Sleeping problems - essential oils?

lmj8284

My 11 week old is a terrible sleeper.  His daytime naps are still pretty sporadic in number and length.  And he wakes every 1-2 hours at night. 

I've tried all I know to get him to sleep better especially at night.  Swaddling, consistent bedtime routine of bath bottle/breast bed, white noise in his room.  Nothing seems to help him sleep longer stretches.

I'm wondering about using essential oils such as lavender and chamomile on the bottoms of his feet and in a diffuser in his room.  Has anyone had any luck with oils?  I just started back to work this week and waking up every 1-2 hours at night is making me crazy:)

Chichigo

It sounds like normal infant behavior to me.

Was he sleeping longer before you returned to work?

lmj8284

No he hasn't slept longer ever.  But we tried a little lavender oil mixed with coconut oil on the bottoms of his feet last night and he was a completely different baby!  he was so calm and happy in the evening and slept better than he ever has before, only waking twice.  he slept from 9:45-2am and then woke again at 5am.  I feel like a brand new woman today!

I'll keep trying the lavender oil on his feet for the next few days and see how things go:)

KariB509

I'd say it's worth a shot. If it doesn't help then no harm done. But lavender is said to help you sleep.

LiamsPoppa

Thanks for the lavender oil tip! Will try that.

lmj8284

amber0389 said:

lmj8284 said:

No he hasn't slept longer ever.  But we tried a little lavender oil mixed with coconut oil on the bottoms of his feet last night and he was a completely different baby!  he was so calm and happy in the evening and slept better than he ever has before, only waking twice.  he slept from 9:45-2am and then woke again at 5am.  I feel like a brand new woman today!

I'll keep trying the lavender oil on his feet for the next few days and see how things go:)

Just curious if you are still noticing a difference?  My DD is a pretty good sleeper (usually) but I think we've hit the 4 month wakeful.  I was thinking about giving this a try tonight.


Yes! He has slept amazing ever since we started using the lavender on his feet. First night he woke twice. Second night once. Third night he slept thru the night! 9:30-6am! It's definitely worth a try. I'm a believer:)

lmj8284

amber0389 said:

lmj8284 said:

lmj8284 said:

No he hasn't slept longer ever.  But we tried a little lavender oil mixed with coconut oil on the bottoms of his feet last night and he was a completely different baby!  he was so calm and happy in the evening and slept better than he ever has before, only waking twice.  he slept from 9:45-2am and then woke again at 5am.  I feel like a brand new woman today!

I'll keep trying the lavender oil on his feet for the next few days and see how things go:)

Just curious if you are still noticing a difference?  My DD is a pretty good sleeper (usually) but I think we've hit the 4 month wakeful.  I was thinking about giving this a try tonight.

Yes! He has slept amazing ever since we started using the lavender on his feet. First night he woke twice. Second night once. Third night he slept thru the night! 9:30-6am! It's definitely worth a try. I'm a believer:)

I'm new to the oils.  So do you just mix a drop or so of lavender with the carryier oil then apply to the feet?  Or how do you do it?

Yes, that's exactly how I do it.  1 drop of lavender mixed with coconut oil in the palm of my hand and apply to bottoms of feet.

jessig13826

Have you tried using a white noise machine? I've heard they work.

lmj8284

jessig13826 said:

Have you tried using a white noise machine? I've heard they work.

Yep, we have white nose machines in both of our kids' rooms.  I think it definitely helps them to know "hey, it's bedtime!"  

Joansmith1128

Yes. We bought a diffuser at Whole Foods and put lavender oil in it every night. DS started sleeping much better and STTN on night 3!

flcl

@lmj8284: where did you get your lavender oil?  Does it matter what kind it is?  Do you just use it at night?  Sorry for all of the questions.... my LO is ok with sleeping at night (although lats night was terrible) but he has a tougher time napping during the day.  Just curious if you think the oils will help with napping as well....

lmj8284

flcl said:

@lmj8284: where did you get your lavender oil?  Does it matter what kind it is?  Do you just use it at night?  Sorry for all of the questions.... my LO is ok with sleeping at night (although lats night was terrible) but he has a tougher time napping during the day.  Just curious if you think the oils will help with napping as well....

I got it from a friend that is a distributor for Young Living.  I know there are other brands like DoTerra essential oils too.  I've been using it at night before bed and also in the mornings before I send him to daycare.  I'm really not sure if there's a limit on how much or how many times you should use it on a baby during a 24/hour period...but if you found a consultant with an essential oil company maybe they would know more.  I'm very new to this stuff!

  

One thing I know is that you want to get the essential oil.  Don't get anything that says “fragrance” or “fragrance oil” or even “perfume”...those are not natural.

lmj8284

amber0389 said:

Well I tried the lavender on the feet last night, didn't notice any sort of difference.  I'm going to keep trying and i'll ty to diffuse a little too... maybe that might help.

Ugh, I'm sorry it didn't help for night time...but keep trying and yes, the diffuser may help also.  I plan on getting one too.