Help...I need sleep!

[Janie]

Simone, I'll look forward to any replies you get, I'm in a similar boat! Can't help you hun, but here's a hug of understanding

ETA Okay similar, but I AM NOT PG!

[monnie]

Yep...I can relate too!

My DS is a little younger, but pretty much since 4 months he hasn't slept for longer than 2-3 hours at a time. Previous to that he was sleeping for 8-10 hours! It started with teething and now I just think it's a pattern we've got into where he is feeding 3 (or more) times in the night.

I just rang a helpline for advice...this is what they advised me to do...

For the next 3 nights, to sleep in the same room as him and when I hear him stir (before he gets into a full on cry and awake), to try and settle him. If I need to pick him up, then do that, but the aim is to try and get him back to sleep with as little 'optional extras' as possible...trying to reduce the number of feeds if I can.

She said "if it's not a problem for you, you don't need to change anything...but if it's having a negative impact on the family, then you should look at changing things"

So...I'll give it a try...she said it might be a tough couple of nights...but to hang in there!

We'll see!

[shorty]

Sorry ladies, but im glad others are in the same boat

I have been thinking of trying the 'cry' option but he works himself up so much. Oh and he sleeps in the same room as dp and i, in his cot at the end of our bed(we live in a granny flat) so he knows i have no other option than to pick him up.

[Janie]

Ummm, Simone, I was at the end of my tether and tried the 'cry' option which I had always sworn I'd never do. Well my instincts were right, it made things soooooooooo much worse, sent the day time stuff out of whack too. So I've abandoned it now, and am trying other, gentler methods. Can't go back to pacing the floor though, my back and arms can't handle it!

ETA Monnie, it just might work. I find that if I get to DS before he really *knows* he's awake, I've got a much better chance of settling him quickly, without boob, or cosleeping.

[Meluchja]

Shorty, have you tried giving him warm water instead of BM? I know what DD tried to get into a habit of waking for a feed during the night again, I started to give her water, and it only took her a coulple of nights to realise that water isn't worth waking up for.