5 month old - please, please advise

[herdk]

I don't even know where to start.
My dd has always been a terrible sleeper.
She was starting to make progess with a 4 hour easy but the last few nights have been awful. Waking every hour. I am a basket case from lack of sleep.
She has a feed at 7:30 and then dreamfeed at 11pm.
She is swaddled, which she gets out of at least 2-3 times a night.
She has a paci, which has always helped her get to sleep, except lately. She  will constantly spit it out, then cries for it again.
She is a very active baby, constantly in motion.
She naps okay: morning about 1-2 hrs, afternoon about 2-2.5 hours, late afternoon about 30 min.
She can be awake for up to 2 hrs. but that's it.
She gets cereal in the morning and afternoon.
She is bottle fed, a combination of formula and breastmilk (from frozen).
She used to sleep well from 8pm to about 3 am, but now wakes hourly.

I just don't know what to do next.
Is the cereal a problem? I have read some posts indicating this might be the case.
Is the paci a problem?
Does she not need to be swaddled? She has not gone to sleep without it yet.

Please someone advise me as to how to proceed, before I slip into total depression.

[frasersmummy]

Hi, not sure if i can help but here goes...! I posted a very similar question but thought my 18 week baby boy was waking up with hunger. He would wake anyway 2 or 3 times a night settle with a soother - only to wake up again an hour or two later. (please see night waking - help!). Anyway the advice was to increase feeds but couldn't understand how and i'd put in an extra feed between 7 and 11pm only to find he wouldn't then have a dream feed so no advantage. I've since given him as much as he'll take about 4pm (so inbetween) two feeds. I only started three days ago but he's since slept for the first time.   I'm not sure if this is relevent to you at all but even if it isn't just to say that i know what you're :cry:  feeling. My problems were compounded by a dad away at sea too. Just wondered if there are any other factors going on though if she's suddenly unsettled...teething or climatic changes maybe?? Is everything else ticking along as normal? ie diet, poos etc?
I hope this helps...probably not but you're not alone. I know i'm not out of the woods yet but i'm finally managing to get some zzzzzzz's. good luck and chin up!! xx Fran ( mummy to Fraser 18 weeks)

[sa]

i think at 5 months, she is trying to learn self soothing.
it might be time to wean off swaddling and paci.

i went cold turkey for the swaddle as it was very hot here when DS was 5 months. i introduced a light blanket as a lovey, he rub his face and chew the blanket before he goes to sleep. if he does wake up at night, he will do the same thing. i put 2 small blankets in the cot so he can always find one around him.

oh, and waking every hour .... sound like teething??! may be that's why she keep spitting out the paci.

HTH.

[herdk]

Maybe it is teething but she has no other symptoms so I don't know.

I don't think she's hungry because we've tried feeding and she only takes a little bit. Plus, even in the morning she doesn't eat as much as the rest of the day.

Diet and poos have been aboutt the same. the weather is cooler, days are getting shorter. Could  that really be a factor?

I just don't know what to do with her. Plus she's so tired now during the day.

[frasersmummy]

it sounds like she waking either because she wants you there or something is unsettling her at night. I wondered about the climate if its suddenly colder - i'm in hampshire and the last few nights have been really cold so thought might be the same for you. Is she crying a distressed cry or just grumbling?? if its the latter is going to be a habit she needs to get out of whereas the former might be easier to deal with if she has pain from teething, is too cold etc xx

[15milner]

From your post it sounds like it's the paci and the getting out of the swaddle that are causing the problems.

If she is getting out of the swaddle, you might try using a sleeping bag.  If she is active and moves a lot then she can't kick off and get out of her covers and therefore won't wake from being cold.  You adjust what she is wearing rather than adding blankets.  Certainly the last couple of night, Matthew has gone from sleeping in a lightweight bag with short sleeved pyjamas to a midweight bag with long-sleeved / long-legged pyjamas because his room was feeling colder.

I am no expert on the paci, but if she is getting distressed with it I guess you have 2 options - ditch it, or teach her how to find it and put it back in.

Is she also on the verge of some new skills. Night waking can also be attributed to learning new things - does she roll over both ways, or is she rolling one way and getting stuck so needs you at night to help, learning to sit etc...

wishing you more sleep

Alex

[herdk]

It seems like something is unsettling her at night. I haven't figured out if she gets out of the swaddle and then wakes because she's loose, or vice versa.
I'm in Toronto, Canada, and the nights have been somewhat cooler but not dramatically.
Her cry is not a distress cry really. It's more grumbling. How do I get her out of this habit???

"From your post it sounds like it's the paci and the getting out of the swaddle that are causing the problems. "
Yes, I think so too.
How can I teach her to put the paci back in herself? She can't do it now because her arms are all swaddled up, but when she's unswaddled...

I think she is on the verge of learning new things. She's been making new vocalizations lately, and she is just about to roll over onto her stomach. Maybe this is part of the problem.

Thank you to everyone for your continued help. I was feeling quite hopeless and almost depressed, but I'm starting to feel better. I just need to know that this isn't going to be forever and that she will improve eventually.