My Touchy DD has never slept through the night but my biggest problem is trying to figure out what she needs (Should I wrap her? unwrap her? feed her? give her paci? pick her up? change her diaper? Just let her cry, hoping she will wind down?). I would be happy if it was just one time, but 3-4 times is very frustrating. Here's her info:
How old is your child? 4.5 months (20 weeks)
What’s his/her daily routine? Wake at 6:30 am (tried for 7 am, but didn't work). The day usually starts fairly well on a 4 hour EASY routine, but switches to a 3 hour routine by the end of the day. She's very inconsistent on her nap times, but here is her rough schedule:
6:45 - E
8:30 - S
10:30 - E
12:30 - S
2 pm - E
3:30 - S
5 pm - E
7 pm - E (bedtime)
10 pm - DF
If her naps are too short I try extending them (re wrapping her, paci, holding her arms and legs), but if it takes longer than 20-30 minutes, I just get her up and feed her which messes up the rest of her day. Then I just try my best to read her cries and figure out whether she needs to eat, sleep, or just change the scenery. A couple weeks ago I tried to gradually move her to a full 4 hour schedule, but once I dropped a feeding, her nights got worse which in turn screwed up her days.
What’s nap routine? I take her into her darkened room, sound machine on, pace back and forth 2-3 times, hold her still for a minute (she usually fusses and cries so I put her down). I place her on her blanket and wrap it around her (semi swaddle). If I read her sleep signs well and put her down in time, she will fall asleep very well. If not and she is really screaming I give her a paci and she settles. Sometimes it takes a few tries of holding her arms and legs so they don't keep her up and putting her paci back in.
How long are naps? They range from 45 minutes to 1.5 hrs although she occasionally sleeps 2 hours for her first nap of the day (probably because she is tired from the night before).
What's bedtime routine? Time? 6:45 - Bath and PJs, 7pm - quick massage, feed. Usually by 7:20pm she falls asleep so I try not to wake her as I place her in crib on her blanket and wrap it around her.
Do you bottle or breastfed?? Breastfeed. Also, my DD has reflux. She has been on medication for the past 2.5 months which is working very well, but I still make sure I keep her upright after every feeding.
How much? or how long? 5-10 minutes. Sometimes she only feeds for 3-4 minutes, but at her 4 month doctor appt she was gaining weight very well, so I know I'm giving her enough.
If breastfed.. one side or both?? (at each feed) I only feed on one side at a time. I have an oversupply issue so a lactation consultant recommended this. Otherwise I was choking my DD and leaking all the time.
How many wakes per night? 3-4
What’s your LO like when waking at night? How long is he/she up? She wakes herself up by either grabbing her blanket and sucking on it or grabbing her feet. She will start whining and it just escalates after that. It seems she can't get herself back to sleep because her arms and legs are moving all over.
When you go to him/her is she fussing or crying? Or is it a mantra cry? She is whining and then crying.
What have you tried to settle?? About 6 weeks ago I used PU/PD to teach her to fall asleep on her own which worked, but after 2 weeks, she started to struggle. Now, picking her up just seems to make her more angry and talking to her (even a soft voice) seems to upset her also. At this point, the only thing that works is to reswaddle her (tight) with her arms down and giving her a paci. I also have to lay my hands on her arms and legs to hold them down for a while. It usually takes about 15-20 minutes. After about the 3rd waking (around 4 am) I finally feed her and she falls asleep until 6:30 am.
What do you do for A time and how long is it? I try not to keep her up longer that 2 hours at a time because she gets very overtired. Some of the things we do are: play on a blanket on the floor (we're working on rolling over now), in her bouncy seat, take a walk outside, ride in the car, or if she's fussy I just hold her and walk around the house.
Are there developmental issues such as teething or milestones? Learning to grab at things (blanket, feet, etc.) is probably very stimulating now.
Have you introduced cereal? Why, how much, and how many times a day? (for LO’s under 6 months). I tried cereal a few days ago (pediatrician recommend it). She's only had it twice, but seems to like it.
Do they have a prop? If so what is it? Paci for sleep only. I've tried to take this away, but her cries turn to screams and it seems to be the only thing that works. Sometimes it only takes a few sucks and she's out. Other times she sucks for a long time before she falls asleep.
Do they have a lovie? no
I'm trying to fix her sleep issues, but obviously my attempts aren't working. What should I do? I desperately need some sleep.
Thanks