sleep regression after trip

Ginny0211

Sorry if this is long.

I am mostly a SAHM mom. I work extremely part time so LO is put down for naps and bed by me 99% of the time. And she has only once been put down for bed by her daddy. She goes down real well for the babysitter now and her daddy for naps. I use to always nurse her to sleep for naps and bedtime, but I wanted to gently break this habit. So for about a month or two I have been nursing her until she's drowsy and then laying her down drowsy and patting her back and singing till she falls asleep. Lately it has been a breeze to put her down since she no longer has to be asleep to be put down. The amount of time I had to pat her back was decreasing and sometimes I didn't have to do any patting or singing. 

Naps have become great, but night time has not changed much in a long time. DD has been waking up at least 3 times a night and I have been briging her to bed with me after she wakes up the 2nd or 3rd time. Before this weekend her dad had only put her down for bed once.

So this weekend I went on a girl's weekend trip. I was gone two nights. The first night she slept with DH most of the night (mattress on the floor) and then the second night she actually STTN in her crib! So when I got back I thought this might of been a kick start to her sleeping better at night and not being so dependent on the boob for comfort nursing... well... apparently she is wanting to make up for all the nursing time she missed over the weekend. She will NOT nap at all in her crib. I even nursed her till she fell asleep and she woke up as soon as I placed her down in her crib and screamed hysterically. I tried rocking her, walking around, swaying, singing, patting her on the back. She would not calm down until I let her fall back asleep while nursing. This happened for both naps today. I never wanted to do CIO and I even let her cry for ten minutes today since she was SO overtired and she would not even let me hold her and soothe her she just arched her back and hit me so I let her cry for ten minutes and this did not work and was just heart breaking. So again, she is napping on me ... and last night she woke up the first time and refused to go back to sleep in her crib and when I brought her to bed she refused to unlatch all night. Usually I can get her to unlatch for part of the night while she sleeps with me, but last night she refused and my nipples are so sore right now. She is so overtired and cranky and only seems happy while nursing. Now i'm feeling super guilty about leaving her to go on my girl's weekend. I really needed that break and the rest. It was amazing being able to STTN! but now I feel like she is afraid i'm going to leave again so she is being super clingy...I don't know what is going on in her head, but I wish I could make her happy right now and we could get back to our routine and she could be well rested and I could get something done. HELP! Any advice? Any ideas? Will this pass soon?

ncbelle

She probably just missed you ;-)  Could she be teething?  That behavior also often goes around with teething too.  Whatever it is, I'm sure it will pass!

twigmommy

Do you use a paci at all? For those times when my DD isn't falling asleep well I'll unlatch her when she's done nursing and slide the paci in. Then I'll hold her for a little longer, and her having the paci helps transition from being held to the crib. It's also great for those too over tired to nurse times. I'll offer the paci and hold her, and after she has it awhile she'll relax and snuggle up against me.

My DD has regressed with her night sleep, but I think she's getting back on track. It's just extra patients, snuggles, nursings as she needs and paying extra attention to watch out for those eye rubs / yawns.

Good luck.

Ginny0211

Thanks y'all.

She has two teeth that have been taking a looooong time coming in. They didn't seem to be bothering her before I left this past weekend and my DH said she was happy this weekend and didn't seem bothered by her teeth. Maybe the teeth started working their way out again right when I got back so were dealing with a combination of teething and making up for missed cuddle and nursing time....? Her gums look about the same to me, but maybe that's it. 

She slept with me last night for about half the night without being latched on the whole time so that's an improvement. She is still refusing to nap in her crib so she is napping in the stroller and on me..... I don't want to create bad habits and get her even more out of routine, but I don't know what else to do with naps. Hoping this will pass soon. 

 

Ginny0211

twigmommy:

Do you use a paci at all? For those times when my DD isn't falling asleep well I'll unlatch her when she's done nursing and slide the paci in. Then I'll hold her for a little longer, and her having the paci helps transition from being held to the crib. It's also great for those too over tired to nurse times. I'll offer the paci and hold her, and after she has it awhile she'll relax and snuggle up against me. My DD has regressed with her night sleep, but I think she's getting back on track. It's just extra patients, snuggles, nursings as she needs and paying extra attention to watch out for those eye rubs / yawns. Good luck.

I wish she would take a paci! I tried many times, but she never liked it. She would scream and spit it out.