Sisterhood I'm really struggling with my 10 month olds sleep. Have tried everything suggested by doc and just attempted CIO and after 1.5 hours just couldn't do it. She is waking several times a night for hours and I work during the day so no catchup there. Seriously this kid thinks she needs about 5 ours sleep all day. I'm cranky all the time and even thought about using Valium ( I didn't) soooooooo over it. Thought I wanted about 4 kids. Noway all I want is a bit of sleep.
Any sleep ideas at all?
9 Replies
Are you breastfeeding? Could you co-sleep with her, that way when she wakes you can just pop her on and arent waking up completely by getting up? Could you do a dream feed before you go to bed to try and sustain her longer? maybe top up night feed with formula? is she having solids, could you increase them maybe to fill her up. Have a look at wonder weeks, she could be going through a developmental leap atm causing the wake ups? Or you could offer her water when she wakes to try and deter her from waking if she isnt getting the milk she wants. Unfortunately it is so normal to have bubs wake up so often, she is still very small and New skills are often practiced through the night. Have a look at Pinky Mckay for more sleep suggestions. It is such a tough time. you are doing wonderful. I hope you get more sleep soon xo
She is breast fed and when we co sleep ( most nights) she is so wriggly she just moans and kicks so nobody gets any sleep.
Could you get a referral to a sleep centre like karitane?
Hang in there, long term sleep deprived mum here. It can get better and yeah I would be going to some kind of sleep clinic. I think it becomes a bad cycle because we mums get soooo tired after a while that we can't even properly advocate for ourselves anymore.
So do anything to get yourself some sleep. Ask family to take her for a few hours, or telling the babies dad that he has to take her as soon as he gets home from work so you can catch a few hours do it. Put ear plugs in and sleep.
Then look into sleep centre, DEMAND a referral. Don't take no for an answer.
I am a mum of a child who doesnt sleep either. I feel your pain and frustration. Try going to your community health nurse and asking them for a referral to Tresillian residential. We went there twice and learnt so much about settling etc. CIO is harsh. Not only on the babies but on mothers too.
Good luck
We live in extreme far north qld getting a referral would be great but are extremely tight on cash at the moment and would struggle to pay for flights.
Do you have access to any community nurses around you? you can always ask them for some settling advice or go on to tresillian website. They have a heap of information about sleep techniques etc.
Also, you can always call the hotline whenever you need them. I call them quiet often every time my bub goes through a bit of a funk. They are always so helpful. All you can do is take on their advice and try it out. Its all trial and error unfortunately. I feel for you xx
Has she always been a bad sleeper? I have been struggling with my son since he was born so I know how you feel! Personally, I couldn't do the CIO method. I tried a couple of times and all he did was just cry his eyes out every single time and he didn't learn to self settle. I wouldn't co sleep either because I was told by sleep training school that it can develop bad habits for them. However, if you're desperate, you just have to do what you've got to do you know? if co sleeping with you will help her settle and it means you both get good sleep and are able to function better the next day, i would consider doing it.
Other option is, take her to a sleep specialist to find out if there is anything else thats going on.
Babies need to feel secure with their mothers. So if she begins to cry really bad, go in and pat her and reassure her. Eventually she will learn that you are around and will come to rescue her if she needs it. Letting them just cry themselves to sleep can cause anxiety and other developmental issues and relational issues between you and your bub.
I hope this helps a little.
Good luck fellow sleep deprived mum
You sound just like me! My baby is 7 months old, wakes every 1-2 hours at night, he won't resettle himself back to sleep, sometimes it only takes me a minute to settle him other times an hours. During the day he only sleeps between 30mins to 1 hour for two to three sleeps, again he won't resettle himself. I rang a sleep school and there advice was to get him to sleep more during the day and the nights will follow, yeah no that didn't work!! I haven't started back at work yet, but will soon; I'm cranky too; I also thought I want 4 kids, now I just want sleep too!!
If you find something that works please share