Hi, Things are getting a bit out of control here, my LO is waking sometimes hourly, sometimes 2 hourly at night. Last night he went to bed at 7:30, woke at 10:30, 11:45, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 5:15 then up for the day at 6:30. I'm so sleep deprived I'm started to want to just feed him to sleep each time and I'm starting to get angry with him and want to cry all the time.
He has reflux, three weeks ago we changed from ranitidine to losec and that night was the worst ever, he woke every 3/4 - 1 hour screaming his head off and nothing would calm him except BF. Since then I put him back on ranitidine (as well as losec) and have been gradually reducing the dose of the ranitidine. I don't think reflux is bothering him as he isn't upset when he spills any more.
He used to be great t sleeping, he'd do a 5-6 hour stint then up for a feed then a 3-4 hour stint so only waking once. That was great I could handle that fine. He'd also go off to sleep without crying, just doing his mantra grizzle, but now he fights sleep like anything, although it's getting better with our routine which we've done for around a month now.
I've seen these questions on other posts, so I'll answer them:
How old is your child? 5 months 3 weeks
What’s his/her daily routine? Generally has two long naps of 1.5-2 hours and one catnap about 30-45 mins. A time is around 2hrs 30 (from wake up to asleep). Started solids two weeks ago so do BF on wake up and solids 1 hour later.
What’s nap routine? Start 30 mins before I want him to be asleep: change nappy, put in sleeping bag. Sit on sofa and read two stories, sing a couple of songs then sit quietly for a few mins. Go into bedroom, shut curtains, put in bed give lovey, say or sleep mantra, then I leave. I come back only if crying escalates and try just to give verbal reassurance. If his crying gets frantic I pick up cuddle then put down as soon as crying stops. I usually have to go in twice to give reassurance before he sleeps. I try to leave while he's still grizzling a bit, just not crying.
How long are naps? 2 x 1.5-2hrs, 1x 30-45mins.
What's bedtime routine? Time? Bed time routine is almost same as nap, but has a bath first then massage, and a top up feed just before going down, I make sure he's awake when I put him in bed though. He usually goes to sleep between 6:30 and 7:30, depending on his cues.
Do you bottle or breastfed?? Breast
How much? or how long? Every 4 hours usually, time depends on him, at least 10 mins.
If breastfed.. one side or both?? (at each feed) one side
How many wakes per night? so so many... can be hourly.
What’s your LO like when waking at night? How long is he/she up? He starts off just grizzling for a while, but it escalates if I don't go in. Depends, sometimes I can just put his lovey's (a rabbit) ear in his mouth and he'll go back to sleep sucking it. Some times I have to stay and give verbal reassurance and bounce his bed (a hammock). usually max is 10 mins, if it's longer than that he's usually hungry.
When you go to him/her is she fussing or crying? Or is it a mantra cry? I wait till the crying escalates before going in.
What have you tried to settle?? As above, give lovey, verbal reassurance, bouncing.
What do you do for A time and how long is it? Around 2:30, varies but not too stimulating, usually goes: BF, change nappy, mat time with toys and songs or jolly jumper, solids, mat time or walk or lie outside for a bit with me, inside 30 mins before sleeping as described above.
Are there developmental issues such as teething or milestones? Just got one tooth, one more may be coming. He doesn't seem upset enough on waking for me to think it's teeth, but we are giving him bonjela every 3 hours in case. He has reflux but seems to be under control at the moment.
Have you introduced cereal? Why, how much, and how many times a day? (for LO’s under 6 months) I tried rice cereal the last two nights to see if it would fill him up, first night he woke every 1 1/2- 2 hours until 2 then slept 2-7 (yay!), last night as described above. We're doing baby led weaning so he has a variety of solids. Yesterday he had chicken, pumpkin, golden kiwifruit and grapes at 9am; papaya, avocado, salmon and banana at 1pm; then rice cereal just before bed time.
Do they have a prop? If so what is it? I don't think so, maybe sucking his lovey's ear, although he can now replug himself.
Do they have a lovie? yes
Please, please please help, I'm getting really desperate!!!
