My dd is 9 months old and has never really sttn very well. She's always been a restless sleeper. Around 5 months my husband and I separated so I'm left to the night wakings alone. I still bf but not during the night. Recently she's started waking up around 2-3:00 am and not going to back to sleep for 1-2 hours or until 5am when I feed her "breakfast"! She will stop crying only if I'm up walking around bouncing with her...if I even try to just stand still she starts screaming bloody murder! I'm at my wits end as I work as well so these sleepless nights are making me incredibly nutty. She does have several teeth at the verge of coming in but the oragel and/or any other medicine doesn't help...her diaper is clean...she isn't acting gassy or hungry. I was thinking tonight I would just let her stay in her crib and sit next to her as she screams and see if after a couple of nights she relaxes. Any other moms who still bf, have any suggestions or advice?
Re: BF'ing & STTN help!
If you think her teeth are bothering her try teething tablets or Tylenol before bed. Have you tried to let her CIO? DS woke up 2-3 times a night until he was 8 months old, but I think the problem was me. As soon as I heard him, I went and got him, I never gave him a chance to fall back asleep. He still wakes up once in a while, may cry for a few min. and go back to sleep.
I wouldn't sit by her crib, at least with my DS, it would only piss him off that I was right there, and wouldn't get him. Oh, I BF, too. GL!
I know it's hard! I hate listening to DS cry. And he is super dramatic, so he can really carry on! I have a monitor beside me on the nightstand, so I hear him the whole time (not that you won't be able to hear DD!) but for DS personally, I didn't go in until I knew he went back to sleep, it just set him off more. It's so sad b/c I knew he was standing up waiting, but after 2 nights of it, he was done, and would go back to sleep no problem. It's soooo great now!
Can your DD get down from a standing position? Before DS could get down, I had to go in and put him back to sleep, or he would just stand there crying, and fall asleep standing up.
Yes, she can get down. It's not her strong point though and the few times I have left her alone to cry she has just remained standing. I'm going to try this tonight and see how it goes...I figure I'm not getting sleep anyway so if I'm up the next few nights while she gets adjusted to this it doesn't matter! Thanks for the ear/advice!