3 1/2 month old won't sleep

[lkvosu]

Hello! I'm new here and this is my first post; however, I've been lurking on MDC ever since I got pregnant and I've always found the people here to be very helpful and insightful.

DS has been a very finicky sleeper lately.  He'll be 4 months on Feb. 21st, so I’m wondering if it’s the four month sleep regression I keep hearing so much about.  But, whatever we call it, it’s been tortuous.  For the past 6 weeks or so it’s been getting worse.  Used to be he would sleep from about 11pm to 6am, only waking 2 or 3 times to nurse.  Gradually he started waking up nearly every hour, sometimes to nurse, sometimes just for a snuggle, and he would wiggle and squirm almost all night (we co-sleep).  Now it’s to the point where he won’t sleep unless he’s being carried, so DH and I are taking turns walking up and down the hallway all night long trying to keep him asleep.  He won’t let us sit, lay, or even put him in a carrier.  Occasionally he’ll have a night where I can nurse him down in our bed but I have to keep my arms wrapped around him or he’ll wake up, cry, and want to be walked again.  Even then he'll still wake up every hour and eventually want us to walk him. We took him to the pediatrician to rule out something medical like an ear infection, and she gave him a clean bill of health.  He doesn’t have any symptoms of food sensitivities like spitting up or mucous in the stool. Also, he hasn’t been any fussier than normal during the day, and he naps well as long as he’s being worn or in my lap.  He’s never been able to sleep alone.

Has anyone else gone through this? I would love tips, insights, or even just support and encouragement.  I feel like I'm losing my mind! I posted on MDC because I knew I wouldn't get CIO advice. Thanks.

[LadyCatherine185]

have you looked into reflux or food allergies? ((hugs))

[LittleBirdy]

Maybe it's teething?  My DS gets restless like that when he's teething.  I gave him some ibuprofen last night and he slept pretty well (woke maybe every 2 hours to nurse, but went easily back to sleep) until it wore off around 3:30.  Then he was restless and just wanted to stay attached to the nipple.  Perhaps for your DS it is the walking that's comforting?

I think of it this way: I can remember being really sick to my stomach, and someone rubbing my back, and thinking, if this person stops rubbing my back I am going to hurl.  I imagine teething being similar - they are really uncomfortable, but as long as mom or dad keeps doing that comforting thing, it's ok... but they have to keep doing it.  Good luck, having a difficult sleeper is no fun, I know!

[heidibgg]

I have gone through it...and still cycling through issues with 10 month old dd#2  She did something similar around that time and was waking up every hour for a while there.  I don't know how I lived through it, but it got better.  Hang in there.  dd#2's sleep messes up every time she has a growth spurt, or a developmental spurt, or she's sick....etc.  She just doesn't sleep well.  I am currently about to lose my mind, but writing this to you helps me remember that it gets better.  Btw, have you tried a cradle swing?  That worked for us for a little while during the rough parts.

I second the reflux suggestion too.  Doesn't hurt to talk to the ped about it.

((hugs))