Baby 7 months on Tuesday - constantly waking through the night for over a week

[LML40]

Hi,

So, my LO has never been a great sleeper, but there was a stage where he was only waking up 2 times in the night (he's breast fed). For the past week he goes down at 7:30/8 for 3 hours or so and then he's up every hour and sometimes just 20 mins. I've started to introduce food, but just for fun tastes and he doesn't seem to have any problems when it comes to poo's etc. He's very regular!

He's 7 months on Tuesday - is there some kind of regression? He's been putting everything in his mouth for as long as I can remember so was thinking maybe it's getting worse now and it's his gums/teeth?

I feed him before bed each night, but he doesn't fall asleep when doing that now, but I do have to soothe him. He goes down for naps fine and doesn't fight, but I do have to put lullaby's on and rock him a little before he goes down. Maybe I'm doing everything wrong!!!

He's not too cold or too hot either.

I'm absolutely exhausted and just yesterday my dad was diagnosed with cancer for the 2nd time so everything as it is has become so overwhelming and with no sleep it's worse than ever.

Any advice would be great!

@Tee20x @Doughnut100 @canyoutoleratethis

Where are you all from?

We definitely need to set up a little group (I have no idea how to on here???)

We're in this together. Like I said we can all take solace in the fact that we held our babies close when they needed! CIO is awful. I couldn't do it.

I'm worried about how tired I'm going to be when I go back to work, but I left mid Jan and dont go back until the end of April, so I have time and I'm not sweating it. This isn't forever!

I'm putting him in nursery 3 weeks before going back to work to ensure he is settled and I'm only around the corner instead of being in London and hour away from home! The thought of taking him to nursery as soon as I go back to work gives me nightmares, so that's the best solution for me.

I hope you're all enjoying your weekend.

I'm flying to Spain tomorrow god help me (dreading every second) but not much I can do about it, so I'll just have to suck it up!

Xx

@LML40 I'm from London. Smart move regarding putting bubba in nursery 3 weeks before you start work. We have the awkward Christmas period when mine is about to start so nursery will be closed. I think she will start properly about a week before I go back to work, and will start settling in sessions about a week before that so at least I'll be around for a while.

So much can change between now and then anyway so I'm not going to stress about it, just going to go with the flow.

Safe travels! How long will you be going for?

I live in Buckinghamshire @LML40 I think this thread is a group, it doesn't get much more complicated! But if you wanted to attract more likeminded people you could start a new thread with a more relevant title and link the thread here so we could all join.

So. Sat night we swapped sides of the bed and it was an instant improvement, she went down in two short tries each time with me feeding her then my partner settling her. No constant waking and snacking but she still only went down for 1-2 hours at a time. We thought we had cracked it! So Last night we tried her own room and it was world war 3. As soon as we realised she really was upset we went back to our room but the tone was already set and I ended up reverting back to being on her side of the bed and feeding her to sleep lying down as she just wouldn't settle otherwise. No idea where to go from here.

How is everyone else getting on?

@Doughnut100

How is everything going? Any progress?

@Tee20x

How are you? All ok? Still going with the flow?

Sorry for the massive delay in responding! Holiday was so nice, but I'm absolutely exhausted. Little one napped pretty well (ish) but the nighttime consisted of him waking every 2 hours pretty much. We got home yesterday afternoon and the night time sleep was awful. I've just tired to get him down for his first nap and failed. He's now asleep on me. Hopefully a few days he will settle back down! Two teeth started to pop through on holiday too.

I feel like I have a newborn again as I am absolutely dead on my feet.

On the upside, he was so good on the flight!

Xx

Hey,

I'm doing well thanks. Good to hear you had a nice holiday, so jealous!!

Yep, still going with the flow here. Nighttime sleep went through a patch of being better for a few days with just one wake up but now back to a few wake ups per night. Still will only nap on me though & I have to admit I'm nervous of putting her down once asleep as it means I will have to start the whole process again (lazy I know).

She's becoming more mobile now as well so don't dare leave her on the bed as if she would wake up she could roll off & she now pulls to stand using the headboard so dangerous times!

Need to invest in bed guards while I'm still co-sleeping but also need to get a cot as she's outgrown her next2me (that she never used 🥲) as at least then I could attempt to leave her to self settle etc and know that she'd be safe.

Routine is so out of sync so she's sleeping roughly 9pm-9am which is lovely for me atm but dreading having to shift it to prepare for when nursery starts :(

@Tee20x

Oh it sounds like it's not going to badly - keep doing what you're doing and definitely invest in those bed guards. I kind of wish I'd just co slept throughout, but he's in his cot now and I'm sure on holidays as he was in our room we disturbed him constantly (who knows).

When do you go back to work? To be honest, your LO may have changed by then, you know what they're like - 😂.

Today has been so full on with LO. The house is a tip, I've not eaten all day, have the most awful headache and all I want to do is go to sleep for 10 hours. He's now napping (went down at 5:50) that's another thing that stresses me out. They say 'don't let them nap past 5pm' well what do I do if he's tired. He won't go down for the night as this time and if I tried to string it out he'd start to get fussy.

He's definitely having issues with teething too!

@LML40 ha to the not letting them nap past 5pm because mine went for her nap at 5.30 and is just waking up now. So much for a 7-7 routine!!

I don't really think it matters to be fair, just whatever works for you. Is your LO still on 3 naps a day? Or transitioned two - sorry if you've said before can't remember haha.

Yes my house is a state too. Piles of clothes everywhere and the like. Always say I'll get round to folding up and putting away but it never happens.

I'm back at work in January so approaching soon. Annoying because I want to get her in her own room and sleeping in a cot as she'll be 1 by then but feel it will be too much upheaval with starting nursery as well so will probably have to wait a while longer.

Co-seeing worked really well for me and I think it's how I kept my sanity to be honest as sleep deprivation hasn't been too bad on the whole, just had rough patches when teething etc.

Is it the first two teeth your LO is cutting? As I remember when mine was teething for the first time I saw every hour! It was a terrible time and I was so happy when they came through.

Forget the house though! When baby is asleep put your feet up for some well deserved rest.

Exactly!

He's on 3 as he's only 7.5 months, so feel better still needs that extra nap, although yesterday he had 4 as his naps were so short 🙄.

I finally did it with a small glass of wine in hand (don't judge me) ha x

I think it will all work out. It's like everything, we worry so much, but in the end we just do and survive the rollercoaster of life we now live.

He slept in our bed last night and took over. It got to midnight and he was literally waking up constantly, so I thought sod it, bring him in with us as I'm sure he just needs cuddles and warmth if his teeth are hurting him.

Yes, his first few teeth. I noticed them start cutting through whilst on holiday. How long until they stop driving him mad. Do they have to be fully through?

How are you today?

Sorry for the delay! I got a new phone and for some reason all my notifications turned off.

Xx

No worries!! Since I last posted things have gone massively downhill for me. Went from 1-2 brief wake ups a night to being woken every hour!!

Think it may be her top teeth coming through because shes not even fully awake herself, kind of just half asleep crying but if I leave her will turn into full blown awake crying.

I think it depends on the baby tbh in relation to the teeth, I know with mine once the teeth had cut through the gum she was more or less fine but it's the weeks leading up to it where it's travelling through the gums where I get the wake ups and miserable behaviour.

Because I feed to sleep during the night, and she's been waking up so often, I literally feel like I'm feeding her allllll night like some kind of cow. My boobs will become deflated airbags :(

It's got so bad that I've started looking at cots now as I don't think I can go on for much longer if it's going to be like this :(

@Tee20x oh gosh! You must be exhausted! If it's any consolation I'm with you here. My LO literally woke so much last night, in the end I just put him in bed with us! I've barely slept for 2 days, so I feel your pain. We're in it together.

I've just put him down and I'm sitting it on edge as I know he's going to wake up crying very soon. I've been recommended an oil for teething that's meant to really work. It's Anbesol liquid. Worth a try maybe?

Re: feeding to sleep, I do the same. One of my udders (lol) seems to have "dried" up so I'm trying to persevere as I'm relying on one atm! My fault as I predominantly use the left.

I think that's a wise choice. I have a silver cross sleigh cot bed.It's lovely and big and the mattress is comfy and the sheets are nice and soft (although these mattresses for babies could be better, but Health and safety etc 😬🙄)

My partner is out tonight and I've told him to stay out! I can't deal with a drunk man coming back and disturbing us anymore! 😫😫

Xx

Another member of the no sleep club here, DS is nearly 10 months and he’s gone back to feeding every 2-2.5 hrs at night for about 15 mins each time (he’s always been a fast feeder so hasn’t fed that long since he was about 4 months!) as well as eating 4 huge meals a day.

I can only think it’s a growth spurt and/or teeth. He still has none but might have a look for that liquid! He wakes up screaming a really high pitched cry, like a cross between him annoyed at something and in pain.

A good night for us is probably 3-4 wake ups between 7-7, with 2 feeds in there.

Where are these babies that sleep through soundly 😩

I had the same, slept really well until 6 months then teething happened and he was awake or at least nursing on and off all night, he didn't really wake or cry but would constantly be nursing so I didn't really properly sleep. I managed to get him to nurse from both sides whilst lying on my side (coslept from birth to a year) so I basically didn't have to move at allay night! It was exhausting but gradually by a year he was sleeping through and we moved him to his own cot.

@Cotswoldmama so there is hope? You've given us gals over here a potential light at the end of the tunnel? 😂🤞🏻❤️

@MaverickDanger oh my love. I'm also with you here, don't feel you're alone.

Definitely try the liquid and we can both see whether it helps. You may need your chemist to "prescribe" it to you, but tell them that you've tried everything! Also, soak a Muslin in camomile tea and put it in the freezer for no more than 10 mins. With the excess pour in their sippy cup or whatever you use and put in fridge for LO to have later. My LO tried it today and has absolutely loved it, apparently it's meant to be great for teething babies.

I'm starting to think people who tell us their babies sleep through are liars 😂😂

Xx

@LML40 honestly I'm drained. My eyes are so heavy and I haven't even eaten yet. Could fall asleep on the spot! Had another late wake up from nap time so DD hasn't gone down for bed yet. Not too long finished eating. Ha. Need to sort out this pattern because it's not all it's cracked up to be!

@Cotswoldmama oooh what's the secret to sleeping alone in the cot :( I'm hoping DD will be one of those babies who just goes down alone one day, like a lightbulb moment type thing.

@Tee20x I feel your pain. You need to eat. Is there anything you can quickly have? You can't not eat. If I was near I'd come and bring you something 😞.

Can you adjust nap times? Would that help? There are just so many questions swirling around in our heads hey?

I've not got into bed and still anxious that LO is going to wake up just as a drift off. As I've banned my partner from coming home, I've decided after I've put LO down WHEN he wakes up (probably soon) that I'll make sure he goes down in cot again, but after that he's in with me. I don't care 😂 xx

@LML40 yes! I think that's what makes it worse, I had leftovers in the fridge waiting for me. I've just heated it up so sitting down to eat it now with baby beside me.

Yes adjusting nap times will help, but it's sort of a double edged sword. I complain when we're up at the crack of dawn but also when we wake up late so we can't win unfortunately. But will deffo have to get on it within the next few weeks.

At least you've got him in a cot! I long for the day my arms can be free and I can get bits and pieces done :(

It's so important and more so when you're breast feeding! Glad you're eating 🙌🏻

It's either finding that balance OR focusing on the wake up that you feel is the better out fo the two maybe?

He's been in his cot since he was 5 months as he outgrew his next to me and I hadn't at that point even thought about co sleeping (which I do kind of regret as do love it when he's in with me). I do feel he sleeps better in his cot that with us now though as it seems he likes his own space.

Whatever is happening now, in the end we have to remember this isn't going to be forever. We've survived this long and we will soldier on! X

@LML40 I think I'm going to order a cot and see what I can do. Though there's not really space for it. Currently living with family while looking for a house.

The market is ridiculous at the moment so it's just been really stressful. Really feel like she needs her own room now, somehow think that would help things.

She had a next2me that I bought before she was born, think she slept in it once in the early days. From birth - 4 months she would be able to be put in there sometimes for naps and she'd sleep for like 45 mins.

But after that she started refusing and would wake up whenever I put her down so I got into a cycle of not wanting to put her down as I'd just have to resettle & I was way too tired for that. Thus entered the contact naps.

But we coslept from the beginning just because it was the only way I could get some shut eye and I didn't really mind it too much. Though now I often find myself on the edge of the bed haha.

@Tee20x oh bless you, that must be so full on for you all.

I know! The market is ridiculous, we're also looking to move, but keeping our place to rent out and so I'm finding it's adding more stress to the whole process as I don't want to pay two mortgages and estate agents want a fortune to manage the place amongst other annoying issues.

Don't stress about her needing her own room for now, maybe just get a cot and make if her own that way. Do you have enough room for a decent size cot do you think? I genuinely feel it will help and then when you do finally move she will have got used to her own cot, so all there is left is for her to settle in her own room.

Ha ha! For such little things they do take up a lot of room 😂😂 xx

@LML40 it's ridiculous isn't it. I've spoken with estate agents who have said people are putting offers down without even viewing. As soon as I respond to an alert about a new property, it's already gone!

I think I may just give up for a while tbh and revisit in the new year to see if it's any better.

Yes to be fair the room is big enough for a cot, just full of junk and stuff that should really go into storage. I'll have look at cots and then rejig the room. I think I'll be getting a cotbed so at least the sides can be taken off and she will sleep in it at some point. If not now, at least it will last her a while. Unlike her unused next2me.

I wonder how long it will take for her to get settled in it. I think a part of me that has been avoiding this is also due to living with my parents. Want to cause as little disturbance as possible & a screaming baby isn't really fun times :(

& yep they outgrow stuff sooo quickly. I'm in two minds about selling some of her old bouncers/seat things but then I'm thinking I should hold onto them for a while as if circumstances allow I want to be planning for a second within the next few years.

Decisions decisions...

@Tee20x I've never known anything like it!

I saw something on Friday that I loved, so called t estate agent to arrange a viewing. It was agreed and we set a day/time ASAP! On Saturday morning it had gone, so I feel your pain. I'd definitely park it and see what the new year brings 🤞🏻🤞🏻.

Perfect! Definitely look at the silver cross cotbeds as they're lovely and good quality too.

What I would suggest is perhaps putting a few soft small comforters or teddies with your smell on. Lay them in bed next to you for a while and then put them in. Also, perhaps warm the mattress with a lavender heat pad OR hot wat
before putingw g her down in it. Keep doing little things that comfort her so it's not cold Turkey if that makes sense? It may take a while, but persevere. I also spray baby pillow mist (lavender and tangerine on the mattress before I put him down. It's meant to be soothing and the smell will become something that they will relate to bed/sleep time and reassure them they're "safe.

Ha ha! I have piles of stuff, but unfortunately I'm 40 in November, so only one bubba for me 😞 xx

@Tee20x sorry this new phone is a nightmare! Seems to freeze when I type, so sorry for the errors. I meant hot water bottle!

@LML40 ugh gutted for you. I had the same thing, saw something I loved, below budget & literally could see myself living there. In the middle of arranging a viewing and then the estate agents responses got sketchy. Found out the place had been reserved, but was told I could still visit incase the sale fell through . At this point I'm like ugh I need my own space so agreed, as you never know. No further responses.

With DD starting nursery in December and me going back to work in Jan, I think as you said it's best to park it and just go at it again at a later time when I have more get up and go.

Some really good tips there. I will try and see what I can do! Hopefully I'm able to sort something out. Right now I've managed to get her to sleep but she's in my arms. Will put her down when I'm ready to go to sleep myself & she'll probably stir but then go back off to sleep.

It's so annoying because I would love to just put her down and be able to really chill out without her on me 24/7 but too exhausted to have to resettle her again should she wake up.

One day I'll have to bite the bullet.

Millionth wake up of the night. My head is literally pounding from lack of sleep and I'm so tempted to just give up and get up for the day.

So infuriating & nothing seems to be working. Pick her up to resettle & as soon as she starts going off to sleep she wakes back up again. Ditto if I put her down and leave her to do her own thing.

After this most recent one I left her for a while to see if she could resettle herself which sometimes she can. At first I thought she was going to go off as she was moaning but more of a tired moan which was getting quieter but then escalated to full on crying & trying to pull herself closer to me.

Even had a spell where she was fully up, pulling to stand using my side 🙃. Currently sitting rocking her and losing the will to live.

Will be ordering a cot tomorrow, at least then I wouldn't be attacked by a half sleeping baby in the night.