Hello!
Please I need some help! We've been having some sleep problems during the last few weeks and things seem to be getting worse...
1. Night wakening
My DD used to wake up at night a couple of days a week and would go back to sleep on her own most of the times. The past 2 weeks she's been waking up every night, 2 to 4 times and 50%of the times she won't go to sleep on her own. Yesterday she started her day at 4:30 as I couldn't put her back to sleep. I go into her room and try to settle her in her cot, but this hasn't been working recently so I pick her up and let her fall asleep in my arms, but she wakes when I put her down!
Also,apart from waking up right into the night, she's been waking between 8-10pm first she would shout loudly and then start crying, I wait a few minutes as sometimes she goes back to sleep but recently she is not doing it so often, and I have to go in. I generally put my hand on her head and that helps her to settle down and go back to sleep, but she can do this 3 times a night.
2. Putting her to bed in general
During the day she doesn't go to sleep on her own, or at least most of the times. When I put her down for a nap or for the night, I go into her room and do a wind down, but lately she's been falling asleep in my arms :-( occasionally I put her down drowsy and she finishes the process on her own, but because she closes her eyes even though she's still reasonably awake I've been waiting a bit longer and most times I've been putting her to bed already asleep. Once down if she wakes I try to reassure her on her cot, but sometimes I pick her up again. It used to be ok, but now she wakes up when I put her down and starts crying like mad. How can I go back into track with this? :-(
This is an example of her routine, sometimes she has a catnap if there is a big gap in the evening, today she had a catnap 5:30 to 6 but I think it was too late...
5:30 to 6:30 wake
E 7 6oz 8 breakfast
A to 9 (always aim for 3 hours awake)
S 9 (anything between 45' to 2 hours)
E 11 5oz 12 lunch
A 10:30 to 1:30
S 1:30 (anything between 45' to 1.5hs)
E 3 5oz
A 3 to 5:30
E 5:30 dinner 7 5/6oz
A 7:20 bath
S 7:40
DF (getting rid of it, at the moment is at 9:30pm 4oz)
I'm not sure what it can be, can it be separation anxiety? She's ok in the day, half of the times (or less) she may cry if I leave the room but I talk to her and she's fine. I'm making sure she gets enough food in the day to roll out hunger. I'm sorry but can't see clearly and don't know what to think or try; and welcome your comments/ help on this.
Thank you
Flavia