Only getting 2 hours of sleep??

[WifeofAnt]

Let me start this by saying I am overwhelmingly thankful I have my DH right now to help me at night or I don't know what I would do.

My DS (5 weeks tomorrow) has this issue of refusing sleep until somewhere between 11 PM and 2 AM.  He'll nap just fine during the day but once 7 PM rolls around he will scream if someone isn't almost constantly soothing him.  Well last night everything seemed to be going according to his little schedule (going to bed after 11) and he woke at 2 AM to eat.  After he eats at night he will usually pass back out with no problems but he didn't.  I tried burping him, no burps.  I tried changing him, that woke him up more.  I tried the little Happiest Baby On The Block jiggle thing (he normally loves it), he started screeching.  I tried giving him the breast again, he wouldn't take it.  At this point DH took him and told me to go to sleep.  He walked him around the house keeping him relatively calm until he brought him back to me at 5 to eat... and then again at 7.  DS is now in his bouncer with my foot keeping it bouncing (DH is finally getting some sleep) and he still won't sleep past the initial light stages.

DH goes back to work tomorrow and I just don't know what I'm going to do.  He can't stay up with him anymore because he has to be up at 5 and I'm going to fall apart if I'm going to have to try to soothe him to sleep from sunset to sunrise while not getting any sleep myself.

[mkksmom]

How much is he napping during the day? The only thing I  can say is to take naps when he is asleep. Was last night the only night that he was up most of the night? If so, don't panic because I doubt he'll do it again tonight. Hang in there. I know it's hard. 

[WifeofAnt]

I don't really know.  Probably too much.  I try to keep him awake but nothing short of turning the heat all the way down and leaving him half-dressed keeps him awake during the day.  Now its 11:30 and he's still eyes-wide-open awake (at least he stopped screeching for a while).  He's wrapped up in my Moby and I'm bouncing on a big exercise ball.

Now I know why some people use CIO... sometimes it seems like the only thing they're going to do is cry so why bother.

[justKate]

Originally Posted by WifeofAnt 

Now I know why some people use CIO... sometimes it seems like the only thing they're going to do is cry so why bother.

That's exactly how I felt with DD.  She screamed for the first six months of her life, on exactly that schedule. I'm surprised I didn't throw myself off a cliff.  Does your bouncer have a vibrate-y button?  Have you ruled out reflux?  Does he stretch his neck up like a turtle in pain? TBH, that was only about 60% of my DD's problem.  She just didn't like sleep. 

I know this isn't helpful, but I wanted to let you know that you're not alone, and somehow it will improve.  I say just keep trying different things until you find something that works (for you).  Take him for a drive?  I just got addicted to VH1's Rock of Love Bus for a few months....  I hope it gets better for you soon. 

[WifeofAnt]

Thank you.  Well DH started going back to work yesterday.  He has to wake up at 5 and DS is just following his lead.  I thought yesterday was going to be horrible because he started fussing around 4 or 5 but he ended up falling asleep shortly after 8.  The downside is that 5 AM is our new family wake-up time.  I think I can deal with 5 PM-8 PM a lot easier than 8 PM-11 PM though.

[JamieB]

You said he starts to cry around 7pm?  It could be that he is overtired by his point?  Maybe try putting him to bed earlier than that.  How long does he spend awake between nap times?  Or before he 7pm fussy time?

[WifeofAnt]

He wakes up and starts crying.  I change him, feed him, burp him, and then he keeps going on.  Tonight he woke up at 8 (its 9:30 right now) and started screaming right away.  I was so hopeful that when he went to sleep at 7 he would stay asleep...  This crying period at night is the longest he'll stay awake at one time the whole day and we're trying to get him to sleep the whole time. 

[Prairiemother]

Poor mama, it will get better.  My second baby was up a LOT at night because of reflux issues.  It wasn't severe enough to warrant medication, but it was like he was in pain a lot at night.  We used the bouncer, like you say, a bit to help keep his head elevated.  Later when I wasn't so sleep-deprived I wished I had tried to put blocks under the head of a bed.  Hope your little one sorts it all out soon. 

[LadyCatherine185]

nak 

my ds2 was very similar due to reflux and dairy sensitivity. once we started zantac and i cut out dairy from my diet, brand new baby. goes to bed between 9-10 and sleeps 2-4 hour chunks until 9 am.

[Super~Single~Mama]

Originally Posted by LadyCatherine185 

nak 

my ds2 was very similar due to reflux and dairy sensitivity. once we started zantac and i cut out dairy from my diet, brand new baby. goes to bed between 9-10 and sleeps 2-4 hour chunks until 9 am.

OT, but I'm SO glad your ds2 is a halfway decent sleeper!!!  I remember how much your older ds kept you up, and always really admired how you handled it!!  And, I must say that they are ADORABLE in your avatar pic!!!

[LadyCatherine185]

thanks!! yes it is soooo great to have a decent sleeper this time!!! he doesn't do great EVERY night, but I'd say 4-5 nights a week he sleeps GREAT. last night even a FIVE hour stretch! Liam didn't do that until he was 20 months old when I started nightweaning!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super~Single~Mama 

Originally Posted by LadyCatherine185 

nak 

my ds2 was very similar due to reflux and dairy sensitivity. once we started zantac and i cut out dairy from my diet, brand new baby. goes to bed between 9-10 and sleeps 2-4 hour chunks until 9 am.

OT, but I'm SO glad your ds2 is a halfway decent sleeper!!!  I remember how much your older ds kept you up, and always really admired how you handled it!!  And, I must say that they are ADORABLE in your avatar pic!!!