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Post by vronn on Jul 2, 2014 15:28:38 GMT
I have an 11 month old baby girl who is driving me bonkers. She was sleeping through the night by the time she was 3 months old. But once she started teething, she started waking up. If it was only once, it wouldn't be so bad, but this last week has been terrible. I'm in tears by 4 am from pure exhaustion. My bf does help, but since he works and I'm at home, I try to let him sleep.
She's been waking every other hour, and it's getting harder and harder to get her to settle back to sleep. I don't go into her room right away, I let her cry a little, and sometimes she'll settle back down. But the times she doesn't, she's standing in her crib, crying her heart out. I get up, rock her, and usually end up falling asleep in the chair. I'll wake up, put her back in her crib, and sleep for another hour, and we'll do it all over again.
I'm so very tired. I have two older dds. One is 22, that's her dd in my profile pic. She's reading with a bucket on her head, which it thought was perfect for here. My other dd is 15. Both of them weren't good sleepers either, but I don't think I have the energy anymore to keep getting up all night. I go back to work myself in less than two weeks.
I'm not a big fan of letting her cry it out, but I'm willing to try anything. She was sleeping, so I know it's possible, lol. What do I do?
And if you've read this far, thank you.
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ginacivey
Pearl Clutcher
refupea #2 in southeast missouri
Posts: 4,685 
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Post by ginacivey on Jul 2, 2014 15:33:37 GMT
so this is a 'later in life' baby?
your other kids are 22 and 15?
i can feel your frustration...it's been a long time since you had a tiny one!
i bet she's tired and frustrated. She has to be sleeping at some point during the day...can you sleep then as well?
it sounds like she needs comforting now. just stay in the chair with her and sleep?
gina
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tasha
Shy Member
Posts: 12
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Post by tasha on Jul 2, 2014 15:34:28 GMT
My daughter was always a horrible sleeper. She didn't sleep through the night until she was almost 3 years old. She's now 5. I use lavendar oil with her every night. One drop on her wrist, and she rubs them together. She falls asleep quickly and sleeps through the night. I've also heard that people put it on the bottoms of feet instead, but this has worked for us. Hopefully it's just a phase your little one is going through, I know how hard it is to not get enough sleep!
~Tasha
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Post by littlemama on Jul 2, 2014 15:38:43 GMT
You say she is teething, but you don't mention if you are giving her ibuprofen, or using Orajel. We used to do both before ds went to bed when teething was bad, and didn't have issues (with teething - he still got up to eat once a night until 15 months due to reflux, which was not treated the way it is now)
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Post by vronn on Jul 2, 2014 15:41:03 GMT
Lol, yes, I had my oldest when I was 18. There's 21 years between the oldest and youngest. This is my bfs only. We're 41. She does nap, and I try to take a cat nap then too. But my maternity leave is almost up, so I'm heading back to work soon. As great as my boss is, I don't think she'll let me nap. Lol, I'm hoping this is just a passing stage too. Thanks.  |
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Post by vronn on Jul 2, 2014 15:42:25 GMT
No, I haven't been using oragel or ibuprofen. Maybe I'll have to give that a try.
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Post by mcscrapper on Jul 2, 2014 15:42:35 GMT
You've gotten some good advice already.
I would wake up your BF to help you out some nights. Being a full-time parent is just as demanding as some jobs out there and you need proper sleep health too. It will not kill him to get up for one of the baby's arousals. Really. It won't.
m
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Post by scrapsuzy on Jul 2, 2014 15:47:00 GMT
Have you tried bringing her into the bed with you? For me, that falls under the category of "whatever you have to do to get some sleep" and she's not a tiny baby anymore. It doesn't last forever! |
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Post by vronn on Jul 2, 2014 16:00:53 GMT
Oh bf does get up! He's very good about it too.
I tried bringing her I to bed lady night, but that made it worse. She thought it was playtime.
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Post by MissBianca on Jul 2, 2014 16:24:09 GMT
Oragel lavender oil and this CD, best dang CD ever for babies, but do no ever listen to it in the car!! Transitions
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Post by alissa103 on Jul 2, 2014 16:29:51 GMT
Sounds like teething pain. first year molars? DS is a beast teething molars. A beast. I feel your pain as he's cutting his two year molars. I CANNOT WAIT until these suckers come in and we are DONE with teeth. What we do is give him Advil immediately before bedtime (and then we brush his teeth bc it has sugar in it). He falls asleep ok as normal and then this keeps his pain down until about 3:30-4:00 am. If he wakes up crying and can't settle back down, he gets another dose and one of us rocks him until it kicks in. By that time it's been long enough to give him more. It helps A TON. on really bad nights he cuddles with me in our bed, but you said that doesn't work for you, so never mind  You could also try an amber teething necklace, but it didn't do squat for DS. But some have success. Worth a shot. The lavender is an excellent suggestion, too. I put it on DS's feet. He loves the ritual. this too shall pass! |
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Post by jemali on Jul 2, 2014 16:33:38 GMT
Could she have an ear infection? That can make it harder for her to sleep.
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Post by newfcathy on Jul 2, 2014 16:34:38 GMT
I always played a cd when I put ds in his Crib.
Is she walking? If she is on cusp on walking, she might experience a period of 'disorganization' right about that time, trouble eating, sleeping, etc. this is from T Berry Brazleton's book Touchpoints.
Hope it gets better soon. I am a bear when I can't sleep.
Cathy
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Post by anxiousmom on Jul 2, 2014 16:45:21 GMT
The only advise I have is "don't make eye contact."
Silly, I know, but really the idea behind it isn't. When a baby wakes up at night, there is usually a reason-even if it is just a social one "I want mommy who will cuddle and love on me." (in the indistinct way a baby reasons through thought processes.)
So, you make sure that there needs are tended to. Wet diaper? Change it. Low light, gentle hands but no interaction. Hungry? Feed the little one, but don't turn it into social hour-no eye contact, low light, gentle hands. Pain from teething? Medicate, low light, gentle hands.
All the interactions are done lovingly, and with gentleness, but with no social play. It helps reinforce the idea that night is for sleeping.
Beyond that? I got noting. LOL
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Dalai Mama
Drama Llama
La Pea Boheme
Posts: 6,985
Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on Jul 2, 2014 16:46:58 GMT
Aw, that's really tough. Is there anyone who can take her for a few hours during the day so that you can at least get enough hours of sleep to ensure sanity?  |
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Post by annabella on Jul 2, 2014 16:56:02 GMT
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Post by sweetpea4utoo on Jul 2, 2014 16:57:02 GMT
No advice, but just wanted to say I don't think I could deal with a crying baby right now! My patience is even thinner than it was when I had my children. (I have a very similar situation to yours, OP...but no new baby!)
idk, maybe you could hire the babysitter earlier than you were planning to for when you go back to work...during the day, so you could sleep, get some stuff done. Good luck
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Post by Laura in OK on Jul 2, 2014 17:03:52 GMT
Aw, that's really tough. Is there anyone who can take her for a few hours during the day so that you can at least get enough hours of sleep to ensure sanity? This was my advice exactly! Except if she is teething, definitely ibuprofen and oragel before bed. It's so hard, but you'll get through it! Hugs! |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 27, 2024 18:28:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2014 17:11:27 GMT
Vodka. For everyone! No I am kidding. My DS didn't sleep until he was about 7. He was hot, he was cold, he was teething. I seriously thought I would lose my mind from lack of sleep. I second the ear infection thing. That may be bothering her a lot. Failing that, sleep when you can I guess.
I am sorry I don't have better advice. DS didn't sleep/wouldn't sleep until he started sleeping beside me. Then we all slept better.
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Post by rumplesnat on Jul 2, 2014 17:28:29 GMT
The only advise I have is "don't make eye contact." Silly, I know, but really the idea behind it isn't. When a baby wakes up at night, there is usually a reason-even if it is just a social one "I want mommy who will cuddle and love on me." (in the indistinct way a baby reasons through thought processes.) So, you make sure that there needs are tended to. Wet diaper? Change it. Low light, gentle hands but no interaction. Hungry? Feed the little one, but don't turn it into social hour-no eye contact, low light, gentle hands. Pain from teething? Medicate, low light, gentle hands. All the interactions are done lovingly, and with gentleness, but with no social play. It helps reinforce the idea that night is for sleeping. Beyond that? I got noting. LOL I agree with this. I'm also cringing a bit because my baby #2 is due one day before my son's 15th birthday. LOL |
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Post by finally~a~mama on Jul 2, 2014 20:58:37 GMT
Could she be hungry? Sometimes if mine doesn't eat well at supper time she'll wake up during the night? I've tried giving her a snack after dinner to help. I feel you. My almost 15 month old does this sometimes and I can't bring her to bed with us either. We have spent MANY nights in the recliner (or parts of nights).
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Post by vronn on Jul 2, 2014 21:59:53 GMT
Peas are so awesome! Thanks everyone for your suggestions and help.
I did get an amber necklace and a hazel wood one too. I think the hazel wood is a little better, but I'm pretty sure they look better than they work. The vodka was my favourite advice. Lol it's like you know me.
I'm going to pick up some oragel. I have lavender scented baby shampoo.
I guess I was just hoping someone would be able to tell me where the magical sleep button on the baby was hidden. I'll get through it, and I'm thankful that bf lets me sleep in on w/e.
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Post by gar on Jul 2, 2014 22:16:54 GMT
I'll agree with anxious mom too. Make it as boring as possible, perfunctory and definitely not a fun, cuddly time. You know she's capable of sleeping through the night - she just needs to break the bad habit she's probably got into with teething. When you have seen to any practical needs like nappy changes, then just lie her down, cover her, tell her it's sleep time and leave the room. Repeat as necessary. This is for when you're confident there's nothing actually wrong other than being awake  |
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Post by zishisak on Jul 2, 2014 22:25:15 GMT
Does she have a favorite blankey or soft cuddly toy to help sooth her? Something about teaching baby she can help calm herself down, even when mom is not in the same room.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 27, 2024 18:28:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2014 22:28:58 GMT
I don't have a lot of advice for you but I wanted to tell you that you are not alone! Lol all of my kids have been awful sleepers for the first 1-2 of their lives.
I agree with other posters; try ibuprofen at bedtime, bringing her into bed with you, and lavender oil. Good luck!
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