WWYD?

[anna*]

SO I'm feeling a little bit sad and resentful about sleep. Not that it is bad, not at all, but I was determined that with my second baby I would 'know better' and she would for sure be sleeping through way ahead of her brother (9 months). Well here we are at 6 months and she's showing no signs of sleeping through... and I'm not getting a stretch of sleep longer than about 3hrs... and I'm tired.

There's a couple of things.
Formula. Aud is 6 months old almost and I'm proud that until now she's had nothing but breast milk (and the occasional dose of gripe water). But we've started a little finger food, it's going down (nappy evidence) so that little gut is no longer 'virgin'. IN a couple of weeks she's going to be starting childcare 2 x per week and will be having a mix of EBM and formula while she's there - EBM when I have stocks in the freezer, formula when I don't. In preparation for this, I have a tub of formula arriving this afternoon with the groceries. My question... should we give her a bottle at DF tonight to see if she will sleep a bit longer?

The other thing is, my darling mum has offered to have Audrey overnight so I can get just one night's full sleep. Until now I've said thanks but later, because Aud has just seems so little, too little to be away from me. She's six months now, the risk of SIDS has dropped way down... would you let yours stay away overnight at 6 months? It's still too soon, right?

[becj86]

Well, big questions!

I'd give the formula a go at the DF but keep in mind that it may not work... Didn't work for DS and didn't work for many other kids that I know of (proportionally compared with those I am aware of). Mainly because the virgin gut is gone now with the food going through. I'd maybe do a formula bottle during the day first to make sure she's ok with it (no tummy troubles, etc.) but that's me.

I wouldn't let my mum or MIL have DS overnight even now (he's nearly one ) but I don't trust them to stick to my rules at all, so I don't think we'd do it til he's 6 or 7...

[~Emma~]

I would def give the formula a go hon if she's going to be having it anyways. You need to strike a balance and sleep is part of that balance. i agree with pp though, dont depend on it working as it may not.

 As for the parents. I'd jump at it. We dont get any help of that kind around here and I think its good for kids to get used to being in different environments with different loved ones. Your Mum may not do things exactly as you'd do but she'd not put her in harms way and thats the main thing.

 It so hard dealing with sleep deprivation and so much harder when you have 2 to contend with during the day. It doesn't help that as we get older we become less able to cope on less sleep. 

 I say do what you need to to get what you need. 

[Shiv52]

I say yes to both!

Yes she is very little but its your mum.  She'll call you if she doesn't settle or is too upset.  KWIM?   Her granny loves her. 

And yes to the formula.  I agree it very well may not help with sleep but what it does mean is you can get to bed and get DH to do DF or a NF.  Sleep is so important too xx

[C&B&E]

agree with pp's anna - go for it 

[Erin M]

Def do the formula during the day at first to make sure her tummy is ok with it, but if it helps at night, then fabulous. 

We left Katie overnight with my parents when she was 6 months old because we had to go to a wedding - she was totally fine.  It sounds like you could use the break!  I've not lived close enough to family since she was little to do that again, which is why I haven't.