so tired :(

[moongloe]

my lo just turned 6mos. the only way he can sleep is if he has a nipple in his mouth. he'll pop off every so often, but won't stay off for long.

i cannot sleep when he does this, so twice a night he sleeps on dh's chest to give me some rest. he'll sleep there for about 2 hours, but it's fitfull. this means that dh isn't sleeping when he has him.

we are so tired. nothing i've tried works. i won't cio.

he also can only nap this way, so i'm getting nothing done.

anyone go through this? what did you do?

[Alisse]

Did he just start doing this or has he always been this way?

[the2amigos]

My DS2 just starting doing this as well. He is almost 5 months. He will only take 3-4 20 minute naps all day long and then will sleep about 12 hours at night...only with me cemented to his side with pop on/off access to boob. It's draining. I seem to remember DS1 doing something similar around this stage and keep telling myself it's a phase.

Right!?!?!?!? No help here, only sympathy!

[willowsmom]

(((((moongloe)))))

You sound really frustrated. I'm going to echo the other question, is this a new development? Is he getting any new teeth? It sounds like y'all are co-sleeping, yes?

It's so hard when they're fussy sleeping and you're already exhausted to begin with.

Rest assured, this won't last forever.

Happy sleeping!

[mrstanimal]

I have a 7 1/2 mo old, and am going through the same thing. Nipple must be in mouth, otherwise he flails, wakes and cries. I used to be able to be his human pacifier, but lately I'm having trouble getting any decent sleep. Not sure what is going on, maybe a growth spurt. He's becoming way more mobile, almost crawling, don't know if there's a correlation ? He has always napped either in arms, or in a wrap. Lately, wearing on my back seems to be the best option for both of us, as he is out like a light, and I have my hands free to get a few things done.

I don't have any solutions, just empathy.

[saffrongirl]

I feel you too. So, so tired. Have you tried using white noise? That has helped us a bit...buys me a few hours of "alone" sleep at night.

[moongloe]

we do cosleep.

it's relatively new. he slept in his basket until one month. it became too hot to swaddle him, so we had him sleep on our chests. that worked well, until 3mo, when hell broke loose, and we discovered food allergies. his sleep went from 3-4 hour chunks to 1 hour between waking. at 4mo i started having him lie next to me, instead of on, because i couldn't sit up every hour any longer.
we removed all allergens from my diet, and for the past month he sleeps as i described.

he most likely is teething, but i see no sign of a tooth. he's also learning to sit unaided, which i'm sure is exacerbating things.

[moongloe]

we have a white noise machine, but it doesn't play for long. we're trying to find one we like that plays until you turn it off.

[JayJay]

Well I have to do this too with Bella, and here's what helps me get sleep:

1) A memory foam pillow. Seriously. In weird positions like we end up sleeping in, a memory foam pillow is an enormous help. Don't know why, but it works.

2) A little foam-wedge sleep positioner: you can get them from target or Wal Mart (and a bunch of other stores I'm sure) - she sleeps on her side beside me in this little positioner, and I sleep on my side facing her with my boob out no a receiving blanket. Then the boob is, like, 3 inches from her mouth at all times, so I can half wake and pop it in and out.

After a couple of nights like this, she began sleeping longer, as did I! It seems to work for us like this - are you able to try using a sleep positioner and a pillow like that? I hope that this resolves itself soon! XxX

[tracymom1]

Don't have a whole lot of advice, but couldn't read and not respond. We are struggling with sleep here, too, and I just don't know what to do either. We stopped co-sleeping and I am regretting it. DH will not do it anymore. Sigh. DD and I may end up moving into the guest room in the meantime.

[ArcticRose]

Six months ago I was in your situation. It will get better! There is a light at the end of this tunnel. Just keep doing what you know you have to and it will work out.

It happened so gradually, I can't really tell you when, and every baby is different anyway, but DD did, eventually, stop needing a boob in her mouth to sleep. She now nurses for a bit, then rolls away from me and sleeps. AAHHHH.... bliss!

I still hold her for all her naps, but at about 9 months she started being able to play for a bit on her own, I could go into the kitchen and get the dishes done while she played. Before that I had to put her in a carrier to get anything done. I held her or wore her constantly for about 8 months.

Whenever you feel like you can't do it anymore, remind yourself that this too shall pass. It will end. There will come a time when you will look back and remember how this was.. and then you will write a post like this to help some other mother who is desperate for some rest.

Keep up the good work, you are doing the right thing.

[novembrette]

white noise machine

i found that my alarm clock is the best white noise machine: i leave it on radio, between stations and my son immediately calms down (though i personally really dislike this sound!).
good luck!

[sunnygir1]

Can you babywear during naps to give you a little break? My 4mo has completely rejected the sling and carrier, but I think he will go back to it at some point.

Your troubles are probably developmental and temporary...teething, sitting-up milestone, etc. Do you think he might still have tummy troubles and discomfort from allergies?

I know how horribly difficult it is to be so sleep deprived; hang in there, mama.

I know it doesn't make you feel better, and may seem like just another thing to do when you already have no time to yourself, but if you can get a nap when your dh is home, even a couple times a week, it might really help your outlook.

[kdescalzi]

I am right there with you. DD is 8mos and has always needed the nipple in her mouth to sleep. All night long and for every nap I am the paci!! I know exactly how tired you are! I agree with pp in getting a good firm pillow to put behind your back to hold you in the side position. Also I started putting Lily in the ergo on my back....not only is it easier on my back but she has no boob access!!! It gives me 2 hands free and my poor nipples a break. I have read the ncss and have thought about the pantley pull off but have not tried yet. I keep hoping that she will grow out of this. I never get into a super deep sleep because she is constanly rooting for the nipple and I miss sleeping on my belly so much. I am trying to last until a year and I hope she will grow out of this by then. No major advice but wanted you to know I feel your discomfort and lack of sleep. I use white noise but honestly it is all about the boob....she could really care less what else is going on! As I type this she is napping on a pillow with my nipple in her mouth! Hang in there...we will get through this. The saying "whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger" fits this situation

[agoldenlife]

Oh my god! I am not the only one going through this?!

My 7 mo dd has started teething and everything has changed! Especially the sleeping and nursing. We cosleep and she is CONSTANTLY glued to my breast. Comfort sucking away. SHe won't nap unless I nurse her to sleep and then I try to "unglue" her and she stirs looking for the breast. So, often times I have to lie there waiting until she is in a very deep sleep.

I feel like I am spending half my day in bed with her at my breast. I actually keep a book on the bed for these times because they have become quite the norm.

It feels good to know it's a phase and I have to remind myself of this. Usually I don't mind, but there are definitelly times when I would love to be up getting something else done.

[moongloe]

i am so grateful for all this support!

it truly helps to read all your replies.

[Icehockey18]

Right there with you mama! I'm a human paci too! I guess I'm like others, I hope he just out grows it. I think I might try a firm pillow. My back and neck get so sore trying to sleep and stretch my boob into ds' mouth... I don't mind the side laying nursing, but lately ds ONLY wants to nurse from about 2 am to 5 am sitting up.. *sigh* 'this too shall pass, this too shall pass, this too shall pass........'