My 17 month old has never been a good sleeper. We had a sleep consultant when she was 10 months old and that worked for 2 weeks then we were back to sleep training, she would be good for 3 nights then back to her normal self! But at the moment I am really struggling, she is crying on and off for at least 4 hours every night. She will be quiet for 10 mins then start crying on and off for 30mins. This goes on from 8 till about midnight... Sometimes till 2am. I don't know what to do anymore (this has been happening for 5 weeks so far) I am second guessing myself majorly because I am so tired (Panadol and nurophen arnt working, and have taken her to the doctors for a check up and she is fine). I let her cry for 10mins then go in and pat her for 2mins then leave ( this normally works and it takes one or two nights for her to get the message, then we have a week of good sleep and we start again!). But lately the reaction I am getting when I leave is high pitch screaming for 10mins, so I haven't gone into her for a week now and she is still not settling. She knows how to self settle....
Has anyone been through this, got any suggestions (all positive comments please... I am not after a debate on cry it out or rocking to sleep!)... I am at a loss at the moment!
5 Replies
Personally I'd be back to the GP asking for some extra help (possibly melatonin or phenergan) you sound at your witts end and like you need a couple of nights of good sleep to reboot you both!! It won't be a permanent solution but if you can use it for one or two nights to get you through.
Has your baby seen a paediatrician?
Will she sleep if brought in with you (sleeping in your bed)? Is it a separation thing or is there something else going on? Is she otherwise developing appropriately, meeting milestones etc? It might be time for a paed visit, because while I'm not professing to be an expert, up to 4 hours of crying a night is not normal and I think some more digging needs to be done.
Co sleep with her I've always co slept with my children she's probably scared to sleep alone in her room, u could also try worming her google how to check for worms sounds weird I know but worms really do really keep children awake at night they are very catching also
My son had MAJOR sleeping issues until he was 10 months old (woke every 40 minutes or if we were lucky every 2 hours!) He failed sleep school too - a week at Ellen Barron and they were at a loss as to why he would NOT SLEEP! (sounds like your girl!) Only since he was three was he then diagnosed with sensory issues which we are still dealing with, though on a lesser scale now that he's getting a bit older and you can prepare him/reason with him. I would see an Occupational Therapist and see what they think of your daughter. We wish someone had suggested this to us earlier, it would have saved years of angst. Good luck Mummy, hope someone can solve this puzzle for you soon xxxx
If you are not dead against it, I would suggest trying co-sleeping. For starters, you will find out if it is a comfort/separation issue and if it doesn't work, you will know it is time to go back to the GP/paediatrician and push them to help find answers.