struggling with sleep

undutchable

ds is 7 months and is waking every two to three hours at night. the longest stretch he has ever slept is five hours and that is incredibly rare. i've tried ferber for four nights and on the fourth night he was still crying one to two hours at a time and waking up an hour later to do it all over again. i tried pick up/put down but again it took an hour and then he woke up forty five minutes later and i was too exhausted to spend another hour doing it. the only way i can get him to fall asleep again is to nurse him. i need help! 

ironmommy

I can't offer any help, but I'm in the same boat. DS doesn't sleep longer than 4-5 hours at a time, and he wakes up every 3 hours for the first part of the night. Did I mention DD wakes up most nights, too? Last night I went to bed at 10 and wasn't able to actually get to sleep until after 1 -- up and down with both kids for three blasted hours!

I am a big believer in Ferber, but it didn't work well for DS (partly my fault -- I don't think I was consistent enough), so I am back to square one. I honestly don't mind him waking up so long as he goes back to sleep easily. When I can't get him back down is when I start to lose my mind.

 

linjmurx

all I can say is: poor you!!  Not sure but maybe solids would help?  My pediatrician said we'd know we definitely have to start solids when formula won't carry her through the night.

IrishEyes0530

Were in the same boat. DS goes to bed aroind 730 and usually wakes around midnight then every 1-2 hours after that. I rock him to sleep at night and sometimes in the middle of the night, so its probably my fault but I hoped it would get better on it's own, but its not looking good. Sorry I've got no advice, I don't know what to do either. We've been on solids since 4 months. It doesn't effect his sleep whatsoever.

choogasian

Yep. Same here. Down at 8, up at 11:30ish and then every 3 hours or so after that. Nursing is the only way back down. This has to end at some point, right????????

mesmom2011

This is why we bedshare (part time).  I have her crib side-carred so I can get her easily, nurse her quickly and we can both get back to sleep.  (Nursing to sleep is not a problem for me - it seems like a natural and peaceful way to fall asleep - and it works.  I would be a little worried if she would only fall asleep nursing, but her daddy can rock her / walk her around and she'll go to sleep that way also.)  If she falls asleep before me, I put her back into her crib.  If not, she stays with me until her next waking.  I am a teacher, so I'll have the summer off and we may work on something different then, but for now we are doing what keeps LO happy and saves my sanity and sleep!  I'm sorry you are having such a difficult time.  I hope you find a solution that works for you and your LO.

Maryland Baby

I am the same way and so are ALOT of other people I have spoken to like my friends etc.. My LO goes to bed and I may get a 4 hr stretch then after that she's up every few hours and I have to nurse her to get her back into a 'deep' sleep. I keep telling myself it will get better and its teeth and I am in somewhat of denial.. LO eats solid food three times a day and If I am not here or she has been especially distracted during the day I give her some formula (I worry about dehydration etc.. if I know she hasn't fed much) doesn't change 1 THING with sleeping.

I will say this though everyone keeps telling me its because I am breast feeding. That LO does it to be 'pacified' and that as soon as I stop BF she will sleep through. I see how that could be true but I plan on making it to 9 months at the very least. I realize she will be down to maybe just a couple of feedings a day I think night time been the last to give up...

Maryland Baby

this too.

cindydee

we're on the same boat. He use to only wake up twice a night and for the past 4 days he's been waking up every hour on the dot.

lovemyminions

This is our LO too!  It sucks.  I brought it up at baby group today and apparently the best for brain development milk is made at night...not much comfort for me...lol.  The advice I was given was that if it something that works for us (getting up with her) then to keep doing that.  She will eventually grow out of it.  It sounds like if she is crying that long and waking up less than an hour later then she is hungry, mabe a growth spurt?  Good luck!