help re baby sleep (merged)

immoral_angeluk

Well it's 6.37 am and I've been online since 6am. Have been awake since 4.30 with K. she's 11 months and STILL isn't sleeping through. We got her into bed with us but she wouldn't sleep and the crunch came when DH lost his temper so I brought her downstairs. Had enough now. I'm rubbish when I'm tired with a short fuse and no patience. I've not long gotten over postnatal depression and if this doesn't get sorted out soon I can see me ending up back on the anti d's. I'm run down and feeling low which isn't good. I don't even know whats wrong with her... this current situation has been going on for weeks now and I just don't know what to do, before that she'd either wake up and settle herself or we'd give her a dummy and she'd go back to sleep but now it's all gone pear shaped.. Last night she kicked off at 11.30 so we gave her a bottle and thought that would sort her out. But nope. she woke up 2 or 3 times before it all kicked off at 4.30am. It's not her teeth as she's fine all day. Her eczema is fine at the moment... she wasn't hungry... I just don't know what to do and it's pushing ste and I to breaking point.
We've also got a nearly 3 year old who's slepe is suffering as well. I would do controlled crying but it's just going to be hell for her....
:wall::(

wolfehouse

it's very hard to have a little one that cries all the time.

http://www.cry-sis.org.uk/ cry-sis is an organisation set up just for this.
helpline (9am-10pm) 08451 228 669 everyday.

see if they have any suggestions and of course back to the gp just to be sure your little one doesn;t have anything unobvious going on.

bloomin_freezing

Morning

I wish I could say I know how you feel, but I can't. I do, however empathise with you completely.

I didn't want to just read your post and carry on with things. It can be so frustrating when you see many people reading but not replying.

For your sake I really hope things are back to a happier routine as soon as possible. Being emotionally tired is an awful feeling. Sending you hugs and here for a chat if you want.

immoral_angeluk

She doesn't cry all the time. During the day she's fine and generally a happy baby. It's just the night times that seem to be a nightmare....

Dumyat

you know I have posted on your other thread...just trying to think practically now.
has your bedtime routine been upset by Christmas?
does she nap a lot during the day? is it time to cut out a nap?
I tried all sorts with my daughter (always say if she was the first born she would have been my last!!)
tried lots of walks/park? making sure she's tired when going to bed.

immoral_angeluk

her routines been fine... she has at least one nap a day.. sometimes 2 but it doesn't make any different to her sleeping at night.. They've always had the same routine and gone to bed at the same time....

Justie

I sympathise, just when I think we've cracked the sleep routine with my LO it all changes again...

I presume you've tried all the obvious things like if she's too hot or cold. I'd agree with dogrose, has Christmas upset her routine? I know my LO has been all over the place as he's had lots of attention while we were at Granny's but now it's just back to boring old us again.

btw I think the idea that children will or should 'sleep through' by a certain age is a myth - when you actually speak to parents who say their LO is sleeping through you often find that there's a feed or two in the night or that they bring the child into bed with them from the early hours etc so don't think you've got a monster child.

the only thing I can suggest is to look at your entire day's routine - I know she's happy during the day but too much sleep or too little during the day can impact on night sleeps (or lack of). I'd also look at how much attention she's getting and whether she's being rewarded by having one to one attention during the night (not necessarily a bad thing just not convenient for you). I'm not a fan of controlled crying but there are plenty of other sleep training methods such as pick up put down that work on the basis of not rewarding the child for waking when you want them to be asleep.

The main thing though is that this too will pass... all children go through different phases and sleep deprivation makes everything seem much worse than it is. On a practical level can your OH have the kids during the day for a few hours out of the house while you get some catch up sleep?

Eager_Elephant

Hi

Just to say that I empathise with you completely.

My youngest is 5 tomorrow. She did not sleep through the night until she had her 2nd birthday. She would wake up every hour which of course was very tiring. I attempted controlled crying but she made herself sick and I couldn't bear to do it again.
Each hour she woke she would have a few ounces of water and then go back to sleep.
My only way of coping was to go to bed early so that I got enough sleep.

My first child, now 11 was exactly the same only he would drink 9 ounces of water every hour so the amount of nappies we went through was horrendous.
Like my daughter as soon as he had his 2nd birthday he slept through the night.

Even now both children drink a lot, I am sure it is not diabetes just one of them things.

Sorry I can't be more positive.

Is the house getting to hot? I know if my bedroom is too hot I have a fitful sleep.

I think maybe she is now in the routine of waking up so it will be hard to get her out of it.

My husband also used to get annoyed but I was quite happy to bring her downstairs as my husband worked more hours than me and needed his sleep.

Just typing this I wonder how I managed to cope for all that time.

EE

anonymousie

You are obviously at the end of your teather ((()))

Controlled crying would be an option but iy is murder for all whilst it is going on,and from what you have said I wonder if you could cope through it (not a criticism, just an observation on how rotten and sleep deprived you are feeling) and a failed CC trial would just teach her to cry more I fear.

This book is highly recommended in the parenting forums I frequent
http://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Cry-Sleep-Solution-Through-Pantley/dp/0071381392

It seems to offer a solution that is also kind to parents, child (and siblings).

What ever you do , you all have to do exactly the same things for as long as it takes.At 11 months your little darling will realise very quickly that she can "train" you otherwise!

The other thing to say, and I know it seems a bit trite, but like all painful baby stages "this too will pass" and even if she never sleeps well, you will eventually get your sleep back!

Keeping_Positive

The way I coped was sleeping whenever possible ie weekends when OH could have her/them for a while and staying in bed longer although it did seem endless at the time. Persevere (sp) and I hope you get some support from your OH. I would also doze on the couch whilst half watching little one watch tv.

My first still woke in the night when the second arrived!