fussy sleeper.

[delphmoon]

Hi all.

DD 4months old is proving to be abit of a sleep enigma when it comes to night time sleeping. She is a restless little button and this is resulting in some trouble in getting her to sleep through the night (or longer than 3 hours for that matter).

Currently, she sleeps at night in her day rocker on her side. We are not real happy about it but it is the only place she seems to have a comfy sleep. She will sleep in the cot but will wake up within 3 hours wanting a feed and wont go back to sleep unless we put her in the rocker on her side. If I put her in the cot she will lift her legs up and down constantly and wiggle around and fidget. She doesn't appear upset at all as she often looks out the cot at us with a smile. Eventually (out of sleep deprivation) I end up putting her back in the rocker on her side and within a minute shes asleep So yes, its great that atleast she goes back to sleep but then I have to slowly, over the next hour, inch by inch, roll her onto her back because she ends up getting pressure marks on the side she is laying on if I don't ITMS?

So. After months of trying to get DD in the cot and sleeping, we have decided maybe we need to invest in a better rocker if she is so insistent on only sleeping in it. The one we have is crappy really- its really just a bouncer and is not at all suitable for long sleeps. I'm not sure if letting her sleep on her side is a good thing either but what can I do.

When we saw the MCHN she said we should start DD on solids because she is still feeding 2-3 times a night. The MCHN says solids should make a difference.

Anyway-heres my questions- any reason why DD would be soo restless when not on her side? Is it worth purchasing a hammock? Solids? Suggestions?

I am finding it all abit frustrating to be up to her constantly because of her restlessness. I feel if she wasnt soo restless she wouldnt actually wake for a feed and I could get abit of a sleep.

Anyway- sorry for you long story- any suggestions would be really appreciated...oh...and co-sleeping is out of the question. Sometimes we do but thats only out of desperation...LOL...definately not a permanent solution for us

[Phteven]

If she's only comfortable on her side it might be worth trying a chiro.

[onthefly]

My DD was extremely restless and would kick and wriggle and grunt heaps. She never seemed unhappy about it.

Maybe she's just comfy on her side? I think that's ok Can you help her to sleep on her side in the cot? (using a wedge or something, maybe?) A rocker maybe isn't a great long-term option, as you say.
don't think they can lie on their sides in a hammock?

solids. well.... 2-3 feeds a night is pretty normal for a baby that age.

[KitFaerie]

I'd probably look into other side sleeping options, but as I'm sure you know they tend to change their minds as soon as you've sorted something else out

My DS still feeds 2/3 times a night, solids at 4 months sounds a bit scary to me!

[Phteven]

DS1 woke up every 2 hours in the night until he was one. Solids made no difference at all to his sleeping patterns.

[delphmoon]

thanks guys,

I dont like to make comparisons between my girls but DD1 was sleeping through the night from 3 months of age. Maybe thats why I'm finding it son difficult?

[Disco]

Maybe try some wedges to keep her on her side in the cot? My son won't sleep on his back either. He's almost four months and wakes up too many times to count in the night so I know your pain!

[helle]

I'd try sleeping her on her belly.
I find back sleeping really unnatural tbh. Who sleeps flat on their back anyway?
And I second the chiro