Frustrated/Vent

[Wisteriacow]

We've had ongoing problems with DS and sleep since he was a newborn. Things have really settled down in the last few months since I eliminated dairy from our diets. This past week though has been horrific and I can't figure out why. He's waking every 1 1/2 - 2 hours all night long. There were two nights where he didn't go to sleep until after 10pm and still got up for the day around 6am. The last "decent" sleep was last Friday where he slept in until almost 8am (unheard of for him) and only had two or three wakings. We think it's because the snow prevented all the usual traffic noises we typically hear. I can't figure out why he's waking up so much at night the last few nights though. I haven't had any dairy. The new foods we've eaten have been basic ingredients that he's all had before. I've tried giving him Motrin or Tylenol for teething and he seems to actually sleep worse those nights. I'm at my wit's end. I'm exhausted. It's almost Christmas and I don't have the energy to deal with anything plus it's the end of year at work so I have a ton of responsibilities to take care of for that. I'm so overwhelmed and tired and I feel myself getting short tempered with DS because of it. I just wish I knew what was going on so I could try and fix it or at least have some idea of how long it will last.

Dear Santa - please bring me an instruction manual for my son. Thank you.

[LadyCatherine185]

How old is your LO? Those sleep patterns sound pretty normal for a young infant.

Have you tried white noise to drown out the traffic sounds?

Could be teething, developmental milestones, growth spurt, etc. Do you cosleep? That is the only thing that has helped me keep my sanity and feel rested. My DS is just now in the last month or so sleeping 2-3 hours at a time. Most of his life he woke every 45-60 minutes all night, and up at 5 AM for the day.

hope you can find some ways to feel rested soon.

[Wisteriacow]

DS is 13 1/2 months. I do run a humidifier at night to help with dryness and as white noise. I tried bringing him to our bed last night around 2am to see if he did better after that. He still was waking up every 2 hours. Based on hips poops I think it's some kind of bug but he has no other symptoms. Based on the way he's crying at night I think its his teeth but pain meds don't seem to help. I think it's just really getting to me because every time we get over one sleep hurdle and I start feeling better, another one pops up. And DH is losing patience with these gentle methods and keeps pushing some form of CIO.

[Maluhia]

It may be more than dairy - have you looked into a Feingold diet for yourself so the breastmilk does not pass on anything? Or for him if he's eating solids?

s it's hard when exhasuted not to give in, but we all know that CIO will do more damage than any rest we *might* get would outweigh. Good luck holidng strong, maybe give your DH some of the articles in the research section above?

[LadyCatherine185]

Could be molars. We had a rough time with those.

[rzberrymom]

Sounds like molars to me too--they were horribly painful for my DD (although I didn't realize just how painful until they came in all the way and she FINALLY slept!)

[Louisep]

IME and from reading this forum, sleep issues wax and wane for years - just when we parents think we have it sussed BAM the game changes. I spent months searching for an answer for my son's sleep issues and drew a blank. The searching just added to my frustration.

Some kids become hyper with pain meds - did you get the dye free option?

Give yourself a lie in on Christmas day and you'll feel a bit better.

[Wisteriacow]

Things are on a bit of an upswing again. DS came down with another cold (only a week or so after getting over one) so I think that was throwing things off. He had some really yucky diapers too so there was some sort of tummy issue as well. I've gone to bed earlier the last two nights which has helped me feel a bit more rested. I can't wait until we can verbalize and hopefully give me clues as to what's bothering him. (Then again, I couldn't wait until he could walk and now I'm constantly chasing him.)