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Another thing that might just be coincidence, but I started giving the kids florodix vitamin supplement in the past week and they have started sleeping better - I know a symptom of low iron is trouble sleeping. And some B vitamins might be helping too. I really have no idea, but when you have been so long without sleep any straw to grasp at will do lol
Not read all the replies, but I hear you loud and clear! That was my DS too. Up 2-3 times a night for hours at a time, me trying to get my teaching assignments sorted, DH never doing the night shift unless I had a breakdown... it is awful. I'm about ready to collapse just thinking of it. I couldn't do it with another three younger than him, don't know how you do it! You are a star. I'm also a bit jealous that you get all the sleeplessness over in one shot and I have years of it more to come.
I found the solution to our problem shortly after Easter time this year. DH was away for a week, I had a huge assignment due in and couldn't spend 2-3 hours getting Liebs to sleep, so every night was a film night in my bed (he insisted I join him at 9-10pm, but I had done some work at that point). Liebling was up until 11pm-1am all week, later than me some nights, Nursery for 8am and the most well-behaved he has been for ages.
So we moved bedtime back an hour. He tells us he's tired before bedtime and puts his own pyjamas on. I read him a story at 8pm (he is welcome to get into his bed and "read" to himself before then), put on his "singy" (a Fisherprice lights and music toy that plays for 15 minutes) and he goes off by himself. At first I had to go in and re-settle and it took him an hour, now he's asleep in about 10 minutes. He sleeps through a lot more now too. We've just come back from my mother's house, where he doesn't go to sleep so easily and is indulged (ie juice after lights out, food at 4am if he feels peckish...) but home, straight back to routine.
Just scrap everything I said.
Back to having DD up screaming for an hour or so at 1am and last night DS was up 3 times before getting up for the day at 4am :(
Haven't read the other replies but just wanted to send some hugs your way :hug:
You're not crap parents - some kids just have trouble sleeping, and it sucks!
The important thing is you're considering getting help which is the right thing for your family, so good on you.
Hang in there and let us know how it all goes :hug:
Oh Mel :(
It's not your fault babe, some kids are just nit good sleepers. I can't imagine how exhausted you and C must be.
You have been given some fantastic advice... Haven't read all the posts as my eyes are a bit tired, so I'm sorry if I am repeating.
Going to add what we did with MJ at a similar age, who still walks 2-3 times a week now (3 1/2) but was several times a night until she was 3...
Biggest thing that helped was explaining to her, during daylight hours, what she was doing, how it was making us so very tired and what we would like her to do.
This actually had quite a big impact and she was better after us repeating the same thing to her a few days in a row. We also said that while we don't mind getting up to her, it is not ok for us to be spending loads of time in there, or going back in every 5 mins... so if she wakes, we will come in, sort out the problem (cuddle kiss, warm wheatbag up etc) and then we were going out... I would put on either som 'laxing' music or a story cd for her to listen to quietly.
We also have butterflies in her room and a ornament of a house. I told her that the fairies live in the house and they and the butterflies come out and kiss her whenever are sleeping, sprinkling fairy dust over her (the sleep in her eyes in the morning is the left over dust) to give her nice dreams.
We also made a Massive fuss if she slept well or went back to sleep quickly, telling her how happy she made mummy.
Just because you don't see a cmhn, doesnt mean you can't access one, maybe give your local centre a call and have a chat to start with.
:hug: I think your amazing x
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*yawn*
Night before last she slept through. All night. In her own bed.
Last night she was awake when we went to bed (round 11pm) and still awake at 5am. DH put her on a mattress next to our bed and all night she would whinge "pat me.. pat me"
I'm surprised she never woke up the baby! I'm going to make an appointment with our GP and see what they say, then the mchn if they can't help. Not going to walker house cos they use CIO methods and if she is doing it because she is scared or needs reassurance, I don't think leaving her alone to scream is going to help.
Yesterday I had heart palpitations, think it was from too much coffee. Better lay off it today..lol
Oh Mel,
Thats terrible, yep there are def sleep issues there and you probably have tried everything.
:hug: take care of yourself hun
Skimmed through the other replies and don't think it has been mentioned, but ask your GP about melatonin (the hormone responsible for controlling circadian rhythm). It worked for one of the girls in my baby buddies group - reset her DS's body clock.
Just checking up to see if you ended up seeing anyone?
Been thinking of u
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Thanks SJ :hug:
Haven't seen anyone yet, waiting for DH to get paid (which is tomorrow) :)
MNB - just wanted to send you a hug. DD1 here is a shocker sleepwise still at 5yo and like a few PP's we have tried pretty much everything and nothing has worked worked long term. Things have improved with time but she still gets up and in with us. This has been the best option as we all get more sleep overall.
I am convinced it is just how they are as DD2 was coslept, demand fed and all the things you could think would generate some separation issues but she is an infinitely better sleeper.
We were going to give yoga/meditation a go next term...maybe that will help?
:hug:
Just dropping by to give you some love !
xoxo
There is no way on earth that you are a bad mother or have bad parenting skills! Tired, yes. I haven't read all the replies so this may have already been said. Have you tried cutting her day sleep down or putting her to bed a bit later? If the mattress on the floor in your room is working, stick with it. When she asks to be patted say a stern no! and if she continues tell her that she will have to sleep in her own room. It may mean that you have to take her out and put her in her own room and she will probably scream and wake the others up but hopefully she will know that you aren't going to muck about and if she wants to sleep in your room it is on your terms. Now I sound like a horrid, grumpy old aunty...lol. Love you lots little miss. Hope you guys get some sleep soon
Hey mate, I haven't read all the replies. I really feel for you :hug: The lack of sleep wouldn't be doing any of you any good, especially not DD1.
I was actually speaking to the CHN last week about the fact that DS is waking 3-4 times a night (and usually the midnight wake up we battle for an hour or 2 to get him back to sleep) The CHN actually suggested maybe we talk to the GP about medicating him for a few nights to get his sleep cycles back into some form of normality. I was actually quite shocked intitially that the CHN suggested that for a 12 month old. But I'm telling you, if it continues for an extended period of time I'll at least be talking to the GP about it.
How did you go this week?
Been thinking of you :hug:
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:hug: I have no wise words for you hun. You know my kids have the same sorts of issues. Though they do sleep more than 7hours. That is such a small amount for a 3yr old.
This is partly why I'm reluctant to get any kind of professional help. If I fix one, I still have the other two to deal with anyway, plus I must be doing something wrong for the 3 of them to all be such terrible sleepers. Until I can work out what that is, they will continue to be terrible sleepers!:
I hope you can work it out babe, I know how torturous and damaging to relationships lack of sleep can be :(
ETA have you thought about allergies or sensitivities to additives ect? I think DS1 is probably sensitive to additives and all 3 to dairy, though to be honest I have been too lazy to try to fix it because it's so much effort, and I'm so tired, lol! I should go to an allergist or naturopath or something, though they cost money too, which we don't really have right now....
darl have you tried magnesium and rescure remedy night?? we found it helped
^i was also going to suggest Braurers Calm which is homeopathic. we found this helped
How's it all going? any improvement?