help re baby sleep (merged)

ppolly

Have you tried carrying him around in a sling? We used a soft sling for our daughter which worked a bit - she would fall asleep in it. She wouldn't tolerate being put down awake, day or night and was a pretty poor sleeper until about 8 months old. You could try taking him out in the buggy to get him to sleep at bed time -gets you out of the house and the screaming douesn't sound so loud. You have my every sympathy, sleep deprivation is sheer hell.
We eventually (at about 6 months) took ours to a cranial osteopath, on the recommendation of our HV, and she said that babies who've been c-section or had a difficult birth sometimes have more trouble sleeping - might this be the case with yours? Anyway after three treatments she certainly began to settle a bit easier and also seem more cheerful. Maybe some baby massage classes might help too? These are just random ideas. Hope they might help a bit.

dawnybabes

Sleep depravation is a form of torture (((hugs)))

have you tried Anbesol liquid for his gums - its about 8 times stronger than bonjela and it works instantly. I used it on LO and myself last year when I got a horrid mouth ulcer and couldn't believe how well it worked.

jacksons_mum

i had to wean my son from the breast at 5 months as i had to go back to work - after trying every bottle ever made we finally had success we the haberman feeder by medela (i got mine off ebay) they are made for babies who have trouble with normal teats and it was a life saver for us!

JEMJAR

Barbiegirl I feel for you, I too am a mom of two, a boy and girl, and my lad was exactly the same!!!! I found it was hunger that was the problem and he wouldn't take from a bottle either and we both ended up very frustated and tired. Basically I just accepted that he wanted to feed all the time and he wanted me all the time so I got a baby sling and kept him in that when I had jobs to do and weaned at four months against all advice!! he had fruit puree and baby rice and he started to settle down much better then. You are not a bad mother!! it is not your fault (its all very well saying this in hindsight I know) but some babies just want their moms all the time!! Try and trust your instincts rather than your midwife is my advice. By the way my lad is now a very burly 5 year old who absolutely loves his sleep now (the little monster) but would still have a six hour cuddle every day if he could.

McKneff

this baby is wanting cuddles and attention and he also wants you to relax

try the sling idea, it is wonderfully soothing for baby, your heartbeat is good for him to relax to and its very calming for you too.

it also leaves both your arms free for anything you need to do.

Hell_Dans_Un_Handcart

You're an excellent mother to be looking for solutions [hug]

Firstly, babies his age are supposed to wake through the night - this is not of your doing at all. Nature designed breastmilk to be taken little and often so that baby would wake regularly for it; thus keeping baby out of too deep a sleep and reducing the risk of SIDs.

He doesn't sound ready for weaning (although it won't have done him any harm) so I'd come back to this later. If he's feeding more often, it's because four months is the mother of all growth spurts - he's preparing to really sit up and take notice of the world. No formula required - all you'll do is let your boobs get further behind in catching up with his demand.

Firstly, Calprofen should knock any teething pain on the head. Secondly - where is he sleeping? If he's in a cot, I reccommend that you try having him in your bed. I'll happily type out guidelines for safe cosleeping if you're interested; it has been a lifesaver here!

Finally - I'd google for your local cranial osteopath. Sometimes a baby gets a bit squidged in the birth canal in a way that causes distress long afterward, and they can really help. A session usually costs about £25-30 and you usually only need a few.

Hang in there. You have a high needs baby but that doesn't have to be a problem. You just need a new coping strategy.

abbecer

It sounds to me as if your baby is suffering colicky symptoms. Both mine have been exactly as you have described. I too thought they were hungry so fed them more which made things worse. Both of mine had special milk which soothed them a fair bit.

Hope you get some sleep soon.

Rebecca x

madison's_mum

Hi, no advice really but my DD was awake pretty much on the hour every two hours day and night, when she was little, she was breast fed up to when i went back to work when she was 6 months old. It did get better as she got older and was weaned but she only started sleeping the whole way through the night last year. However she does get up shockingly early,now i'm just looking forward to getting my revenge by waking her up early when she's a teenager, lol!

carolan78

Barbiegirl wrote: »

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.

Hugs it's not easy my dd is 2 and ds is now 7 months brestfed also and weaned at 5 months. It does sound like he is teething, we use medised and nurofen for children giving them 2 hours apart. I have also moved to teething powders rather than gels (touch wood) this is working for us at the moment and my little boy is back.
Its nothing your doing wrong its a case of trial and error to find what eases your little boys gums goodluck xx

Rachie_B

Barbiegirl wrote: »

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

is there anyone else who can ( attempt) to feed him with the bottle ?

he will smell your milk if you do it and be a lot harder to try and persuade him to take it

good idea about the sling carrying and whoever said about overfeeding as you think they are hungry, when in fact they are windy / colicky

i see this a lot its a vicious circle

good luck i hope things ease for you soon

xx