I just wanted to say that my 13 month old STILL wakes up every 2 hours (a good stretch) it's soooo exhausting and nothing is worse then when they decide they don't want to go back to sleep (eg last night when he was awake for 1.5hrs at 1am!!!!!). So unfortunately I can't offer any assistance, my son has always always always resisted sleep from day 1. A breastfeed is the only way to resettle at night, and the only way he will initially go to sleep is by being rocked to music in his hammock (we have one that is suitable til 3 years old). So unfortunately I really dont have any advice but I just wanted to say that I really really feel for you. Hopefully it could be teething or something (we always hope for an explanation lol). All the best hun.... Stay strong you're doing so well!!!!
Thanks Danni It's funny, but after a night of waking every 50 minutes, when she changes back to waking every two hours it feels fabulous, like I'm getting so much rest! Lol.
When DD is in her own bed, DH always wakes as soon as she starts to stir - I sleep through that part and wake when she's actually awake. So last night DH woke up when she first started stirring and decided to let me sleep and see if he could help. I woke up an hour later to him rocking her and playing her seahorse (like a glow worm that usually helps her sleep). The poor guy had spent an hour trying to get her back to sleep!! I felt awful that I'd slept through the whole thing and told him he should have woken me when it didn't work. He said she spent a fair bit of time trying to talk to me, making her 'hello' noise, so he'd move so she couldn't see me and she'd twist around yelling out the 'hello' noise. She'd start to drift off, then force herself awake again. Then when I started moving and waking up she got really excited and started again with yelling the 'hello' noise lol. I ended up feeding her back to sleep. This morning DH said thinking back on it, it didn't feel like an hour and remembering her trying to get my attention was actually pretty funny. Poor buggers!
Just a perspective from the other side - my son could not go to sleep on his own until over 2 and was a very frequent waker in the first 18 months. But.... now he's a joy to put to bed. Honestly, some days, it's the easiest thing we do all day. It all passes in time. Being there for them now, when they need you, is worth it. It's hard right now - I know! - but right now you are helping them develop the ability to self soothe by building their sense of security and wellbeing.
Being there does not mean mum has to do 100% - that's physically not possible a lot of the time, so it's important to make sure you have several adult helpers and get time to yourself as well.
I'm hoping to be in the same position in a few years time MadB! Right now I know she needs help to get to sleep, and from day one she's been fed, rocked, sung to, whatever she needs. During the day she's so easy to get to sleep - if I'm not available DH will rock her and sing to her or play the seahorse, or take her for a walk in the pram in the back paddock. It's just at night, she needs to feed every single time, no matter how long since last time. We tried just a couple of times to see if she'd go to sleep during the night other ways, but it looks like feeding to sleep is it for now. Not that it's actually feeding, she just holds my nipple in her mouth and is asleep in no time. That's fine, if that's what she needs then that's what we'll do. Like they say, this time will be so short and she won't want to snuggle up to me like that forever
Has it got any better?
DS2 never liked a dummee either. I hate to say it but I still get called into his room most nights. I wake to hear "Mummy I need you" and hes just checking I'll come, making himself feel secure I guess.
Hope you have better luck then me
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It's funny, but after a night of waking every 50 minutes, when she changes back to waking every two hours it feels fabulous, like I'm getting so much rest! Lol.
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