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Sleep issues

Kim72508Kim72508
in Upstate NY Babies

I'm hoping that someone can offer some advice/words of encouragement.  DS has never been a good sleeper- not even as a newborn.  He has never been a daytime napper- I'm lucky if he lays down for two 30 minute naps all day.  He has now been awake since 2:15am and just won't sleep.  He went down at 8pm, was awake twice before 9.  Then up again at 11:30, 12:15, 1:30, and then 2:15.  He isn't fussy- just wide awake.  I feel like I've tried everything- swaddling vs unswaddling, white noise vs no noise, quiet toys before bed vs tiring him out, bath before bed vs no bath, warm PJ's vs cool PJ's, crib, bouncy seat, swing, etc.  I've tried humming, rocking, swaying, bouncing, singing.....I feel like there's nothing left!  

The advice I got from the pediatrician was to let him cry it out.  Friends and family aren't a big help- my Mom says that he isn't getting enough to eat during the day b/c I BF.  She insists that he should be taking 6-8 ounces of breastmilk at each feeding.  He seems content and isn't hungry, just awake.  A friend of mine told me to give him benadryl.....WTF!  Never!  Nobody "gets it".  Please tell me that this doesn't last forever.  I'm so sleep deprived and exhausted.  

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Re: Sleep issues

  • JenJarJenJar
    I'm not exactly the best help because Gavin pretty much slept with me until he was 15 months old.  (Not what I'd recommend....but as a "single mom" at the time with DH in another state I did what I could...)  We did CIO but not until 16 months.  I think he's way too young to do CIO personally.  It will get better, but I'm sure it doesn't feel like that right now.  Has he started cereal yet?  Maybe that will fill him up more.  We started G on cereal at 4 months.  What about letting him sleep on his belly?  Does he roll yet?  G has always been a belly sleeper....pretty much from day one!  Hopefully you get some good advice some others.  Hang in there!
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  • TinaL99TinaL99 member

    I'm sorry you are having a rough time.  It does NOT last forever, I promise!

    DD STTN starting at 8 weeks but once the mythical "4 month wakeful" period hit, it's been hit or miss since then.  Babies are becoming much more aware of things at this age.  I think it's very important to keep a nightly routine and stick to it.  We do bath/wash up, diaper/pj's, quiet story time, nurse, bed.  Unfortunately you just have to ride it out.  We didn't do CIO until around 7 months, and even then it was a wimpy version.  Have you tried feeding him during the night?  I've definitely resorted to nursing her back to sleep more than I thought I ever would, but it's not the end of the world.  If he's just not happy, comfort him as best you can and if you need a break, enlist DH's help.  It will pass.

    Don't worry about what other people say/think.  They may mean well, but it's you, the Mom, who knows best.  You're doing great and vent here anytime you need to.  We've all been through it!

    DD1: 3/31/10 DD2: 9/7/11
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  • Kim72508Kim72508
    Thanks girls.  It helps to just have the "been there" kind of support.  We haven't started him on cereal b/c our pediatrician told us to wait due to allergies.  DH and I both have food allergies and I'm worried DS will get those too.  We're not doing CIO at this time- I feel like he's simply too young.  Maybe someday but definitely not anytime soon.  I feed him during the night- whenever he "asks" for it.  A lot of times he's just awake and happy- wants to play, smile, look around, "talk".  He is finally sleeping but now I fear that we're entering a vicious cycle of having our days and nights mixed up.  
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  • TelycoTelyco

    Ugh I just wrote a huge message that the bump ate! Boo. Long/short of it is that I would try to start the Eat-Play-Sleep method. He's obv not sleeping enough and this may help get him on the right track. I think that sleep is so important to his physical health (and your mental health)....so I think that starting to read up on CIO/Ferber is a great idea. I think 5 months is a good time to sleep train.

    He could also be starting to have some teething pain - so don't be afraid to try a little tylenol (no, not benadryl :)

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  • TinaL99TinaL99 member
    imageTelyco:

    He could also be starting to have some teething pain - so don't be afraid to try a little tylenol (no, not benadryl :)

    I forgot about this.  Stella got her first tooth around 5 months and had 6 by 7 months.  Check to see if maybe his gums are swollen and giving Tylenol for the pain might help.

    DD1: 3/31/10 DD2: 9/7/11
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