October babes and more sleep talk...

[Faerieshadow]

Right now nothing is going well, I don't know if we're in the middle of a growth spurt, teething (there are two white bumps back where her molar would be coming through!!), or what, but it's like she can't get into a deep sleep and wakes herself up anywhere from every 5-10 minutes to 45 minutes, day or night. I'm losing my mind. But, even before this phase started we've been having night sleep issues. She (normally) naps really well during the day, goes down for each nap with a little bouncing/rocking (like maybe 2 minutes worth) and typically stays down for an hour or two. SHe nurses every 2-3 hours during the day (normally - right now it's every hour). But night.. oh nights are different. Bedtime hits and nothing but the boob will work for sleep. She wakes every 2-3 hours, or was, it has built up to waking every flipping hour to nurse which hopefully is just the 3 month growth spurt or something! And on a normal basis, the closer to morning, the more frequently she wakes, sometimes she'll even just stay awake and tossing/turning for an hour or so around 5ish.

We cosleep, we've got a crib sidecarred but it doesn't get much use at night, sometimes at the beginning of the night for an hour or two but since she'll only take boob to sleep at night, it's been pointless to transfer her.

Any thougths, ideas? Anyone else's kiddos act differently at night? Anyone else's babes still waking up that frequently?

[mamanurse]

I'm sure you're not alone. Have you surfed the nighttime parenting board? Can you sleep with the boob in your babe's mouth? I hope you find answers soon. I would be going insane as well...

[mkmb129]

We just got over a two week growth spurt. Nursing constantly, not sleeping well, not wanting to be put down at all, not wanting to even nap. Last night she slept for NINE HOURS STRAIGHT! I woke up and had to shake her to be sure she was okay! I think she might be teething as well, I saw two suspicious little lumps on her bottom gum. Not sure what's going on, not sure if she'll continue to sleep like this, but last night was great. She won't fall asleep without nursing, though, and that's frustrating. It usually takes an hour of more of nursing to get her to sleep.

[farmerjess]

Originally Posted by Faerieshadow

Right now nothing is going well, I don't know if we're in the middle of a growth spurt, teething (there are two white bumps back where her molar would be coming through!!), or what, but it's like she can't get into a deep sleep and wakes herself up anywhere from every 5-10 minutes to 45 minutes, day or night. I'm losing my mind. But, even before this phase started we've been having night sleep issues. She (normally) naps really well during the day, goes down for each nap with a little bouncing/rocking (like maybe 2 minutes worth) and typically stays down for an hour or two. SHe nurses every 2-3 hours during the day (normally - right now it's every hour). But night.. oh nights are different. Bedtime hits and nothing but the boob will work for sleep. She wakes every 2-3 hours, or was, it has built up to waking every flipping hour to nurse which hopefully is just the 3 month growth spurt or something! And on a normal basis, the closer to morning, the more frequently she wakes, sometimes she'll even just stay awake and tossing/turning for an hour or so around 5ish.

We cosleep, we've got a crib sidecarred but it doesn't get much use at night, sometimes at the beginning of the night for an hour or two but since she'll only take boob to sleep at night, it's been pointless to transfer her.

Any thougths, ideas? Anyone else's kiddos act differently at night? Anyone else's babes still waking up that frequently?

Um yeah, we have the same baby. Up until a couple of weeks ago, he was doing great a 4 to 5 hour stretch. These days I am lucky if I get a 2 hour stretch. I was able to nurse him to sleep and then move him over a couple of feet so I could get myself comfy but these days he has to sleep plastered against me and when I adjust he wakes and wants to nurse again. He also thrashes around in bed like he can't get comfy...last night he did it at 10:30 for about an hour and he usually does it around 5-7 while I desperately try to sleep intermittantly. I am not sure if it's gas or what. On top of that, when he wakes me up fully I have lots of trouble going back to sleep. Last night I was up from 10:30 till 2 something. I am so tired that I can't think to describe it that well I REALLY hope this is a stage and not just how it is now. He doesn't nap that well either usually unless I am holding him so diff from your babe in that regard. I wish there was an easy solution. DH acutally had the nerve to suggest CIO last night Anyways I am wishing sleep for both of us. Right now I am living on (which doesn't seem to affect the babe either way).

[sarah1122]

Right there with you.

Last night we were up at 10:30, 1:00, 3:00, 4:30 and 5:30...he usually wakes up ONCE at about 3:00am and then sleeps until 6:30 or so. He is in a crib in our room, though we tried having him sleep with us two nights ago to see if it would help him and it didn't make a bit of difference. He's up ALL THE TIME wanting to eat....he's not fussy, just hungry.

During the day his naps have been almost non-existent. I have to lay down with him and nurse/sing/rock him and he still flails and fusses and cries a little until he drops off...then the nap only lasts 45 minutes at the most. He looks totally exhausted most of the day.

I'm noticing other things too. We're having trouble nursing during the day. Sometimes he'll eat for 5-10 minutes and then pop on and off, fussing in between...I'm thinking reflux? teeth? ear infection?, but it never happens at night, only during the day. He's not as smiley or chatty and just seems...well...kind of sad. He also startles really easily. I'm thinking all of this is probably happening because he's just so tired.

Don't know what to do, but I totally hear you. If this nursing problem keeps up though I'm going to the doc.

[mkmb129]

Sarah, that sounds like Ainsley. I think not sleeping well was part of her problem, but most was a growth spurt, and possibly teething. She's doing so much better today, after a good night's sleep. I find a baby who sleeps well, well, sleeps well! The more she sleeps, the more she sleeps, and the happier she is while awake. If I'm lucky I'll get another okay week or two of sleep before the next one. This kid seems to have them every couple of weeks, and they last forever!

[sarah1122]

Thanks Megan!

Luca fell asleep at 11am this morning and is STILL out cold. I'm so happy...he was looking totally wrecked.

I also read the "Wonder Weeks" posts...which helped a ton. I'm feeling better about things.

I think my frustration was compounded by the fact that this was the week I decided to go back to work (I work from home via computer, but still).

[mkmb129]

Oh yes, Ainsley is scooting backwards & starting to sit up! I'm sure that added to her restless self these last two weeks. And yes, going back to work while baby is like this must be tough, I can't even imagine!

[Faerieshadow]

Originally Posted by mamanurse

I'm sure you're not alone. Have you surfed the nighttime parenting board? Can you sleep with the boob in your babe's mouth? I hope you find answers soon. I would be going insane as well...

I wish, I can doze off but it hurts my hips so much to lay sideways like that for a long time, I find myself in too much pain halfway through the night to be able to do anything but attempt to massage my hip for some comfort and hope she'll let me roll over eventually. :

Originally Posted by farmerjess

I was able to nurse him to sleep and then move him over a couple of feet so I could get myself comfy but these days he has to sleep plastered against me and when I adjust he wakes and wants to nurse again. He also thrashes around in bed like he can't get comfy...last night he did it at 10:30 for about an hour and he usually does it around 5-7 while I desperately try to sleep intermittantly. I am not sure if it's gas or what.

OMG that sounds exactly like what I'm going through with Elina. I used to be able to scoot away and she'd sleep just fine, which was why I sidecarred the crib, thinking she would sleep better with her own space. Now if I so much as wiggle, girlie starts waking up and searching for a boob to go back to sleep with. And the thrashing around is exactly it. Ugh.

Right now I am living on (which doesn't seem to affect the babe either way).

Also living on coffee... I've stopped posting on our fitness thread because I can't even think about exercise when I'm this tired all the time! Not when I have an active four year old to handle as well...

Originally Posted by sarah1122

Right there with you.

I'm noticing other things too. We're having trouble nursing during the day. Sometimes he'll eat for 5-10 minutes and then pop on and off, fussing in between...I'm thinking reflux? teeth? ear infection?, but it never happens at night, only during the day. He's not as smiley or chatty and just seems...well...kind of sad. He also startles really easily. I'm thinking all of this is probably happening because he's just so tired.

Don't know what to do, but I totally hear you. If this nursing problem keeps up though I'm going to the doc.

Same nursing problem during the day, including arching of the back, squirming, fussing... but never at night, which if it was reflux I'd think would be worse since we are laying down?

[sonshine_rae]

Just raising my hand.. and saying us too lol.

I'm lucky to get a couple hrs sleep in my own bed (we don't have a 'family bed'), before I end up out on the sofa recliner with babe the rest of the night again. SIGH we too used to have a lonnng stretch in the night then a couple of wakings.. but not right now.

And UGHH about the waking/startling easy thing too.. with two other crazy boys in the house it's nearly impossible for him not to get startled (even though we use white noise machines for all of them) often in the day.

Me. Want. Sleep.

[farmerjess]

Originally Posted by Faerieshadow

I wish, I can doze off but it hurts my hips so much to lay sideways like that for a long time, I find myself in too much pain halfway through the night to be able to do anything but attempt to massage my hip for some comfort and hope she'll let me roll over eventually. :

Ugh I also get that hip pain from being in the same position for hours. At least it feels good to commiserate.

[Amber Lion]

OMG, I could have written ALL your posts!!! So good to see I'm not alone; going slightly crazy over here!!!

She used to be such an awesome sleeper; passed out with little help from me by 9:30, sleep till 3 or 4 am in her co-sleeper, then nurse every 3 hrs after that till she'd get up in the morning. Would nap for 3-4 hrs at a time during the day.

Now.... it's taking hours of sucking to get her to bed. She'll fall asleep nursing in the living room, but as soon as I transfer her to her co-sleeper she'll go from deep, deep, limp armed sleep to awake and wanting to suck again. She'll suck on my finer, pass back out, then within minutes be awake again. She'll suck on the paci for Dh, same thing. Then eventually I just get in bed and she'll comfort nurse for anywhere from 1/2 to 2 hrs before she'll stay alseep... for 2 freaking hours!!! Then she'll nurse anywhere from 1.5-3 hrs all night long. I can't sleep very well curled around her, but she doesn't like me to move away either (not that we have much room to do so!).

Her naps are at the most an hour and inconsistent. She's got red rimmed eyes and is cranky all the time b/c she's so tired. I can't put her down anywhere, but if I move too much or make too much noise she'll wake up. So I'm getting nothing done. She'll have nothing to do with swaddling either.

I'm SO hoping this is a growth spurt, but it's already been going on for 2 weeks (I'm such a grumpy Momma these days!). It got to the point one night were I was so pissed that Dh was actually afraid I'd hurt her and was ready to whisk her away, but while I'm ashamed to say I was a little rough with her I was still with it enough to realize I needed to calm down before I touched her. Sleep deprivation can really get to you.

[Zimbah]

ME TOO! So glad I'm not the only one, not that I'd wish these difficulties on the rest of you, but am reassured I suppose that it must be to do with their age. Please let it end soon!

[sarah1122]

Holy smokes am I glad to hear this from all of you!

Been committed to napping today and we've both been sleeping on and off since 11am to try and do some damage control....all the work I had to do went out the window.

Happy to hear that I'm not the only one whos LO is nursing badly and startling easily...I was starting to think I'd done something really wrong and somehow traumatized the little bugger!

[Faerieshadow]

I'm so sleep deprived that just hearing that I'm not the only one going through this makes me want to cry with relief. Not that I'm happy to hear that everyone else is sleep deprived, just that my daughter isn't personally out to get me.

[Dahlea]

Mine's pretty much the same, but add in an hour of ear piercing shrieks a couple of times a day. I believe he is teething as well, the Hyland's homeopathic teething tablets really seem to help. Other than that, it sucks and we're just trying to get through it.
He won't even nap at all anymore. I can maybe get 45 min naps if I let him nap on me, but off me? Forget it.

[sarah1122]

I'll be sending you all a cosmic acu treatment tonight when I'm up at 11 and 1 and 2:30 and....:

It will be good to know that there are other mamas just like me up with their babes...usually all I have are the sounds of the fishermen going out on their boats to help remind me I'm not the only person awake in the entire world.

[Amber Lion]

It does make it seem more feasible that it's the age knowing that the rest of you are going thru it too. Amazingly, she napped for 2.5 hours this morning and is coming up on an hour of being asleep right now.... :

[crabbyowl]

YES to all these sleep issues!!!! Last night was just awful getting her to sleep - she'd be mostly asleep, then start crying again, and she did this for about four hours. On top of that, her nose is stuffy so she can't sleep on flat surfaces or she'll wake herself up trying to clear her nose, which of course I only realized after putting her down when she was finally asleep. : I hate that I've been getting so impatient with her - I know she's not feeling like herself and it makes me so sad, but at the same time I need sleep and time to myself during her daytime naps and I'm not getting these things lately.

[mama.rye]

SUDDENLY MY LIFE IS EASIER KNOWING I AM NOT ALONE!!!

Thanks...

Add to the list (and please tell me someone else is struggling with this?)
HE WILL NO LONGER TAKE A BOTTLE.
and we have tried everything. 5 types, mom home, mom not home, dad holding him in every position, you name it. He refuses. And if we persist for long enough, he melts down and hysterically cries and it is hard to calm him. I have given up trying because I feel like I am traumatizing him! So this means DH can no longer help me in the night... boo! At least once per week he would just take Miles for the night and I would get 8 hours straight. Sigh. I miss those days.

Miles is a wreck these past few days, and it shows no signs of stopping. We had classic growth spurt symptoms last week, and he ate like a maniac and slept like a maniac, but now he won't sleep, wants to eat in small doses, pops on and off, is fussy and feisty, sucks his paci furiously then spits it out...

I am going to guess this is all teething!!

And I also think (and this is based on nothing but gut!) that the transition from infant to baby is happening... he is aware of so much more, looking around and taking alot in, feeling and expressing emotions more - it's just an intense time. I watch him try to grab something or sit up or accomplish something he can't quite physically master yet, and he gets SO frustrated. He really wants to be a big boy! I imagine this would make me fussy too..

HUGS TO YOU ALL!