Stressed as.. tried everything I can think of... exhausted

beckseven

Really really feel for you. haven't had the same experience with my two but have had some rough nights so don't know how you are coping all the time. Have you got a local Sure Start centre? i've found their groups really invaluable with my dd-free baby massage and baby groups etc and they have people you can talk to who have loads of childcare experience and have time for you. My local Surestart centre run sleep clinics as well. hope all goes well for you.

Loopy_Girl

I thought the kids went to their Dad for 3 nights a week?

When are they going as you can use that time to catch up on sleep

DevilsAdvocate1

SingleMumOf2 wrote: »

kiki i think if i can manage that we may have a break through. i just need to find my will power. i doubt my own judgement when he is at the hysterical stage. or at night i seem to go into panic mode. looking for ways to calm him asap before my 2 year old wakes.
most babies i know his age or younger are going 5 hours in the day and sleeping through the night or only having one feed.
he has just had 6oz's. so i will take 2 bottles up with me and some water for when nothing else will soothe him. i am thinking of trying to make him go until 1am then 4am. then the next at 8am. if i can master 4 hours. then maybe in a few weeks i can stretch to 5 hours.
but tbh right now.. 2 hrs sleep at a time for me would be pure heaven!!

Are you sure they are going 5 hours in the day and then sleeping through the night. Only asking as this does not seem much - it would only be 3 or 4 feeds a day. None of mine ever went that long and tbh I don't think I ever go that long without eating or drinking something.

I know you said that your baby had lactulose when you were breastfeeding to help breaking down the lactulose. Surely this will be worse on formula as lactose is a dairy sugar (and isn't in breastmilk). As forumla is made from cows milk which contains lactulose it could be the milk causing him a problem. My friend's son was allergic to cow's milk and she got a special formula milk on prescription. Is there a different GP you could get a second opinion from?

D.

psso

Oh you poor thing, I can totally sympathise with you.
My twins were three months old and developed colic and I used to be up from 2-5am every night for 3 months, so I was almost dead on my feet most of the time.

One thing that crossed my mind reading your posts - is the hole in the teat big enough ? I only ask because if it`s too small baby won`t be getting enough milk through and will be tired with all the effort of sucking and nod off, then wake up looking for more.
Someone also suggested he might have reflux -you can get babymilk specially for that. Grandson was being sick frequently and crying so took him to Dr who prescribed stuff to put in his bottle, didn`t work so went to Tesco and found SMA Staydown milk - sorted him out pretty quick.
If baby is having problems with milk maybe ask professionals if an alternative would help, thinking soya milk maybe.
Maybe it`s just all these sudden changes that are upstting the little one though. Could you try bf again for a day or two and just giving a little bit of yogurt as well, not too much change all at once.

I would also agree with the poster who suggested giving yogurt. It`s nice and smooth, cool and easy to swallow and not too strongly flavoured. My grandson, 9 months, was given yogurt as a starter weaning food as well as baby porridge when he was about 6 months. He wasn`t impressed with pureed fruit / veg - sometimes it is very acidic and will upset small tummies - and screwed up his face when confronted with them. Now 3 months later he eats just about anything we have. He has water when he has solids, just a couple of ounces in his bottle as he hasn`t quite got the hang of a cup yet, and then usually takes an 8 ounce bottle of milk before bed.

Trust your instincts as a mum and pester the doctors if you are not happy. They probably get their sleep quota !!

Hopefully your little one will soon settle down and you will all get some sleep.
Big hug for you.

mirrorimage0

shelley_crow wrote: »

They might not sell you medised if they know it's for a child that young, I got a grilling at Tesco pharmacy when i tried to buy it for my 5 year old last year, they refused the sale in the end saying it's no longer recommended for children under 7 years old, even though the instructions on the back give the dosage info.

oh didnt realise this when we used to give it ours it was ok but that was 11 yrs ago

knithappens

one of thingsthat jumps out at me is that little one was breast fed then went to formula, 2 different types and laso started weaning roughly the same time, this has probably upset his tummy, it takes a while for the digestive system to cope with it all, plus for him it is upsettign as they want the breast - i went through this with my daughter and she justcried uncontrollably, i had to go back to weaning slowly off the breast and left solids a few months longer until she was off breast completely, she was stubborn so and so lol.

My little one became a light sleeperwhen she was more aware of her surroundign and felt she was missing out, we walk every morning so that she at least gets a good morning nap, which helps her not get too tried and grumpy

SingleMumOf2_3

well... my night was a nightmare. He only had 2 bottles. But still woke every 5 or so minutes screaming. I gave calpol and teething remedies. Tried rocking, tried hugs, tried leaving him to cry. Nothing settled him. Tried water which he refused, refused his dummy. He even refused milk in the end!!

My eldest goes to dads 2 days and 2 nights a week. It was 3 but have currently changed it. Baby will be starting going 1 day and 1 night this week.. then 2 the next.. so will change every other week. So when he is at dads I will def be sleeping, sleeping and more sleeping.. and maybe a little house work.

I have no idea what to try anymore. I am tempted to try a different milk. But what if this upsets him more? I am going to stop giving solids for now. And will keep up the colief in his bottles. My toddler was up tons last night due to all the crying.
It is as if something is waking him.. because he gets hysterical. But then he is attempting to roll on his side to go back to sleep. But is having no success so kicks off again. I tried to hold him on his side and soothe him. But wondering if he is uncomfy with something.. possibly his tum. As if was teething surely the powders and calpol would be soothing him? I am a tired stressed mummy who really cannot think straight this morning.

SingleMumOf2_3

knit i totally understand what you mean about the changes. he has been on hungry baby milk for 2 weeks now though, and solids a week. he isnt upset because he cant have the breast because it is him that rejected it. but maybe it is tummy problems. i just dont know.

Volupturaptor

Just want to make a point, for DevilsAdvocate and anyone else who does not realise:
Lactose = milk sugar, not well tolerated by some, but ok for most.
Lactulose = medicine for softening stools, making it easier to go.

Volupturaptor

Singlemum, it seems odd to me that your baby needed the Lactulose whilst being breastfed, as breast milk usually produces nice runny poo anyway. It is normal for some babies to not go for a few days at a time though, just because breast milk being particularly digestible means that there is less "waste".
Also, you mention having tried going dairy free whilst breastfeeding, which suggests to me (as well as the Lactulose thing) that you were having problems with his digestion even then.
I think I'd be inclined to go back to your doctor, (or as has already been said, see another) and throw an almighty wobbly! It shouldn't be too hard to do, baring in mind your current sleep deprived state. I know you said about the dietitian, but I think I'd be pushing for a) The doctor to chase this up and get you seen sooner, and b) a referral to a paediatrician.

I'm so with you on the need for sleep, my 7month old still needs feeding at least twice a night, so although not as bad as what you are currently experiencing, I do have some idea.
(Oh, for the person who said no baby over 6 months needs feeding at night, you should see the size of mine, he started out on the 25th centile for length, and has been having a growth spurt all his little life, now being above the top line on the charts. I can assure you, that in order to grow at that rate, he DOES need to be fed at night! Sadly...)