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High Needs Baby

kaybee10kaybee10 member
in Attachment Parenting
I feel like a terrible mom tonight:( My lo has always had a terrible time going to sleep for bedtime and naps.  Once she is asleep, she sttn in her crib though so thats not a problem, but bedtime itself is a nightmare.  I would gladly nurse and rock her to sleep every night but she is no longer falling asleep while nursing! She's is too interested in everything around her and would be way too stimulated to sleep with us.  I decided she needs the quiet time alone to fall asleep so tonight I tried a modified CIO where I stay in the room. (I've tried nursing, rocking, singing, and cio alone but it doesnt work) Ugh CIO does not work for us and instead of lo fussing while I stayed with her to comfort her to sleep, she screamed bloody murder! I would sing talk etc and she was perfectly fine but would start screaming when I left.  After lots of talking, patting, singing, I was losing it and picked her up where she nursed right to sleep bc she was exhausted.  So I feel awful for putting her through that and also I got nothing out of it!  She has fallen asleep on her own many nights, but some nights she just screams and I dont get it.  CIO ppl act like after a few nights of this you have a wonderful sleeping baby but its crap for me.  Tomorrow night if she doesnt fall asleep nursing, which she probably wont, I'll be in the same boat. Rocking singing reading nursing walking etc then what else can I do but lay her down and let her fall asleep?? She's 7m old and it seems like she put herself to sleep easier at 4m old and now she has learned to scream and thats all she does it rev up until she can hardly breath etc. Naps are the same way, if she doesnt fall asleep nursing I try the crib for a few mins or the swing which usually works, but I cant swing her to sleep at bedtime.  I feel terrible and dont know what I can do:(
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Re: High Needs Baby

  • penguinempenguinem member
    My LO has been this way since we stopped swaddling around 5 or 6 months because he was too mobile and getting out. Nothing works for him, we've tried every AP and other trick in every book in the world and nothing. He's a dream during the day and I know the sleep issue is he can't self soothe and therefore if one thing wakes him up its over. He fights sleep like its his job, it doesn't matter if he's nursing, being worn, or in bed w me, he cries if he is falling asleep. I growing to accept that this is my life until he magically grows out of this. Don't ask me what Ill do if he never does!!!!
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  • twocents6708twocents6708 member
    DD was and still kind of is this way. Our worst period of sleep was around 8 or 9 months when it was a fussing, thrashing fight to get her to sleep even while holding and rocking her. Turns out, teething and ear infection were part of that. She has never been the kind of child to just lay down and go to sleep. We still rock and nurse to sleep. Sometimes DH is able to rock and pat her bottom back to sleep as well. It is better but not as easy as most. I just ha to remind myself that this too shall pass. Hang in there momma!
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  • resilient61resilient61 member
    DS1 did this starting around 9-10 months when he was getting over a virus, gave up his paci, was teething, and started walking all in 4 weeks.  Needless to say I was exhausted and not up for bedtime battles.  In trying to let him CIO, he would upset himself so much that he would end up more revved than ever, and twice he even vomitted- once for DH and once for me.  I drew the line on CIO there, and in a desperate attempt to keep him corralled while calming him, I climbed into his crib with him. He loved it.  He would crawl on me, snuggle & eventually nurse to sleep.  I did this until we eventually transitioned him to a toddler bed at 15m, and by then he was only napping 3-5x week. He completely gave up naps, weaned and started STTN all at once at 26 months.  Now at 2.5 he's in a twin and I still lay with him until he falls asleep at night, but it's easier (& safer!) to climb in the twin with him.  He only sleeps 10pm-7am, and that's with no naps. He's never been a good sleeper, but he certainly has a tons of energy.  Best of luck with your curious & energetic LO!
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