Mothering › Forums › Parenting › The Family Bed and Nighttime Parenting › Totally frustrated and exhausted - five month old not sleeping
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Totally frustrated and exhausted - five month old not sleeping

post #1 of 4
Thread Starter 
Nora will be five months old next week. She's never been a big napper and "historically" (in her short life), she's slept okay at night. Meaning, she'll sleep for about 40 minutes at a time TOPS, 2-3 times per day for a nap and sleep for longer stretches (3-4 hours) at night. She has never really been one to fully wake up at night when she does wake to eat and pretty easily gets back to sleep. UNTIL...

About two weeks ago, we all got sick. She finally succumbed and we found out that she had an ear infection. She had a pretty rough cough and lots of nasal drainage as well. We decided to put her on the antibiotic but in the meantime we had about three sleepless nights in a row. Now her cold is getting better but I think she's teething - lots of drooling and need to chew on everything. She also is really, really fussy. We've given her the Hylands tablets and frozen teether/washcloth, etc. I even tried some Tylenol. She continues to only sleep about 30 minutes at a time for naps and is REALLY fussy at night.

For example, it took about an hour to get her to sleep tonight to the point where I could lay her down and walk away. She woke up within forty minutes. Then it took another hour or so until I could put her down, only for her to wake up pretty much right away. She wants to chomp on my nipple or suck on my finger or anything that is attached to me. Of course she WON'T take a binky and takes it as a personal affront when we offer one. It is completely maddening and stressful and I try to keep perspective but it's SO hard when you're tired and at your wit's end.

Also, FWIW, we were cosleeping but none of us were sleeping very well...we'd never entirely wake up when it was time to eat, but I don't think I ever really got into deep sleep since I'm a really light sleeper. Now she's basically side-carred in her crib so she's very close.

So are 2-3 30 minute naps okay for an almost five month old? My first dd napped 3 naps a day for several hours at a time. And what can we do about this nighttime routine? I'm not willing to let her CIO, but I can't spend my whole night running up and down the stairs. HELP!
post #2 of 4
Uggh, sounds like the dreaded 4 month sleep regression. I thought I had done something to cause it until I read these:

Wakeful 4 Month Olds
What Are Sleep Regressions Anyway
post #3 of 4
Oh, and on those really fussy nights, sometimes the only way I could get my DD to fall asleep was in a wrap, mei tai, etc. It worked for lengthening her naps too.
post #4 of 4
We cosleep and he will not go to bed until I do. He doesn't nap for longer than a few minutes at a time, and generally- we are both exhausted!

I haven't yet reached a point where he can be put down to bed at all- if he does doze off in the evening, I put him in his hammock or in a pack and play nearby (protection from the older brother) but he's up again within minutes.

Wearng him does help to get him into a deeper sleep and if I catch him at just the right point, I can often slip him off of me and onto his sheepskin where he'll stay asleep for a couple hours.

Not much help, but I completely understand where you're coming from!
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
Mothering › Forums › Parenting › The Family Bed and Nighttime Parenting › Totally frustrated and exhausted - five month old not sleeping