DS sleeping seems to be getting worse (and it already wasn't great!!!)

[monnie]

Felix is 11 months old.

Currently he is waking around 5 x/ night...and has a feed at 10:30pm, 2:30am and 5:30am...

He only manages about a 40 minute sleep in the morning and sometimes a 30 minute sleep in the afternoon.

Although he's my only child, I work part-time running my own private practice...and I'm finding trying to get everything done so hard...especially after all these months of sleep deprivation.

We only use gentle methods to help him to sleep...but these days, breastfeeding seems to be the only way he will re-settle...otherwise he will literally scream the house down if I don't feed him.

Also...his day feeds have increased as well...so I figure he's probably having around 8+ feeds a day (as well as 3 meals of solids)

I know babies are 'awful sleepers' and that as he is learning to talk, eat, walk, etc., he's also learning to sleep...but things seem to be getting worse rather than better.

I'm not sure what to do...I don't want BF-ing to be the only way he sleeps, but any other resettling methods, really don't seem to work.

Any ideas?

I'm going to get the 'no cry sleep solutions' (which I've read but I think I'll buy my own copy and follow it to the tee!)...would the baby or toddler version be better, given that he is coming up to being 1!

Anyway...I guess this is more a vent than anything...I'm just so tired...

[diva det]

aw monnie
so sorry that you are feeling so damm tired- it is a shocker. I had shocking sleepers as well and only got my first full nite sleep when the twins were 2 years old and that averaged 1 nite a week. Now they are 5 they both sleep soundly nearly every nite!!! Thank goodness, but it wasnt easy!

some ideas that have worked for me- sleep promotes more sleep so here we go:

*have you thought of a chiro for bubba- have had friends that swear by them esp when sleep is all out the window- really resettles them
*i loved my electric swing for during the day- would put one of my kiddies in it and they would nod off and stay nodded off for ages - you can get them that they recline so they can sleep in it
*thought about speaking to a MCHN or some other professional to perhaps look at bubs routine to see if you can modify it - perhaps his needs are changing and it needs tweeking?
*he is getting to that age that maybe he is looking for more solids- perhaps he is snacking and needs to learn to get more nutrition from solids and fill him up for longer- if he is full longer- maybe he will sleep longer- think about what types of food make us full and sleepy (wine doesnt count- lolol)
*would he settle more if you could wear he- like in a sling or a HAB- can you hire one and try it out?
* i used to put my kids in the portacot during the day to sleep- they could see me and i could see them, and they would be happier to go to sleep during the day there as they were sticky beaks!
* look at the lighting in his nursery- perhaps try and alter it.
* White noise works really well- put a radio station on low, but slightly off the channel and see if that helps- its amazing how it works

When in doubt i used to stay sane but just saying to myself - IT IS A PHASE AND I CAN GET THROUGH THIS!!!
by knowing that this wasnt going to go on forever , i could cope so much better.
just when you work the buggers out- they go and change on you!!!
take care and hang in there
odette

[monnie]

Thanks for all those great ideas Odette!

We have tried a few of them...and they did work, but only for a time...I guess that's just how it goes.

I loved the electric swing but he got too big for it at around 7 months!

We do a really consistent night time routine every night and have done since he was little...bath, book, booby!!!

He's been eating more and especially carbs at night...I was sort of hoping that would hope him get through...but alas!

I've got a HAB...and I use it on occasion...but he's not a huge fan of it...I might pull it out and try it again though!

Re. the portacot...sounds like a great idea...but Felix is such a busy body I don't think he'll go to sleep...I tried it today and it just sat upright in his cot!

Anyway...thanks for the ideas! I'm wondering if this is just a phase he's going through. His day time sleeps are down to 20 minutes at the moment...and last night he was awake from 3:30-5:00am!!!

I'm not sure what to do, except to keep saying to myself "this too will pass!!!"

Thanks for taking the time to give me great advice though!

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Have you tried homeopathy? I tried EVERYTHING with my DS and he was up in the small hours for hours sometimes. But those little pills are magic!

Other things that work for us:
sleepy classical music CDs
porridge before bedtime
taking time off - if I get stressed then DH can do it as I wind down and then I take over again... you have to be calm yourself and sometimes this is the only way to do it. Sometimes we both get stressed and DS has to cry for a few minutes while we recharge, but that's better than us screaming at him or hitting him or something similar.