7 month old still waking 2-3 times

[Glowz]

I'm so totally exhausted, my first child slept through from 8 weeks with the exception of the odd sleep regression or bad night when poorly but my baby just does not want to get a good night's sleep. She's not gone more than 5 hours at night since she was born which I know can be totally normal but I'm exhausted. I really can't do the cry it out method. I find it really traumatic but if that's the only way then I will have to try.

Her usual sleep schedule is
7:30-between 10:30 & 11:30 she's breastfed and falls asleep at 7:30.

She then will have 2/3/4 hours and wake up and I try just comforting, rocking, cuddling but after half an hour we give her a bottle of formula, but she's up every half hour after that but will settle with cuddles. then she's up again for the day at half 4 in the morning. We've tried another small bottle and a breastfed at this time but she's wide awake.

I'd be quite happy with a stint of 10/11pm to 5am and drop that 1/2/3am wake but it's just not happening and I don't know what else to do.

About 2 months ago we tried all the colic stuff which made no difference so. She won't take a dummy. I don't want to just feed her to sleep but my sanity is dwindling. Anyone any suggestions??

This probably isn’t what you want to hear but as live already said this is totally normal, and it’s l lately just down to baby’s temperament how they sleep, if there are no obvious red flags. Mine kept waking every 2-3 hours until he was 13 months and it sucked so much!

Why don’t you want to feed to sleep? She’s still so little and it’s still appropriate for babies this young to need feeding at night. Also usually the path of least resistance. I coslept with mine so I could feed easily and not need to get out of bed which helped so much with how I coped.

Hang in there, things will improve eventually! X

It's a normal child. Sorry. But yes it sucks.

I've was told I shouldn't feed to sleep as it creates bad habits but if she's happy then I will do it no problem. The formula helps as she was so much worse when I was just feeding her. I guess I just feel like I'm in totally unknown territory since my first slept well and still does. Like I'm a new mum!

It's normal. It's awful. You just have to survive it.

Yes normal, sorry. You were incredibly lucky with a baby that slept through from 8 weeks, most don’t do that. My 3 year old still wakes a couple of times in the higher most nights. You just have to get on with it.

Elizabeth Pantley has some ideas in her book No Cry Sleep Solutions. My 1st child was a dreadful sleeper so I sympathise. Your child's sleep might improve once the weather is warmer, children always sleep poorly if they have a cold even if it's a mild one.

I would have killed for only 2-3 times a night. All babies are different and it sounds like your first child lulled you into a false sense of security. Can your partner help do one settle when not working? There are sleep training options too, if that appeals. Otherwise keep muttering this too shall pass as it really does. Hopefully more daylight will help now too. My one who wouldn't sleep more than an hour is now much bigger and wouldn't wake up if a bomb went off next to him, so there is hope.

Just got up a second time with my 20 month old so I think your first was an amazing sleeper … definitely feed to sleep if that helps you both and remember the mantra this too shall pass