Please help! Really messy evenings and nights

[beckygatt]

Finally got her to sleep at 11.50 after another little feed. I also gave her some calpol just in case there's something causing discomfort. I can't help feeling there must be something else at play other than OT.

[*Becky*]

hugs becky - I did read on the forum thread about some babies having 3 hours at the end of the day but tbh we could not do that. 2 is about the most I can get away with and that is really too much for her. So are you sure it is not a GS? I know that can send things crazy? Tracy mentions that babies do the screaming when going into their room sometimes if they are going through one. Just a thought. Hope your night was ok...

[beckygatt]

I originally thought it was a GS, but how long can it possiblt last?! Night was pretty awful. She was awake from 8.30 - 11.30, then from 1-2, then feed at 3, then awake from 3.30-4, then woke up at 7.20 for the day!! Today I'm going to try and keep A times quite short and let her sleep as much as possible, does this make sense? For the last 2 wakings she was really crying, like she was in pain

[clazzat]

I have often found that ot screaming sounds like pain, but you know your lo best so if you think it is pain then go ahead and give her calpol.

I tend to find that we don't shorten a times too much after a short nap - he does still stay awake about the same length of time (to within 10-15 minutes or so). It probably is a good idea to keep things low key today, but I would be wary of shortening her a times too much today even though she is tired, as you might find that backfiring. Dd2 was a dreadful sleeper and I always found that no matter how bad the night (and she was often up for 4-5 hours at a time in the night) her a times were not wildly different.

[beckygatt]

You could be right about the OT cry. I also didn't know that they scream when going through a GS. Today she seems pretty content although only had 2 45min naps so far. I've been putting her down after about 1-1hr15mins so maybe that is too short. I just imagine she must be so tired! I know I am

[*Becky*]

how's it going?

[beckygatt]

Hi becky! Well yesterday I was very careful with A times and not to let her get tired. She only had short 45 min naps but I put her down at 6.45 in the evening and she stayed asleep till 9.30, at which point I fed her and put her back to sleep. But then she was up again at 12.15 and wouldn't resettle so I ended up feeding. Same thing happened at 2.30 and after feeding she remained awake for a good hour, just unsettled! Then because I was tired and feeling a bit unwell I put her in bed next to me and fed her to sleep and did the same when she woke up till morning!

She has started sucking her thumb and a couple of times has managed to settle herself with it, but not consistently. On the other hand she isn't really taking paci much so she's sort of in the transition between the two, and I wonder if this is unsettling her too? I don't want to have to feed her every time she wakes up though so I'm at a bit of a loss. Also, she used to always like sleeping on her tummy but now when I put her like that she just squirms and scrabbles at the matress! So I'm not too sure what to dp with her when she's ready for nap/sleep at the moment. Before it was paci, cuddle, lie on tummy and she'd drift off, but that's not working any more.

Today she's had a 1hr nap this morning one and 2hrs this afternoon and hopefully going to have another little one now (5pm)

[beckygatt]

Another messy evening I tried to put her to bed at 7.45 after 1hr45mins A time but she wouldn't settle at all. Then DH managed to put her down at 9. She woke up again at 10 and I had to feed her and rock her a while to get her to sleep. I'm really stressed out now She seems not to be settling without a BF! How am I going to get back on track?

[*Becky*]

just seen this - are things still bad?

[clazzat]

(((hugs)))

I have decided that I am officially in no position to give advice as x is basically not sleeping during the day or night now. Everything is a complete mess and I can't even ap a nap long enough to make a difference. So you have all my sympathy and I hope it gets better soon - for all of us!

[beckygatt]

Yes. She had another bad night, waking after only 2hrs and not resettling Today I decided to try pupd and also to try and get her onto 4hr EASY. She managed 4hrs between feeds but of course naps still disastrous!

[*Becky*]

we are in a weird place too tbh and am not sure what the real issue is...what is going on!? I think working towards a 4 hour EASY is probably right if she can wait to feed and if she can handle close to 2 hours A time....DD needs to feed every 3 hours and is crying around the 2.50 mark!!!

[*Becky*]

how's things?

[beckygatt]

Hi Becky, been meaning to update! Things are definitely better. After moving her onto 4hr EASY and using shh pat/pupd the nights improved right away. She has started to suck her thumb so sleeps more easily. She tends to wake up a couple of times a night to feed and generally settles easily after. Naps are still mostly 45 mins unfortunately which messes up the 4hr EASY a bit. But definitely a great improvement in that she's sleeping almost independently. How are things with you? Still short napping too?

[*Becky*]

yes no good naps at all really
We are also still on 3 hour EASY as she is hungry after 3 hours tops and she also can't handle more than about 1.5 A time due to the short naps.
Glad things are better for you xx