Please help a new mum - baby will not sleep!

pickle

You say that she gets upset when she's doing a poo and needs to suckle after. I wonder if she has a bit of colic, have you tried infacol or something before feeding? She's at the right age to be getting it.

JoJoB

Oh poor you! I too had problems with my DD being a "cot-refuser", and I went down the co-sleeping route which ultimately saved my sanity. Luckily our bed is low on the floor so I just put two cot-bed mattresses on top of one another next to my bed so I still had room to stretch out but was next to her for cuddles in the night. Over the next few months I realised that even if I had managed to get her in the cot "habit" there would have been so many interruptions to this (from teething to colds to growth spurts) that it was still easier to have her sleep next to me. You find that suddenly you think you have cracked it and you 3 month old is sleeping for 12 hours at night - bliss! Then 2 months later they are waking up ever 2 hours for seemingly no reason - I'm afraid this sort of thing just happens a lot in the early years. And why I'm a complete convert to co-sleeping - it is simply the only way to get any quality sleep at times, and the constant close contact does lead to a more secure and happy baby, which in turn helps their sleep too.

At 16 months we still co-sleep and I find myself worrying that I will never be able to get her in her own bed! But she sleeps soundly from 7.30 till 6.30 and we cuddle for half an hour in bed before getting up, which is a much nicer start to the day than rushing to a screaming child in a cot.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned swings yet, but that was also a life-saver. Walking around with them for ages drives you nuts and hurts your back, but my DD would fall asleep in a swing within seconds. They are truly a more essential bit of kit than a cot IMO.

Lots of luck!

JoJoB

Just to add - my DD also refused dummies so I feel your pain :eek:

But just remembered a suprising thing that helped my DD get to sleep (and we still do it now, it settles her immediately). Singing nursery rhymes - but whispering them very close to their ear. For some reason this seems to stop some crying babies in their tracks. I think they like the closeness and sensation of whispering, as well as the nice songs of course.

For a good 6 months "Old Macdonalds Farm" would stop any screaming fit straight away.

Becles

JoJoB wrote: »

For a good 6 months "Old Macdonalds Farm" would stop any screaming fit straight away.

Charlotte liked "A windmill in old Amsterdam" best

feelinggood_2

Becles wrote: »

Charlotte liked "A windmill in old Amsterdam" best

Toby likes any song, as long as all the words are replaces with his name :rotfl:

feelinggood_2

How are things today Skinty?

ticklepenny_2

Hello Skintchick,

I am amongst the many who struggled with first born. Bella was a big baby and I wasnt able to produce enough milk on my own and we ended up in hospital due to this. So you are doing so much better than me already, in the end I gave up after 10 weeks just because I needed sleep (BF for 1 hour, FF 20 mins, express 30 mins at each feed, everyday does not make a happy tickle). But I think it is hard to congratulate yourself when you are tired.

I cant remember who said it, but set yourself goals and just focus on them. So sleep and breastfeed. The two most important things in the world right now are you and baby. Do not clean the house, do not do anything other than take care of your bodily functions and babies bodily functions. Dont be afraid to ask friends and family to bring round caseroles and stews you can just reheat, or ask them to help wih washing and washing up. For 2 weeks I gave up on reusable nappies, just to give myself a break.

But most importantly take it day by day, and one of these days you wll realise that it has all suddenly become so much easier.

If you would like a chat, a rant or moan feel free to PM me.

Pee

Erm, maybe the three most important things are you, your baby and the baby's father.

But I do def agree with putting yourself first and very little actually needs doing for a while, your sleep is much more important.

elle_gee

There's an article in this month's Prima Baby mag on crying and they suggest www.cry-sis.org.uk for support

tramps

Hi skintchick

Dont usually come on this board but have read all of your answers and replys. They have taken me back 20 years - oh i feel so old now!!

I went through what you are going through now and still remember it as if it was yesterday but you will come through it. All I can say from experiance it what I would change now, did everything everyone has said on here but looking back would not have done half of them.
Spent two years being tired and contantly looking after my first.

Baby number two comes along and I said to myself - this baby is not going to rule my life hence this baby was treated totally different - fed when it suited me put to bed when it suited me, took out when it suited me.

What I am trying to say is try not to let your baby rule your life, try to relax and enjoy your little girl.
Mine are now 20 and 16 and we have all surived but out of two my 16 year old - the one who did not rule my life is the better natured one.

Hope this helps belive me things DO get better