HELP!! 7 month old waking 9 times at night!! I'm losing it!

[photobugg]

I have a post going already in the EASY forum where Amayzie has been helping me with my daytime EASY schedule.   However, that's not the only thing we are having difficulties with.  My daughter wakes up about every hour at night and both my husband and I are completely EXHAUSTED from disrupted sleep.  We just don't know what to do anymore. 

Last night I decided to write down every time she woke up...when I saw this morning how often we were getting up with her, I now understand why my husband and I can barely function.  I'm lucky enough to have a husband that gets up with her during the night just as much as I do.  He's great.  But, we need our rest and so does she!

Here are the times she woke last night:

6:50 pm - Bed time
7:30 pm - WU - gave paci
7:50 pm - WU - gave paci, pat
9:45 pm - WU - gave paci, pat
10:30 pm - WU - gave paci
11:20 pm - WU - gave paci
2:09 am - WU - gave paci
3:15 am - WU - gave paci
3:30 am - WU - gave paci
3:50 am - WU - gave paci
5:42 am - WU - awake for the day

(I guess I should mention that she has REALLY early WU times too.  Ever since daylight savings time).

When she wakes up, it only takes a few seconds to get her back to sleep and that's usually done by giving her pacifier back to her and patting her for a moment on the back.  Most of the time, we don't even need to pat her. 

She is not getting enough deep sleep with all these wakings and neither are her parents!  Please HELP!! 

[photobugg]

Here are a few days of her EASY schedule routine.  As you can see, no two days are alike as she wakes at different times and her naps vary.  But, hopefully this will help you help me! 

February 24th - Woke up at 5:40 am

E- 5:40 am (4 oz formula and cereal)
A- 5:40 am - 8:10 am (2 1/2 hrs)
S- 8:10 am - 9:50 am (1 hr 40 mins)

E- 10:15 am (5 oz formula)
A- 9:50 am - 12:10 pm (2 hrs 20 mins)
S- 12:10 pm - 1:40 pm (1 1/2 hrs)

E- 1:45 (5 oz formula)
    2:20 green beans
A- 1:40 pm - 4:10 pm (2 1/2 hrs)
S- 4:10 pm - 4:35 pm (25 mins)

E- 4:50 pm (5 oz formula)
    6:20 pm (2 1/2 oz formula and sweet potatoes)
A- 4:35 pm - 7:00 pm (bath time and story time)
S- 7:00 pm bedtime

February 25th - Woke up at 6:30 am.  We were so surprised that she slept so late and it was WONDERFUL to get that extra hour of rest!!!  But, it only happened once.

E- 6:30 am (4 oz formula plus cereal)
A- 6:30 am - 8:40 am (2 hrs 10 mins)
S- 8:40 am - 10:45 am (2 hrs 5 mins) - GREAT NAP!

E- 10:50 am (5 oz formula)
A- 10:45 am - 12:30 pm (1 hr 45 minutes)
S- 12:30 pm - 1:35 pm (1 hr 5 mins)

E- 2:30 pm (5 oz formula)
A- 1:35 pm - 4:20 pm (2 hrs 45 mins)
S- 4:20 pm - 4:30 pm (10 minutes)  Yes, TEN minutes!  However, she fell asleep in the car on the way home from running errands, slept for 10 minutes and then when we got home I tried to lay her back in her crib for a nap and she just cried, I tried to rock her, she wanted to play.  I could not get her to go back to sleep.  We had such a great schedule this day until this happened.  I wish I wouldn't have taken her out to go grocery shopping.

E- 5:00 pm (3 oz formula)
    6:00 pm (2 1/2 oz formula and green beans)
A- 4:30 pm - 6:40 pm (bath time and story time)
S- 6:40 pm Bedtime

(you might wonder why we feed her twice this last cycle.  Her eating is part of her bedtime routine, so if we start her routine at 6:00 pm every night then she will eat first, then take her bath, then give her a massage, then story time and then we lay her down for bed.  But if she is due to eat before 6:00 then we feed her at that time and then again at 6:00.)

February 26th - woke up at 5:50 am

E- 5:50 am (4 oz formula plus cereal)
A - 5:50 am - 8:20 am (2 1/2 hrs)
S- 8:20 am - 9:00 am (40 mins)

E- 9:20 am (5 oz formula)
A- 9:00 am - 11:30 am (2 1/2 hrs)
S- 11:30 am - 12:40 pm (1 hr 10 mins)

E- 1:00 pm (5 oz formula)
A- 12:40 pm - 2:35 pm (apprx 2 hrs)
S- 2:35 pm - 3:25 pm (50 mins)

E- 4:45 pm (5 oz formula)
    6:20 pm (2 1/2 oz formula plus squash)
A- 3:25 pm - 7:00 pm (3 1/2 hrs)
S- 7:00 pm bedtime

February 27th - Woke up at 5:40 am

E- 5:40 am (4 oz formula plus cereal)
A- 5:40 am - 8:10 am (2 1/2 hrs)
S- 8:10 am - 10:10 am (2 hrs)  GREAT NAP!

E- 10:20 am (5 oz formula)
A- 10:10 am - 12:30 pm (2 hrs 20 mins)
S- 12:30 pm - 1:50 pm (1 hr 20 mins)

E- 2:10 pm (4 oz plus green beans)
A- 1:50 pm - 3:45 pm (2 hrs)
S- 3:45 pm - 4:25 pm (40 mins)

E- 5:10 pm (5 oz formula)
    6:20 pm (2 1/2 oz formula plus sweet potatoes)
A- 4:25 pm - 7:00 pm (2 1/2 hrs)
S- 7:00 pm Bedtime

February 28th - Woke up at 5:20 am

E- 5:20 am (4 oz formula plus cereal)
A- 5:20 am - 7:15 am (apprx 2 hrs)
S- 7:15 am - 8:35 am (1 hr 20 mins)

E- 9:30 am (5 oz formula)
A- 9:30 am - 11:00 am (1 1/2 hrs)
S- 11:00 am - 12:10 pm (1 hr 10 mins)

E- 1:00 pm (5 oz formula)
A- 12:10 pm - 2:50 pm (2 hrs 40 mins)
S- 2:50 pm - 4:10 pm (1 hr 20 mins)

E- 4:40 pm (5 oz formula)
    6:30 pm (2 1/2 oz formula plus Peas)
A- 4:10 pm - 7:15 pm (3 hrs)
S- 7:15 pm Bedtime

[ZacsMumme]

Does she have reflux or seem in discomfort at the NW

[Rebekahb]

the thing that jumped out at me was that she easily settled with her paci in the night every time.  This happened with both my boys and I took their paci away around 6-8months and then they slept so much better.  We had about 4 terrible nights after taking it away but we stayed consistent and after that they realized they were not getting the paci popped in sttn returned   I know my sister also had this issue in the night and realized a paci prop had happened so just weaned her paci in the night but still uses it for putting babe down for naps, etc.  Just a thought...

[photobugg]

Sara,
She does not have reflux or any discomfort problems. 

Rebekah,
I was afraid she might have a problem with the paci being a prop.  She will wake up looking for it and feeling around her crib and when she can't find it (usually because it's lost in her blanket or she is laying on it) that's when she starts to cry out for us to come and help her get it.  I'm pretty scared to try taking it away from her to be honest.  I'm afraid we will go from getting a little sleep to getting NO sleep at all.  But, maybe that's what needs to be done? 

[photobugg]

I should also add that she only sucks on it for a moment before she relaxes and it just falls out of her mouth.  Then we take it and put it in the corner of her crib.  She doesn't sleep with it in her mouth. 

[photobugg]

My husband just mentioned that when he gets up with her he sometimes doesn't give her the paci at all, and will just simply place his hand on her for about 10 seconds and she will relax and fall back to sleep.  (She's pretty much still sleeping, her eyes are still closed, she is just restless and fussing.  We've tried to let her figure it out on her own and see if she'll fall back to sleep, but if we don't go in there to comfort her then she breaks into a full out cry/scream and then it takes a lot longer to settle her). 

[ZacsMumme]

I disagree that the paci could be an issue, but if as you say she isn't using to to all fully asleep its unlikely it's a prop. The other thing is at this age they can stat to replug themselves. So if you want to keep the paci just put a few in the cot and do lots of practice for her to do it herself.

Is her room dark? Night light?

So you are going in when she starts to fuss is that right? How long has it been since you have given her a chance to do it on her own? At some point I think you may need to wait a bit longer to give her a chance to resettle.

Is she in a sleep sack or still swaddled?

[photobugg]

Sara,

Thanks for getting back with me! 

We do usually go into her room pretty quickly once she starts to fuss to prevent her from waking herself with a full-out cry.  She does try to put her paci back in her mouth, but sometimes she can't find it and that's when she starts to call for us to come help her get it.  Putting a few in the crib with her is a great idea. 

Her room is pretty dark.  I purchased some black-out blinds and also close the drapes so it's almost pitch black.  We have not been using a night light.  Would you suggest I put a night light in the room for her?

She is actually in just a blanket that we swaddle her in with her arms out.  But, once she has rolled around into different positions, the blanket unwraps and we usually just lay it over the top of her.  She rolls around a lot (sleeps on stomach, side and back), so we stopped doing a sleep sack about 2 months ago. 

[ZacsMumme]

Wouldnt asleep sack be ideal for he if she rolls around? My DS sleeps all over the cot but because he is in a sleep sack he doesn't get cold or tangled. Is this they type of thing you were using? Or are we talking about diff things
http://www.merinokids.co.nz/shop/GO+GO+BAG+-+BABY.html

Up to you with the night light, it ay be worth a try. z always had pitch back but at ~1 y he started NW and freakingout. The night light fixed it

I would def try a few pacis in the cot, and practice during A time.

[photobugg]

The sleep sac that we have is similar but it has the velcro for the arms.  I just found one online in the US that has the open arms like the link you sent.  I'll be getting some of those to give a try rather than the loose blanket. 

I'm trying a night light tonight as well to see if she does better with the light in the room.  We'll see how it goes.

I'll let be back to chime in some more once I try some new things.  Thanks for your help and suggestions, I appreciate it very much!

[Rebekahb]

just a question about the sleep sack?  How do you keep their hands from getting chilled?  My DD is still swaddled but squirming all over so was thinking she is getting close to getting unswaddled but don't want her waking 'cause her hands are cold.  So ZaccsMumme how do you keep your LO hands warm???  Photobugg how was your night?  Did the extra pacis help you guys out??

[ZacsMumme]

Good luck photobugg!

Zacs room is generally at a reasonable temp all night long so he doesn't really get cold. With the merino sleep sacks too they regulate so help keep LO warm if cold. And cool if hot. This is because of the natural fibers ie not polyester.

we Do put Z in a long sleeved dome up in summer and a cotton sleep suit in winter, or merino top and leggings. You can get ones with mitts to go over hands if need be, but my boy needs his hands free for his lovey and paci

[photobugg]

Rebekah,
The extra paci's REALLY helped!! We put 3 in there with her and when she woke up fussing, we just listened outside the room and did not go in and within a minute or so she had found her paci and fallen back to sleep!  It was great! 

To chime in on the sleep sack as well...we bought a couple of them and they are working really well.  We put her in long sleeve footie pajama and she stays plenty warm. 

Sara,
The last 2 nights have been so much better!!  We made these changes:
1. Bought some sleep sacks for her to sleep in.
2. Put a night light in her room.
3. Put a humidifier in her room.
4. Shut the door all the way when we are awake so that she doesn't hear us outside her room (we go to bed several hours later than her)
5. Put 3 paci's in her crib with her so she can find them and soothe herself.

She is doing SO great with soothing herself as long as she is able to find her paci, so the 3 has really helped.  She can always find one now!  She has woken up a couple of times where we have had to go in and comfort her by simply placing our hand on her chest, but she falls back to sleep almost immediately once she feels our touch.  I'm keeping notes though and will be back to chime in after we've been trying these new things for at least a week. 

But, things are looking promising...Thank you SO SO MUCH!!

[ZacsMumme]

great work, so glad things are improving so much. the in the cot and sleep sack are my LOs sleep lifesavers too!

[Rebekahb]

glad to hear we have just started unswaddling and trying out the sleep sack but my LO is to young to figure out how to put her own soother in yet but hopefully it will come soon...i bought an extra couple to have ready.  Glad she is figuring out the self soothing!!

[ZacsMumme]

Great rebekah Yes my LO could replug at ~6.5 months, some can do earlier and some later, but really 4-6 months are tough as they often wake a few times in the night 'looking' for the paci

[Rebekahb]

seems like each stage has something tough about it... If she could just figure she had hand control while she was sleeping!  Anyways, hope this week is a restful one