Children's Sleep - Natural Medicine?

[Phteven]

You could try camomile tea before bedtime or the celestial seasonings sleepy tea with valarian in it.
Maybe something with some lavender essential oils in the room or even a bit of a massage with a teeny tiny bit of lavender in the oil (you might be able to buy a lavender scented massage oil).

ETA - just saw her age. She might be a bit young for herbal teas Then again a tiny bit of camomile tea can't be worse than some of the infant medications out there.

[Teeki]

Lol Onyx, I was going to ask if the tea was for her or me! Or maybe the smells of it will help. It says for babies 6 months to 2 years (so really I shouldn't even be trying it until the 16th) to give 1ml. It seems like such a tiny amount, that I'm thinking maybe I'd be better off with the essential oil idea in the bedroom.

Thanks for all your answers. She's been asleep now for an hour & 15 minutes (yep, longer than any stretch of sleep last night!) and so I'm feeling loads better. Should have tried napping myself, but I was too angry to sleep I've worked out all my frustrations in cleaning and feeling better.

Skybie, it does have Belladonna in it. I've googled all of the ingredients, and they're all plants. Chamomile is included in it. I think this is kind of the next step from Brauer's Calm, it's brand new. My friend works at Brauers, and after they've tested their new products they put a pile out on a 'grab table' so she's gotten a whole pile of this for free. But if the Brauer's Calm didn't do anything, I don't see why this would be so much better. Still reckon the essential oils might be better as a first step.

ZF, we have a pretty good bedtime routine that's been the same since she was tiny. Bath time at 6, then we go to the bedroom where it's quiet and dim and I read her a book then feed to sleep. I just don't know why she's waking again only an hour later! We have a thermometer in the room and she's dressed right for the temperature. Last night I checked her chest and back and she felt perfect.

We can't seem to get co-sleeping to work unless she's already super tired. She will only sleep in our bed if she has her head on my arm and is lying on her side facing me. I don't understand it, but if she lies any other way she fusses around. I put her like that and she falls straight to sleep! But then her head and my arm get sweaty, so I try gently putting her head on the mattress while she's asleep, and she starts crying. That's why she was only in bed til 4 and not longer, after 4 she wouldn't sleep at all in our bed and did then next 50 minutes in her cot.

I don't know if her teeth can still be causing problems? The first two bottom ones came through last week, but they've well and truly broken through and she's been happy during the day.

Thanks again for your answers.

ETA: She just woke up after sleeping for an hour and a half, smiled up at me from her hammock and made me just burst into tears for feeling so awful earlier Stupid sleep deprived emotions!

[wrena]

Sleep deprivation is so tough! Homeopathy uses minute doses, so it should definitely be safe but maybe not effective. It might sound a bit weird, but have you taken your DD to see a paediatric osteopath or chiropractor? It worked wonders for my DD who literally went from waking every 45 mins to sleeping 10 hours straight! Lots of friends have had similar results. Good luck!

[Teeki]

I've been recommended to see a chiropractor a few times now (as DD will only feed on one side) but have never gotten around to it. Now I'm thinking we should probably book her in sooner rather than later.

[onthefly]

Given the feeding thing I'd try chiro or osteo, yeah.
Just try to be realistic with her and yourself - it is really hard and you do need a break sometimes. Working around it is often more effective. so doing whatever you can to maximise sleep - bedshare, nap during the day, forget about housework, sleep ins on the weekend, etc,etc
in a couple of year's time you'll look back and think, oh yeah, that wasn't so bad really

[Teeki]

She's booked in for the chiro on Friday morning. I wasn't expecting to be able to get in so soon but they've had a cancellation!

DH is really stepping up and helping when he can, but he's got to function at work and does maintenance on big machinery so I'd rather not have him too exhausted. I've cried it out this morning (even cried about breaking a knife in my failed Rocky Road lol) and feel loads better. Tomorrow & Thurs we have no plans, so I think we'll just take it easy and sleep when we can.

I think it's worse because she used to sleep through. It's worse knowing that she's done it plenty of times, and I remember how rested I felt! I don't know if maybe this had been the norm all along I'd just be used to it and just get by. But remembering what it used to be like... Oh well. But we'll get by, it won't be forever And hopefully the chiropractor can help us out.