Could use some sleep help from you mommies...

[bygones75]

I'm feeling really desperate and I trust you ladies... so hopefully someone has some enlightenment.

Both my kids are poor sleepers, but at least when Thomas was a baby, you could usually nurse him or rock him back to sleep eventually. With James... this baby literally doesn't know how to fall to sleep. Nursing, rocking, walking, bouncing, swing, white noise, wearing him, bouncy chairs, massage, nothing. It's always at least two hours of me trying to soothe him, and ends with him *screaming* at the top of his lungs while I'm holding him or laying with him. And me crying too because I can't stand it.

The ped said it's "immature nervous system" but he's almost 6 weeks old and it's not getting any better. I try to soothe him at the first sign of sleepiness or crankiness but it doesn't matter. He screams himself to sleep, sleeps an hour or so, and then the whole thing starts all over again.

My toddler is being completely ignored. My husband and I aren't getting along, because the stress is killing us. And I can't stop crying, because my poor baby is so miserable.

Thomas had colic. This isn't it. This is a really tired baby who doesn't know how to fall asleep. What do I do? Please someone tell me they have some advice, because I'm starting to lose it.

Thanks.

[fihz]

Did you try swaddling him really tight? Sometimes, it relaxes the system and helps get him to sleep ;-)

[DoomaYula]

:

Rent the dvd version of "The Happiest Baby on the Block." Watch it and try to use the info -- I've actually emailed Dr. Karp a few times for more advice when I didn't feel it was working.

Do you have an Amazing Miracle Blanket? That's what I use.

Have you taken James to the chiro? He could be in need of an adjustment.

Big hugs.

[bygones75]

Hi,

Yes, I've tried swaddling. He hated it... but he's also a really hot baby and the swaddling blanket was fleece. I ordered some cotton ones and I'm hoping he'll like them better. Is the Miracle Blanket better than SwaddleMe?

We rewatch Karp's video... I haven't seen it since Thomas was a baby, and keep telling myself I need a refresher.

James has been to the chiro twice. I didn't see a big difference and it's expensive for us. But -- it's his health, so ya know, I call today and see if he can go again.

Thanks, ladies.

[2bluefish]

Walmart has some George brand large flannel receiving blankets. I think a flannel receiving blanket is the best. With mine, swaddling the feet didn't really matter, just getting those arms tucked in tight, so they couldn't startle themselves. I also had paci babies - I had to teach them to use the paci to soothe - they liked Nuks. Both my chiros did babies for free. Maybe call around and see if you can find one that is willing to help you. Also ds would not - NOT - sleep on his back - he had reflux and that could have been part of it - I had to put him on his tummy. I felt better about it since I was cosleeping and keeping a close eye on him. Good luck!

[mittendrin]

Not really advise - just
I hope you will get thru this soon!

[jennay]

My first DS would scream himself to sleep (in arms). Turns out he was so alert so was easily overstimulated and he really needed a quiet environment for awhile. He also hated sleeping flat on his back. We ended up getting an Amby baby hammock for him which he loved - after he finally got to sleep he would stay asleep for a lot longer.

[Pumpkin_Blythe]

Maybe the rocking and soothing and talking to him is just too much. Try putting him in his car seat and setting him in a totally dark room with zero noise what so ever. He may be very hyper sensitive to the stuff around him. Make sure he is strapped in tight then let him be for 5 minutes. If he is still crying then go comfort him, but give him a chance to be on his own just for a few minutes and see if he is just over stimulated.

Also some babies just hate there backs. put him on a flat surface, no bed no blankets and let him lay on his tummy. Rub his back and see if it does not calm him. If you stay close and keep an eye on him, he may get the rest he so obviously needs.

[roostery]

I had to put my DD in the wrap, stick my pinky in her mouth for her to suck and go for a walk. She could scream for hours in my arms but if I put her in the wrap and started walking, 20 steps from the house she would be out like a light. I had to leave her in the sling to keep her asleep though.

Eventually I found that sticking her in the wrap and bouncing on the exercise ball worked just as well as walking her.

[Pumpkin_Blythe]

my first had an INCREDIBLE suck drive. she needed a pacifier to calm herself!

[Brisen]

That must be hard. My ds falls asleep fairly well, but usually wakes up if I try to put him down. He slept on his own for a record time yesterday. We had an appointment; I nursed him there & then put him in the carseat & carried him around while I waited for dh to pick us up (the seat has a shoulder strap). He stayed asleep when we stopped at our church so dh could do some prep for an activity that night (I brought him in in the car seat) and slept for a while once we got home. My appointment was over at 3:30 and he slept until nearly 6 -- but almost an hour of that was while I was carrying the seat or we were driving.

I don't like having him in the car seat if it's not for travel in the car -- I take him out of it when we get to where we're going. But if he keeps up this only sleeping in arms or in the carseat thing, I might reconsider it. He's a month old tomorrow, so the novelty hasn't quite worn off yet.

[Hippiemommie]

When I read your story it screams "food sensitivity" to me! DS had a sensitivity (allergy really) to whey that came through my milk. He would scream and scream and was so hard to get to go to bed. Once I took dairy out of my diet in less than a week he was a different baby.

[bygones75]

You gals are so wonderful... thanks so much. I've written out a list of everything you've mentioned and will systematically go through it to see what will work. Last night started off poorly, but the cotton swaddler had arrived, and once he was in it, he did a bit better. (Now I need to teach Thomas not to wake up the moment James is asleep!)

Going to watch Happiest Baby this morning, then run out for pacifiers. My doula is going to lend me her Amby hammock too.

James already sleeps on his stomach -- he wants nothing to do with his back. Though he's swaddled on his side right now and seems ok.

Seriously... thank you so much. I've been feeling so down. Thomas had a really rough infancy because of colic, and I feel like I missed it in my despair over it. I was so looking forward to having James, and I don't want the same thing to happen by being negative.

Hopeful today will be a better one.

hugs...