't easy xx