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Tried/do everything but need HELP

24 replies

LML40 · 19/08/2021 09:03

So my LO is 5.5 months and his sleeping is becoming a real "issue" I've tried everything! I will try and break it down so as to avoid waffling on.

I solely breast feed (recently been trying him on very small bits of food, just for tastes etc.)

Each nap he is only doing 30 mins. I've tried lulling him back just before awake time so he goes into the 2nd sleep cycle, but he will only do an extra 10 mins. There has only been a handful of times in the past few months he's napped for a few hours (just one nap has been that long)

On Sunday he did 5 hours, woke for a feed once and went back to sleep for 4.

Last night he went to sleep and did 2.5, but was then up every 90 mins.

He's a baby that loves being outside. We get plenty of fresh air, he has lots of tummy time, play time etc.

He has no issue napping anywhere

Doesn't fight naps or bed time

Has had gum/teething issues which seems like from day dot. He has lots of teething rings and on occasion I'll give him calpol (I don't like relying on it too much)

He sleeps in his own room and has for the past 2 weeks as he outgrew his snuz pod.

He has been able to roll from back to front at 3 months and started to crawl at 4 months.

If I put him down on side as can no longer lay him on back as he won't sleep like that, he will sometimes roll on front by himself in his sleep and stay there, but last night even when he did that or I put him on front he woke up. I have tried to leave him to settle himself, but once he wakes up he starts crawling and "climbing" all around the cot and makes so much noise it's clear he's not going to go back.

I do feed him to sleep at bed time. We have book, bath, lullabies and feed. He goes down at 7:30/8:30 each night (depending on last nap time)

Could it be he's too cold? It's around 21/22 in his room and he has a baby grow on. I dont put a blanket on him for safety reasons and the gro bags restrict him now he's fully on the move with rolling over him etc. I do check his chest and back of neck and it is cool, but not cold! Shall I put a little vest for on underneath?

99% of the time he is wakes up happy from naps and sleep. He is a content baby who just loves playing, being around people and is a lovely little character already.

I'm so over reading all the sleep training stuff on t internet and Instagram sleep trainers as I just feel that all babies are so different and they're not robots! I've tried my best to give him a nice bedtime routine, make sure he does nap in his own room as much as possible and keep he awake time after he wakes up from his night time sleep to 1.5 hours and then the rest of the day 2 hours.

I have never put him down awake at bed time or nap, but he does sometimes wake up a little and then put his thumb in mouth and goes back. He's never had a dummy and doesn't like them.

I also want to go from breast to cup as we've recently tried a cup and he can handle that fine, but anything that is a sippy cup or with spout he doesn't like and I don't want him to then not be able to latch on to my breast.

Anyway, I feel like I have waffled on. I also don't know what I'm expecting response wise, but maybe there is somewhere out there who has a similar experience or is going through one now.

He's just done 45 mins and so I went back to bed! I just would like a few hours more 😂

OP posts:
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Chocolatebuttercream · 19/08/2021 09:08

Sorry OP it might be my own sleep-deprived brain but which bit would you like help with? The day sleep?

LML40 · 19/08/2021 09:26

@Chocolatebuttercream

Gosh, I have definitely waffled and not been specific! Sorry.

So, it's both really - he's only ever gone a few times in the night for 4/5 hours (obviously newborn doesn't count) but in the past few months and it's been well over 2 months since he's slept for more than 45 mins in the day! I can count on one hand the times he's slept for and hour or more in the day recently.

I just don't know what I'm perhaps doing wrong??

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Chocolatebuttercream · 19/08/2021 09:30

OK so I have a 3 year old and a 7 month old.

Addressing the day sleep first, have you tried taking him for a long walk? My DD1 would only sleep when being pushed so I walked for like 3 hours a day. My DD2 now never sleeps more than half an hour at a time in the day because I have DD1 as well now so I can't do the walking now.

Now the night sleep. I know it sucks but night waking is normal. DD1 never ever slept more than 2.5 hours in a stretch until I night weaned when she was 15 months. Do I don't think you can 'fix' it I'm afraid, as it isn't broken (how ever much you feel like you are! The struggle is real!)

LML40 · 19/08/2021 09:47

@Chocolatebuttercream thank you!

Yes, we walk and are out and about a lot. He loves the fresh air, flowers, trees etc. He will always sleep in pram around his nap time if we are out, but that literally still only is 30 mins.

I think I just needed someone to tell me that it's normal and that I'm not doing anything "wrong" it was just because sometimes he has slept pretty much all the time way through and then like last night and the past few nights he's been waking literally every 90 mins!

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CourtneyCox2021 · 19/08/2021 10:48

So your LO sleeps in a baby grow only? Not judging just reaffirming x

Mayhemmumma · 19/08/2021 10:54

I'd say feed him to sleep but as you put him in his cot wake him slightly enough that his eyes are open when he lays down.

But in reality the only thing I know is that it will get better it'll just feel like forever.

FATEdestiny · 19/08/2021 11:12

gro bags restrict him now he's fully on the move with rolling over him

Grobags (or any baby sleeping bag) are designed to be used right through to the toddler years.

They don't restrict your baby in any way in the cot. I'd suggest you use a sleeping bag. It's very unusual in the UK for a baby to sleep without any covers (sleeping bag etc) apart from during a heat wave. Certainly with the current UK temperatures I'd be expecting baby to be in a vest plus sleeping bag.

LML40 · 19/08/2021 11:33

@FATEdestiny @CourtneyCox2021

Ok, I'll put him in his sleeping bag I have 0.5 one, 1.5 and 2.0 also with a baby grow??

Yes, just a baby grow! 😱😱

The thing is, he slept on Sunday pretty much through in a baby grow, so not sure why on other nights he has woken up, but it could be he is cold.

So he can still roll in his sleeping bag?

I just worry so much about him getting too hot (SIDS)

I am now feeling absolutely awful thinking he's been cold 😞

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squirrelnutkins1 · 19/08/2021 11:39

A low tog one for the summer.
My babe took until 9 months to sleep more than 30 mins at a time in the day and then something just changed and now sleeps longer. I was like you out and about walking walking walking but it's like 30 mins on the dot and babe would wake! Nothing I tried worked, sometimes it just takes time.
Sorry that's probably not at all helpful ☹️

Everdreamer1990 · 19/08/2021 11:40

Don't feel awful about him feeling cold.

Yes they can still role in the sleeping bags. My 18 month old still sleeps in hers for day time naps & at bedtime & she can crawl & stand in them.

I'm dreading her trying to climb out of her cot as that will be the day we stop using them.

LML40 · 19/08/2021 11:41

@squirrelnutkins1 it's super helpful as it makes me realise I'm not alone. Thank you! ❤️

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LML40 · 19/08/2021 11:42

@Everdreamer1990 thank you! Shall I use a 0.5 tog with a baby grow?

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squirrelnutkins1 · 19/08/2021 11:48

🤍
My babe is sleeping in a short sleeve/sleeveless vest and 1.5tog sleeping bag at the mo. You know your baby best. Some babies are warmer than others. Feel baby's chest and gauge what you think

Don't feel bad, we're all constantly learning xx

LML40 · 19/08/2021 11:52

@squirrelnutkins1 thank you so much. I'll try that tonight ❤️

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Danikm151 · 19/08/2021 12:34

My son only napped for 20 minutes at a time. Now he's a little older he'll sleep for 1.5 hours and it's a miracle. he's never napped in his cot though- only night time sleeps- does sleep straight through.

He had full on fear of missing out. Don't stress about it. Think about the total sleep in a day rather than the duration of each sleep. eg a toddler needs 12-14 hours sleep in 24 hours.

Unravelling2021 · 19/08/2021 12:46

4 mth sleep regression just later X

Unravelling2021 · 19/08/2021 12:50

Just Google Xx

Tried/do everything but need HELP
CourtneyCox2021 · 19/08/2021 12:57

Definitely needs a sleeping bag - I put my LO in long sleeve vest and 1.5 tog sleeping bag from asda. She's a slightly warmer baby then most. I started with a baby grow and bag but she's too hot x

CourtneyCox2021 · 19/08/2021 13:00

Don't feel bad, I spend my life in mumsnet checking bits out. The other day I asked about first cups for 6 month old 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

LML40 · 23/08/2021 07:58

Hi all,

Since my post I've put LO in a baby grow + sleeping bag and guess what? He's slept! He's woken up once in the night and last night he woke up twice (both for feeds)! It most definitely was because he was cold (I feel awful).

Thank you to everyone who helped me! Let's hope I haven't jinxed it.

💙

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CourtneyCox2021 · 23/08/2021 11:51

🤗🤗🤗 Yah that's great news so pleased.

Don't worry about it, as HV once said to me best to be too cold then too hot. Your LO will be fine and we have all done things when we relooked at it and felt bad after x

CourtneyCox2021 · 23/08/2021 11:57

The other day popped my LO down for a nap. Usually no problems but she screamed and cryed and fought me. After 15 mins I gave up got her up changed her offered her a feed - gulped it down (she only had a feed 1 hour before) and turns out growth spurt 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️I felt so bad if only we could be mind readers x

LML40 · 23/08/2021 12:59

@CourtneyCox2021

It's all trial and error isn't it? Some days we think we've got them sussed and then they throw a curve ball! 😂😂 x

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AnonyHB · 24/08/2021 20:52

Just to jump in and say the temperature thing is definitely subjective and varies from baby to baby. My 14 month old only sleeps in a baby grow if the temp in her room is 21 or higher as I found if I put her in a vest and sleeping bag (1 tog) she gets sweaty. If temp is 20 or below she goes in the sleeping bag - trial and error!

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