No sleep... help!

[Hunni2]

My 6.5 mth DS has been waking every 1 to 2 hours for 5weeks now!!! I haven't had more than 2 hours sleep straight in all that time... :crying:what can I do????

He sleeps in a cot beside us. He has never been a great day sleeper but was good at night, always getting at least 4-5 hours in a row at night before a quick feed and back to sleep again.

We went away 5 weeks ago, for 5 days. Stayed in an apartment, he had his own snuggle bed and sleep music, but still woke every hour or 2 while away. We thought it would be back to normal once home, but no change whatsoever, in fact its worse and this week he has been waking every hour.... He sometimes feeds from me, sometimes not, sometimes just needs a rock, sometimes has a big cry, sometimes not.... I've tried in sleeping with us too and its no different. Can anyone suggest anything I can do or is it just a matter of waiting it out until he changes himself.......... :(
Shari

[tru]

I know how you feel. I too was sleep deprived for months while DS woke every couple of hours during the night.

What got me through it (and DS sleeping through!) was the wonderful nurses at the FREE sleep clinic that you can phone 24/7 and ask for help. The number in QLD is 1800 177 279. For other states just look up the Government's Health numbers and you should find something.

I rang them at 11pm, 1am, 3am, 5am, and lots of other times during the day and night when what I was doing wasn't working. They give you specific instructions according to your bubs age and routine.

Hang in there. This stage won't last forever. Best of luck to you :)

[punkbaby]

I dont really have any advice but it must be so hard on you. DS was a shocking sleeper every hour it was a nightmare as i was BF i was the only one who could give him what he wanted and that made it really hard. I found a different routine really helped rather than bathing him around 4pm preparing for bed etc i decided to make it later around 9pm at night, he would wear himself it was worth an hour of screaming in the end he would then finally settle (onthe boob more often than not) and he would sleep till around 3am it was a lifesaver, really helped me, maybe see if this can work for you :)

Is there anything significant change wise to diet etc that could affect him? Maybe try wrapping him too, that worked with mine as well :)

Doesnt hurt to speak to your gp at your next visit too sometimes an open minded approach can see somethings that we dont notice :)

Good luck i hope he sleeps for you soon

[~Emmylou~]

OMG sweetie I don't have much advice, just sympathy. I went through the same with my DS at the exact same age. I very nearly went mad from the sleep deprivation...hubby and I were at eachothers throats, poor DD copped the brunt of my delirium...it was absolutely horrible.

For the most part I ended up riding it out and by about 9 months he started to settle down again (which for him means a good stretch from 6pm until about 11pm, then waking every 3 hours or so for the rest of the night. I can function with that, but the 1-2 hour thing is utter torture, I really feel for you :hugs:

Is he breastfeeding? DS is and the one thing I noticed that seemed to help was that I stopped sticking a boob in his mouth everytime he was unsettled or whiny during the day. I think it's fine to do with a newborn/little bub but when they get to about six months it seemed to be teaching my DS to look for boobs to fix EVERYTHING...so he starting waking more and more frequently at night looking for the same. Once I stopped doing that he seemed more able to stay asleep longer at night as well.

I hope you get some sleep soon, co-sleeping didn't help us either unfortunately (I think it made him wake up even more) so I know where you're at there :(

[allysophia]

If you're practicing natural parenting, its best to generally steer away from sleep clinics, as they practice and endorse CC.

Could he be teething? Sometimes, they aren't teething, but it makes you feel better to think they are :)

Its very normal for kids not to sleep through till 2-3yrs. It gets better. Just same patience needed sometimes :)

[Hunni2]

Thanks so much for your replies. Its so nice to know others understand what this is like! It really helps. I'll try some of your suggestions and see how it goes. Last night was more of the same... one day at a time I suppose.

We have planned a trip overseas in 5 weeks time for 6 weeks to see family. I'm really anxious about it... I'll be a wreck if this keeps going over there too, but I need to be prepared for that cause its likely at this rate!!

[Jenko]

My goodness. I started a thread this afternoon that is practically identical to you. My DS is the same age and doing the exact same thing. It also started about 6 weeks ago!!

I have no advice! But I will think of you when I'm up rocking my DS back to sleep half the night...you'll probably be doing the same! ;)

Lets just hope this stage doesn't last too much longer...

[Hunni2]

My goodness. I started a thread this afternoon that is practically identical to you. My DS is the same age and doing the exact same thing. It also started about 6 weeks ago!!

I have no advice! But I will think of you when I'm up rocking my DS back to sleep half the night...you'll probably be doing the same! ;)

Lets just hope this stage doesn't last too much longer...

I'll be thinking of you too Jenko! And sending hugs :hugs: If I happen across some miracle method of cure I'll post it here for you too!! Its the hugs that get me through at the moment, and DS's giggles the next day.

[ZooKeeper]

I'm with you in sympathy too :hugs: My 2MO DD had been doing the longer night sleeps for two weeks, boy did I feel great lol she did one night before last of every 1-2 hours wanting a feed ARGH! I panicked thinking, ohno here we go again, one boob developed a rash from her bein on so much, then yesterday, I put her in the bath with me about 5pm, first time she'd shared a bath, that helped her settle for a short nap, then got her ready for bed abt 8pm and she did her long sleeps again, phew. so just hang in there and know it WILL get better eventually somehow. mebbe while visiting family there will be some you can recruit to be milk-free baby wranglers overnight for a few wakeups. also, get a good friend to come over during the day once or twice who can settle bubs or at least tolerate crying, and that way you can get one or two day naps in, I've got friends have offered this if it gets too crazy again.:fingerscrossed: it doesn't, without sleep I can't drive and get cabin fever as we're out the bush :hair:

I agree with the keep them up to the point of tiredness too, that's how we got DD to even do any long night sleeps, she was round the clock ravenous bugblatter before i tried that. also keeping her in the dim and no night play has helped heaps... mumma just had to be as boring as she felt lol.

[Hunni2]

while visiting family there will be some you can recruit to be milk-free baby wranglers overnight for a few wakeups. also, get a good friend to come over during the day once or twice who can settle bubs or at least tolerate crying, and that way you can get one or two day naps in, I've got friends have offered this if it gets too crazy again.

I agree with the keep them up to the point of tiredness too, that's how we got DD to even do any long night sleeps, she was round the clock ravenous bugblatter before i tried that. also keeping her in the dim and no night play has helped heaps... mumma just had to be as boring as she felt lol.

Thanks zookeeper for your advice -some good ideas there.

The last few days he has slept a little bit longer about 15 minutes to 1/2 hour which makes it almost 2 hours at a time!! Also, he had a 1.5 hour sleep this afternoon which is VERY out of character. Luckily it was a rare time when I laid down too, so we both had a great nap.

I'd thought I'd share what's been getting me through this week... When I go to bed I accept in a positive way that I'll be up every hour as being normal, rather than wishing, hoping, crossing fingers and praying that he would sleep and then of course being soooo disappointed.... so when he has slept a little bit more I feel like its a bonus! And I tell him what a good boy he is. Hopefully I can keep up this frame of mind... it certainly didn't seem possible last week - I thought the 'little men in the white coats' would be coming for me!!! :gloomy: :devil6: (And I think Hubby was hoping they would!!!)

[Angelbell]

You poor thing I feel so sorry for you!
I have been through this twice with both DD's
My first I had to rock to sleep and then that became a habit and had to do it every night.
She started to sleep through when she started school.
My second DD started doing the same thing so I had two children getting me up all night.:hair:
She still wakes up to 3 times a night and she is 4 years old.
My advice is to get help now if it doesn't settle as I didn't get help I ended up with PND.

My sister inlaw took her son at about the same age to a sleep doctor and he sleeps like a log from about a week after seeing the doctor.
So if I have the same problem with my new arrival this time it will be a doctors visit for sure!
I hope it settles soon and you can get some help.:fingerscrossed:

[Hunni2]

Thanks Angelbell for your support. Yes, your right.... I went to the Dr this week and he actually thinks I have PND - I'm in denial and say its just lack of sleep and I'll be right once he sleeps again. However, I did accept the referral for counselling, unfortunately can't get in for 5 weeks but I'll make sure and go, just in case. DS has never been a good sleeper, so I might be in for time like you!

I am concerned about getting help. We have a Trisillian (dunno if I spelt that right), in our area, but I've heard they just use controlled crying methods....?

[ZooKeeper]

from what I've heard of tresillian it is CC methods, but you get to catch up on sleep and get more rest generally for a few days, which can fuel you up for a while.

[Angelbell]

There is so many different ways that they can help CC and walk away method etc.
Give it a go it wouldn't hurt,and you maybe surprised how quickly it works.
The workers are there for you every step of the way.:hugs:

[LittleMissyMoo]

Hi Hunni2, my only advice is to go to www.askdrsears.com (http://www.askdrsears.com) it is my bible and its packed full of information written by pediatricians. The Dr Sears family have 8 children so they know what they're on about...plus, they endorse attachment parenting which means no CC! Hope you find it useful and it gives you and bubs some sleep :hugs:

[Hunni2]

Thanks LittleMissyMoo!