help re baby sleep (merged)

dooj

Deleted_User wrote: »

I don't have a problem getting my 18 month old off to sleep or staying asleep since we did controlled crying when he was 11 months old.

However, i do have a question. My son has 2 bottles a day, morning and bedtime. He drinks these himself, but when I have tried in the past to put the milk in his tommy tippee beaker he won't drink it, that's where water comes from apparently. Milk comes from bottles. I clean his teeth before bed and after breakfast, so is there any reason why i should force this issue yet? Is there a difference really between sucking a bottle or sucking a tommy tippee spout?

PS, he also finds his bottle still a comfort. Plus his little sister has a bottle as she's 3 months old, I think it would be hard for him to see her have one and not himself. Finding this with his dummy at mo too.

In my opinion i think there is a difference between a bottle and a cup, my daughter is also 18 month and now has all drinks in a cup she used to have milk in a bottle untill we went on holiday and forgot the bottle and gave her a cup instead. She didnt make a fuss she just accepted it. The difference between a cup and a bottle depends on which type of cup you use. If you use the none spill cups with the plastic seal over which requires the child to suck on it to get a drink then there is little difference, if you use the free flow cups then the child needs to learn to control the amount of liquid that they drink. In my opinion the free flow is better and is a definate distinction between bottle and cup. But as always all hildren are different and go with what you think is the best thing to do.

Delilah

I have an 18 month old and occasionally she will wake in the night and ask for milk. I give her the milk (3oz) and let her go back to sleep, because she cant tell me if she is hungry i give it to her. Maybe your child is just hungry and as suggested a big dinner and big bottle of milk before bed might help, also if it is hunger by giving milk and water maybe it's not filling them up hance the waking again for more. My daughter has toast at 6pm (she eats all day at nursery) baths 6.45 in jamas about 10 oz milk and reading and cuddling at around 7.10 then bed about half seven with a top of either mine of my husbands and her Glow Worm (does anyone remember those?). It used to be half six/seven in bed when she first started nursery a few months ago but now she is used to being that active and has been walking a while we have made it later. She wakes at 6/6.30 and like one of the previous posts she also sleeps for 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours midday. I could never do controlled crying, it used to break my heart but i know some people where it saved there sanity. Good luck and big hugs with what ever you choose to do. I know i haven't offered a solution but hopefully by looking at everyone else's routines there may be something you can use.

wes_cov

reading this tread makes me feel soooooo lucky

daughter is nearly 6 month and i can count on one hand the number of nights she has not slept through has her bottle at 8:30 - 9 and then sleeps through till 8

fortunately she loves her sleep so as soon as i put her down and put her in her sleeping bag i get a lovely smile and off she goes to sleep

but its garenteed the next one will be a nightmare :rolleyes:

Barbiegirl_2

Hi,

I am second time mother to a lovely baby boy. My daughter is nearly 5 and they are like chalk and cheese.

I feel like a stupid mother because for a start my little one is the only baby that doesn't sleep through the night. It may be my fault I'm not sure. He is breastfed and I think he is also teething. I have tried Dentinox, Calgel and Bonjela on his gums. For a few days I have also tried to give him a little bit of Aptamil formula as I think he is very hungry. I spoke to the Health Visitor about weaning him and she said starting on vegetables would be fine.. the problem is he doesn't like this either!

He has been crying a lot and waking between 5 and 12 times a night. He has a soother which I didn't want to give him initially but this also doesn't help. He gets so cross, clasps his fists and yells/scream (no tears) until you pick him up or carry him about. As I am typing this he is doing exactly that. I'm ripping my hair out because I don't know whatelse to do for him. I have already bathed him so if anyone has any helpful tips on trying to get him to take a little formula and perhaps tips stop the angry yelling that would be great. This site is full of parents and I'm sure someone more experienced may have the answer. Lately, I haven't been able to get anything done around the house and feel very guilty if I don't spend time with him or don't go to his aid when he is yelling. I take him for a walk everyday and we attend two baby groups in the area. I would also like to say that I have tried two different bottles but even that makes no difference. I have tried various quantities and he just bites the teat? I love him to bits and I really hope his screaming/yelling can be calmed down a little bit.

Thanks again.

Gingham_Ribbon

Don't worry. It's not you. Babies are all different and most babies of that age still can't sleep through the night.

Try the babywhisperer forum. They gave me loads of fantastic advice and were really supportive.

FWIW, mine was breastfed (still is) and was in bed with me and I had the same problem. Formula won't help with the teething and probably won't help with the crying, but it might give you a much needed break.

Barbiegirl_2

I also think his lack of sleep and mine doesn't help either. I am like a zombie. Tonight while preparing our dinner I managed to accidently throw the potato peeler into the bin! and a few weeks ago I put the comfort softner in the fridge......surviving on maybe 1-2 hours a night is so so difficult. He sleeps for 20 minutes in the morning and 30 mintues in the afternoon and that's it until bed time. I play with him, we dance and sometimes I put him in his swing or playnest. I have Baby Einstein DVD's for his age and a selection of classical and nursery rhyme songs.....but while he is hungry and not gettnig much sleep he can't seem to enjoy these things for a very long time...

pandora205

Yes babies are different and this one seems to need loads of cuddles and feeding. Having a baby like this is tiring for you and can be stressful, especially if you are advised to stop feeding him and leave him to cry.
This baby wants you and isn't being unreasonable from his perspective.

My three children all breast fed for ages and woke lots of times. This is due to breast milk being digested more quickly and also that babies natural inclination is to 'snack' off and on. After a few restless nights trying to get the first to sleep on her own I ended up bringing her in with me, which was a solution for us but may not be for you. It was so much easier for me then and she was really relaxed. I also wore a sling much of the time then progressed to having her in her car seat near me so I could chat while I was 'working'.

Thankfully, they're all very independent these days now they're teenagers (which has different problems!) It's not easy when they are small but they are fun at that stage.

traveller

Hi I clicked on thanks by accident sorry:rolleyes: Please, please calm down as i can hear the frustration from your thread and i don't blame you-you are not stupid!I have a 2 month old ,who although sleeps through the night is exactly the same as yours and will not let me get anything done during the day and crys and screams the minute i put him down-even if he 'appeared 'to be sleeping seconds earlier! I too use to feel guilty about not getting things done-but i don't now, those things simply cannot be done!

I'm sorry but i cannot reccomend anything for teething as dentinox did work for my older 3 kids but since my youngest before this one is 9 yrs i don't know what else is availible.
Does he suffer from wind alot, as my son does and that is what causes a lot of his whinging and can take quite a while to get it all out.I find though that fresh air knocks the little weasle out, so it may be an idea to get him out more if you don't already.
Is there anyone that can help you a bit? And maybe you need to experiment with formulas-although none of mine would take it either.My little one is very hungry but i've just carried on breastfeeding and all of a sudden i've got a lot bigger to cope,lol.

Please try and take care of yourself as babies are so demanding and it's very easy to forget about you-i really hope someone can give you some helpful suggestions.

Pink_Princess_1

Please dont feel like a bad mother - lots of babies dont sleep through the night until much older- I know thats not much help. I dont know which brand of bottles you have tried but I use TT closer to nature to combine b/feeding and bottle and they are really good. Also could you try him with a bottle at different times during the day - he might take it if hes not too hungry or tired, and you could at least get some rest

Barbiegirl_2

Thanks. I have Avent and Tomy Closer to Nature bottles...and both don't work?