Please please help. Baby waking every 30 mins

[Tiddybiddy247]

My 10 month old has always been a rubbish sleeper from 4 months. Has troubles, eczema...we ended up co sleeping from week 3. It was the only way I could get any sleep. But from 8 months old it's got a hell of a lot worse and I don't know what to do. He wakes up every 30 minutes at night. Not fully awake but just starts rubbing his head and ears and crying. He won't stop until I give him a boob. He sucks until let down and then pop off back to sleep until the next hour or 30 mins.

He wakes up any time between 5.30 and 7am. Then naps around 2 hours after waking. For about 30 mins. Next nap is midday and can be an hour or so. Then usually naps around 3, 4 or 5 for an hour and bed between 7.30 &8. It used to be more routine until 8 months.

I've tried to get him to drop a nap, and I've tried to get him to extend Naps. He only contact naps 😞
Health visitor says he is napping too much. But he falls asleep out in his pram and at home he cries for one.

He has plenty of food during the day and has a bath same time every night. Goes down happily with a boob and falls asleep easily. Then sleeps pretty solid until midnight. That's where it goes wrong 😭

Please any advice or ideas of what could be happening?

Oh my love, firstly what an amazing mum you are! You are doing so much and on such disturbed sleep. You must be absolutely exhausted.

You didn’t mention if you are ebf or if you are also doing some bottles of formula? I ask because I wonder if there is anyone who could take him for a few hours and let you get some joined up sleep?

You mention that your son will have a nap in the pram. If you keep walking, does he stay asleep? I have a six month old and his naps in his bed are anywhere between 25 mins and 90 mins. (Most are very short!) But, he will nap in the pram for 60- 120 mins as long as you keep pushing him…. Which I do, verrrrrrry slowly! I wonder if that might be a way for you to get some fresh air and to get a longer nap in for him?

Does he use a pacifier? It sounds as though sucking is a big comfort to him. That might help him at night. And the bonus, of course, is a lower SIDS risk.

Thanks for your caring words and understanding. Mumsnet can be a very unhelpful place but I appreciate your time to reply and with kindness.

My son is mainly breastfed although he has three meals a day and snacks on between. He needs a boob to sleep. It's the only time he has one. He won't let my husband put him to sleep he screams until he's sick and I always end up stepping in as I can't bare him being so upset.

He will nap in the pram but not for long..

He's never taken a pacifier either and we've tried several.

I think I've just come to the conclusion I'm going to have to suffer until he either just starts doing it one day lol or I sleep train when he's two!

Oh gosh, I would not want to leave him either if he has a preference for you putting him to sleep. When my son is upset, I think I feel more upset than him!

Maybe your lovely husband could look after him a little in the morning or in the evening so you could get a bit of a nap in? Or maybe both!

We had the 4 month sleep regression in near memory and I didn’t realise how terrible I felt until it was over and I could feel the contrast.

I do just think you are superwoman.

I know lots of people offer advice based on averages, but you know your son. He clearly still needs that third nap, so I wouldn’t worry about him taking it. You’re following his sleepy cues and his needs. I just think of the amazing good that is doing to his brain development!

Strange question, but one I think of for myself: have you managed to do anything that you enjoy recently? I think that so often gets overlooked too, and when you’re running on empty with the sleep and fun, I think it’s harder to keep going….