Yeah I was going to suggest a reflux type thing - DD1 was exactly the same when she was a baby. So thats something to defintely get checked out. My mum always says that babies cry for a reason, even if we don't know what it is
And as for your DD1, you know we have struggled with DD1's sleep here (who is the same age as yours) and we just give her a bottle now when she wakes up, otherwise she can be awake for HOURS. We find if we give her a bottle she is more than happy to settle in her own bed again.
One of the above ladies already mentioned what I was going to lol. My DD2 had horrible silent reflux and colic together so you can imagine the outcome. With a combination of medicines it did settle down but it took until she was over 18 months old.
Get it checked asap and put your mind to rest. You're doing a great job and being sleep deprived is no small thing. xxx
My DS was a very clingy baby which was a huge shock after DD..
I wasn't a carrier fan, but had to with him because I would have had my hands free.. I used the close carrier..
Would a baby swing work, so she still has movement to help her sleep? I also found DS slept better in the bassinette in the loungeroom where he could hear me going about my day..
And you are doing a great job.. The first few weeks with a newborn and a toddler and sleep deprivation are hard! I think we try to give our older child(ren) the same amount of attention they received before the baby came along, and it is just impossible, your DD1 will adapt and won't remember this phase as a bad time..
I was also going to suggest reflux - both DD1 and DD2 were like that and it looked like reflux because they screwed their little faces up like they were in pain before waking up. Keeping DD2 upright in a HAB after a feed was an incredibly useful way to settle her and to stop the need to feed constantly. They feed to try to make themselves feel better which can add to the problem if it is reflux. We ended up having to use gaviscon for infants - it is not for tiny tiny babies though so you should probably have a chat to your GP or CHN before using it.
It's not easy dealing with an unsettled baby. You are only human and you can only do what you can do. Make sure that you take care of yourself and have some time out when you need it. Don't beat yourself up about getting angry, we have all done things like that when we are tired, overwhelmed and sleep deprived. You are doing a great job. It's not easy.
Hang onto the fact that this too shall pass. It won't go on forever.
Huge sweetie. You are not a bad mum and you are very capable, this just sounds like a very difficult stage. thinking back it was around Sheriden's age that DD was really tricky. It took a while for her to take the dummy but it worked in the end. I had to hold it in there for to get the hang of it but it helped.
Do you have a fit ball? I used to sit on that and hold DD tight against me and bounce. It would put her to sleep. Also from 4 weeks, I started to put her in the bouncer. That way I could have some hands free time. I would bounce it with my foot and she would fall asleep. I would gradually stop bouncing when she fell asleep. The bouncer had a vibration thing on it and having that little bit of movement worked. Also noise worked, she hated being in a quiet space as it would wake her up. So havingthe TV or radio on for consistent noise might help, it also drowns out any sudden noises that DD2 might make. I know putting them in a bouncer is controversial but it worked for DD and I can lend you ours if you dont have one.
I cant help with the slings as I dont own any but its lovely that some of the beautiful ladies on here have offered.
At night time, I tried to do the whole bassinette thing but it didnt really work. I ended up co-cleeping for the first 3-4mths as I actually got more sleep. I know that you dont want to do this but it doesnt have to be forever. DD went to her cot at 4.5mths and was sleeping through 12hours by 6mths.
I know how you feel, my DS was like this and it was hard enough having just him let alone an older DD! I'm gonna say reflux too, that's what DS had and after a week on medicine he was great! I found that bouncing DS on my knee really helped and being on his tummy upright on me too. If your bub does this I think that she likely has silent reflux! Have you got a bouncer? That's useful to getting them off to sleep, the bouncing somehow helps with the burning if that makes sense? We let DS sleep in our pram during the day because he could sleep upright, he loved it!
With the dummy, maybe try offering the dummy straight from boob when she's sleepy (when she's done feeding obviously) - she might be less likely to notice the difference in it and gradually get used to it enough to take it when she's awake?
I really, really hope you get some sleep soon. You are doing a fantastic job, take some deep breaths and remind yourself!
Oh gosh, I feel like we are the same person only 2 months ago for me.
My DS1 is 2 and DS2 is 3 months old now. At the beginning I found it really hard to deal with both of them and really it does get easier. We still have problems now, but mainly with my 2yr old. He is waking 3 times a night and wanting to get into our bed, so I have to drag myself out of bed and put him back in his. Or try to wake DH if the lil guy is having a feed.
DS1 still does watch a lot of t.v I have to admit but I think getting out to the park and daycare is great and more than I did when DS2 was 2 weeks old. My toddler goes to daycare 2 days a week and then the next day I don't mind if he watches T.V a lot as it really takes it out of them at DC.
I believe that the carrier would work if DD2 is quite clingy. I think the sling is a great idea. I made myself a hug a bub from using 3 meters of stretch fabric from spotlight and it cost me $20 and I made 2 out of it. I do like the hug a bub for a NB as it keeps them upright and close to your chest so they can feel your heartbeat. Maybe if she has a bit of an unsettled tummy too it may be helpful. Also great for BFeeding on the move, seems to be just in the right possie to feed them.
I have tried using every dummy around for both my kids. With DS1 I found that the Pigeon dummy in the shape of a nipple worked best, It wasn't very long either so he didn't gag on it. I would pop it in while he was in the hug a bub and his head was close to me so he didn't spit it out. I found that you just have to be super persistent with it. Even maybe expressing and giving a bottle may be easier for you and might make her take a dummy as well.
Do you wrap DS2 when you put her down for a sleep or when you have things to do. I found that when I wrapped both my DS's they calmed down so much and DS1 had bad colic and it helped him a lot.
I used a bouncer a lot too. I think the bouncing sensation calms them down too and that they both slept in there quite happily.
Well Hun just a few ideas you can think about.
You are doing great!!!!!! I was/am still dealing with the situation you are in, though DS2 is soooo much more settled than DS1 was.
I have been down a bit lately too and yelling at my toddler non stop.
You just have to think that they're not little forever and you are doing the best you can even when it doesn't feel like it. I am sure there are a lot of mums out there like you and me who are going through the same thing!
Its hard babe, but you are doing a great job.
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