We can't take it anymore!

[bwsjohnson]

Our son, who is almost 17 weeks old, is killing us!!  He won't sleep at night! He starts out asleep, then is awake a million times during the night. He is on the 3-1.5 easy now, with two 1.5 hour naps and two 30-45 minute naps, so he is less crabby during the day than he used to be, but still needs to be coaxed back to sleep during the two 1.5 hour sleeps. He gets a dreamfeed at around 10:30 and won't stay asleep. He has been weaned from his pacifier ( we used to have to put it back in a million times during the night, no worse than we are off now, though ), his crib has been raised ( as his lungs/nose seem to be chronically snotty - we're seeing a specialist next week....) and he is fed around 3-4 am when awake, so he isn't hungry all night long.  He used to be a fairly good sleeper, but things have gone downhill over the last month.  We cannot take it anymore, last night he was up screaming ( he doesn't have a fever or anything like that either ) from around 1 off an mostly on until he got up at 8:15 this morning. My husband works long hours and is exhausted, and I have a two year old to look after during the day as well.  What can we do? We are on the verge of either giving him away or hurting him! And I don't want to let him CIO. We do pat/shhh and PU/PD to get him back to sleep, and it usually takes for ever for him to resettle, just to wake again shortly after.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, this is reaching crisis levels and we don't know what to do or where to turn!!
THanks,
Heather

[sarah brown]

Hi Heather, I'm sorry to hear your so distressed and unfortunately I don't have the magic answer but I think you've hit upon part of the problem with the conjestion, my LO went through a bad stage of this firstly at a few weeks old then around 17 weeks, it wasn't a problem in the day but at night when lay down it would progressively get worse (I'm not sure Ollie's wasn't to do with teething as he got his first two at 20 weeks)  but what ever it was it made for some restless nights.  His crying out may be to do with his frustration at being unable to get a good nights sleep? is he waking up crying or does he start crying when you try to settle him back down, my guess is if he's waking crying then it's either the nasal thing or a pain maybe wind have you started to ween? I know it's really tough and I've just been through a period like this with Ollie that started before Christmas (although he was waking a max of 5 times and no screeming) and I thought I would never get through it I even considered letting him CIO but stuck with the shush pat thing and I'm pleased to say last night was his 4th night sleeping right through so there is light at the end of the tunnel.  I have been following Tracey's book and doing pu/pd since November and still have to aid daytime sleep to get 1.45 Min's and I'm convinced this will never happen on it's own but we can only hope, I'll keep everything crossed for you tonight

[colenliam]

Hi,
Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in this situation(I know I always feel like i am and feel better when I find out im not).  The bad days I look at my son and tell him I love him but I am not enjoying him at the moment.  Then while he is sleeping I go in his room and just look at of beautiful he is and tell him how much he means to me.  And then when he wakes up an hour later, just as I have nicely started to doz off, it starts all over again.  I need help with this situation as well.  Im sorry i can't help, just thought I would let you know your not alone, and I know how you feel.
Good Luck with everything and let me know if you find anything that helps.( my son is very nasel and doc's think its a milk allergy and that all they want to do about it, I don't believe it is)
Lots of Hugs and Prayers for u
As my son just woke up

[bwsjohnson]

Thanks to both of you, I feel less alone ( well, I should say WE ) now, and I am sorry you're going through it as well!
Last night was a little better, I have raised the crib and the mattress, and besides my ds sliding to the bottom of the crib, he seemed to have a bit better of an evening, he managed to "fuss", not cry, himself back to sleep a few times, and talk, rather noisily, as well. So, that's an improvement, I think!  He was up screaming only once and needed a poopy diaper changed and to be fed, and then was better. I sure don't mind that!
Anyway, thanks again, we're feeling a little more human today!

[Mommy in Moose Jaw]

Since your lo is 4 months (?) have you considered dropping that 3rd nap?  We started EASY at 4 months, so went right into the 3 nap routine, but recently when we had to switch to 2 naps from 3, my dd was having wonky  and short naps and LOTS more wakings at night.  Extending awake time and making the transition to 2 naps fixed it right up.  So, maybe your lo is ready to go to 3 naps?  Also for the snottiness, we used saline moisturizing drops and when used consistently, made a big difference.

[~Angie~]

I also wanted to add that our LO is always stuffy. We use saline drops about 4 times a day and the nose suction. We have also put a cool mist humidifier in her room and in the livingroom. This has helped alot. I hope everything gets better for you.