Co-sleepers, what do you do when your lo wakes at night?

[sssheri]

My 3 month old ds wakes often in the wee hours of the morning to wiggle and wimper. She's never fully awake. Until recently, I nursed her and she quickly fell asleep, now she is refusing to nurse during these times which is keeping us both awake longer. I could probably get out of bed and rock her to sleep, but I'm co-sleeping to avoid doing that!

I know every child and family is different, but what works with your lo to get them back to sleep? 

[jcent]

My DD is 13 months now, but when she did that, I would just sit up in bed and rock her for a miniute or two.  Then I would nurse her again.  She generally would nurse after the rocking calmed her down.  I can't say for certain, but it is probably just a phase.  My LO is not a great sleeper, and has gone through a number of these phases in the last year.  What happens now at 3 months, is no indictation of what will be happening 1 month from now, or even 1 week from now.  Sometimes they just need to be held, or to be moved a little to get comfy again.

[sssheri]

Thanks. I figured it was a phase, but I imagine her sleep and her life will be a series of phases, so I try to take each one as it comes. I just miss my sleep! Last night it seems like she has yelling out in her sleep, because I picked her up and her body went limp.

[SeekingJoy]

Mine did this sometimes when their wet or dirty diaper was bothering them. A fleece liner helped some. They would also do this when they got too hot, cold, or uncomfortable and I would just adjust them.

[texmati]

rock, change, feed, and if all else fails, give up and go play. We have a horrible sleeper here, so ymmv.

[jcent]

Originally Posted by sssheri 

Thanks. I figured it was a phase, but I imagine her sleep and her life will be a series of phases, so I try to take each one as it comes. I just miss my sleep! Last night it seems like she has yelling out in her sleep, because I picked her up and her body went limp.

You will only miss your sleep more in the months to come, I'm afraid.  :)  It does get easier to cope on less sleep though. 

[colsxjack]

I rock our DD without getting out of bed. I put her on my chest, lay flat on my back with my knees bent and rock/roll my body back and forth. She goes back to sleep and I dont have to get vertical.

[BlackSheepPDX]

My DD2 is 4 months.  When she wakes, I potty her, then nurse and go right back to sleep.  Wiggling/grunting often indicates a full bladder.  If I don't potty her, because I'm feeling extra tired, more often than not it bites me in the ass because she wakes again sooner because she's uncomfortable.

[wishin'&hopin']

Originally Posted by SeekingJoy 

Mine did this sometimes when their wet or dirty diaper was bothering them. A fleece liner helped some. They would also do this when they got too hot, cold, or uncomfortable and I would just adjust them.

My guy did the same until we switched to a stay dry liner for overnight.  

[sublimeliving]

She may be an early riser. 

[sapphire_chan]

At that age, if she woke and didn't want to nurse, it meant she had to pee. So I'd get up and hold her over a potty and signal to her to release her pee. Then she'd sleep/nurse for a few hours more. Of course, I'm one of those people who can get back to sleep really easily. Some people have more luck with keeping a potty by the bed.

[FarrenSquare]

Gas is what wakes my guy up in the middle of the night like that. If he doesn't want to nurse and rocking isn't working, I bicycle his legs right there in bed and help him let go of some gas. Then he will either nurse laying down, or I do what a pp said: put him tummy to tummy with me and pat his bum until jackpot.

[lookatreestar]

Originally Posted by texmati 

rock, change, feed, and if all else fails, give up and go play. We have a horrible sleeper here, so ymmv.

yup exactly this. and i have good sleepers. some of my best memories were being up early in the morning (like 3am) and just being together when the whole house was still and quiet.