11 month old - Post regression exhaustion?

[Olivia199]

Hey!
Okay so this likely sounds like a bit of a FTM panic but it's been a long few weeks and I'm knackered so of course brain in overdrive..

So. My daughter has been doing really well with sleep since getting through the dreaded 8 month regression. She was having 3-4 hour wake windows, 3-3.5 hours of day sleep and 11 hours overnight. Then she hit 10 months and it all went to hell.
She has been fighting sleep like no tomorrow, averaging 30 minutes in the day (which took us a good couple of hours to even achieve!) And waking every 45 minuts to an hour overnight after a good couple of hours battling. Usually only managing a grand total of 8 interupted hours in 24...
A couple of days back though, she crawled over to a walker she's shown zero interest in, pulled herself up and walked away with it. So I'm assuming that has at least SOMETHING to do with it. Especially seeing as I'd only commented a day or so earlier that I thought she was miles off walking in any capacity. She's been off her food despite being a brilliant eater. Refusing anything that wasn't porridge. Even her favourites!
But then it all changed after the walking thing. I tried her on a puree type dinner rather than her normal "eat whatever I am having" and despite having made it clear she HATED spoon feeding before, she tanked the lot and nearly took my hand off. Then went to bed and slept 11 hours. She woke up the next morning and after an hour of being awake, went back to sleep for another hour. Then less than 2 hours after that, the same. Then an early bedtime and she slept through for 12 hours.
The following morning we were heading out about an hour and a half after waking. Popped her in the car, turn round to get bags and... she's asleep. She's never once done that. Normally we can inch a car nap out of her if we've been driving for 20-30 mins with no music on but she wakes the second the car is turned off. Had a long nap in the car and stayed asleep even when we arrived, then again, less than an hour later.. another nap. She had 4 naps yesterday. She'd been up about 2.5 hours yesterday evening when she started looking absolutely shattered. Popped her to bed and she went straight down at 6:30. It's now 7:30am and she's not up yet. I've checked on her and she's fine... just snoozing. She's also apparently back on the grub!
I guess this long ridiculous post is asking the question: "Did your little ones sleep a LOT more at the end of a sleep regression?"
I can't deny there is a little bit of me concerned she may be coming down with something.. she has slept like this before but only when she's been quite poorly!

Is this just her being totally and completely exhausted? She seems happy enough in herself between the naps. But only lasting about an hour and a half before dropping off to sleep wherever she can. Which, considering she's a baby who ONLY sleeps in her cot, is really odd.

I'm absolutely going to let her sleep as much as she needs but if anyone has any experience of their little ones taking them right up to breaking point with terrible sleep, only to U-turn and sleep all the time, would be great!

Thank you!

I haven't experienced it, where my lo has slept a lot like that. I have heard growth spurts, teething can cause extra sleeping. Also its very hot - perhaps that's causing it? Maybe heat exhaustion? Even my happy kid even without sleep, is crying at me at 1230pm to go sleep in this heat. It could be lo catching up on missed sleep. Could be cause lo isn't eating much and therfore is knackered? It's very hard to know.

No temp? Nappies OK? Wet and dirty? I would personally keep an eye on it, maybe a virus coming?

I would give a few days and perhaps book gp appointment if no red flags such as nappies, temp, rash etc.

Thank you - it's so silly because you'd think I'd be thrilled that she's catching up (and therefore, so am I!) But it's hard not to think when they swing wildly the other way. You're absolutely right, could be any of those and all of them!
I've noticed a few suspicious spots on her bottom over the last hour or so.. hoping they turn into nothing.
They really are little mysteries!
Nappies seem fine, drinking plenty and starting to eat a lot more now. Bit fractious in herself but then it's bloody hot so aren't we all! Did have a slightly elevated temp but came down without calpol. (Paddling pool joy?)
Think for now we just watch, wait and most of all... enjoy some kip!

Interestingly, my niece who has been having daily/every other day playdates with my daughter is also sleeping a huge amount all of a sudden..

I have heard right before chicken pox Los are exhausted and go off food..... ur know by tomorrow morning if chicken pox.

If your niece is like that I would go with heat exhaustion or same virus potentially

An Higher temp? Are we talking like 37.5 or much closer to 38?

She's refused her lunch and dinner but I can only assume it's the heat. I've also refused..! Yeah that's what I've been assuming, they're both just totally shattered. It was 37.9 earlier today.

Personally with that temp, I would think lo is brewing something. As refusing food...... Maybe tonsillitis? Does Los breath smell horrid? I always think its like gone off cheese almost 😆 🤣

Definitely starting to think the same.. her breath, thankfully, doesn't smell of anything. Her pee also smells fine and no sign of snuffles or ear infection. Though I'm sure something will show itself over the next few days. There was me hoping beyond hope she was just enjoying a nice catch up on her rest!
She's GUZZLING water but not so keen on anything else. Though did have a puree pouch ... the baby who, from the day she started weaning, refused anything puree and only tolerated BLW. Apparently now chewing is too much effort. Except veggie sticks. Veggie sticks are life. Briefly thought she was teething but none of the other normal signs and she is usually fairly obvious with it.
Guess we see what tomorrow brings...!

Also, sadly, no matter WHAT is going on, food and milk refusal is almost always the first sign for us. She's a brilliant eater and loves both her food and her milk but as soon as anything isn't quite right, she stops both completely.

Sounds like my lo. Decreased appetite means trouble for my lo. Though I do think weather has a lot to do with it though. In your case probably not. If accepting purees my betting would be on sore throat. We usually do yoghurts, ice cream. Mash jacket potato that sort of thing. Soft foods.

Yes keep an eye next few days. If doesn't improve i think I would take a trip to gp just to check ears and throat and such.

It's always been the way with her! Though she eats like a horse all other times so it balances out.
Yeah I think weather definitely plays a part. It's horrible!
I think you're probably right there. She's never been this interested in water either. Always fond but never clawing at the cup the second she sees it. So likely trying to sooth. Will get a "poorly baby" soft food shop in tomorrow for her.
Thank you for your replies, I really appreciate it!

Do we have the same baby?! My little one is 10 months. Refusing bottles, food and will sip water. Slept a ridiculous amount last night and having long day time naps. I'm still having to fight them to sleep on an evening but they are sooo tired from 5.30pm having only woke at 4.30.

Big brother slept nearly 16 hours last night and spent the first 3 hours of his day lay on the couch. I think it's heat exhaustion. We haven't been outside until after 6pm each day but our house is so hot.

It definitely sounds like it...! It has been crazy hot again and my house doesn't keep heat out well. Thankfully some cooler weather over the next few days! She coped really really well with the heat a couple weeks back so this surprises me. Another morning of sitting downstairs with a cuppa waiting for her to wake up. (Which, until now, has never ever been a thing thanks to her tendency to wake up at 5:30-6). She's been down 12 hours and 45 minutes so far. Totally unheard of!

So... New conundrum. She's definitely got a fever and her two suspicious spots from yesterday are now quite a few spots. About 6 on her face, 7 on her shoulders and 8 on her lower back. They do look like blistery spots but I'd have thought if she had chickenpox she'd wake up covered and it'd be glaringly obvious?! This isn't, yet, glaringly obvious.

Erm not always depends on the child, some are every inch of the lo. Some there's like 6 spots in total. More might come through yet

They really are little mysteries aren't they! She's had a bunch come up on her face now which are smaller and almost look like pimples, but with the blistery bit. She's definitely cross about them and I've kept her in just incase it does turn into something but they do look quite small to be chickenpox. She's also still totally shattered so lots of cuddles. Poor bug. Whatever it is though, it'll be much of the same in terms of gentle hugs and whatever sleep she may see fit..!