This kid will not sleep .....

[jcox]

Hi ladies

As the title says, my daughter just will not sleep!

She will be 1 next week and has never slept more than 4 hours at a time! I'm honestly getting quite desperate now. I work four days a week and have a three year old and a husband who is never at home! I can't function! Most days I'm exhausted from the moment I wake up (that's if I don't spent the whole night awake!)

The thing is I think it's taking its toll on her development. She's constantly tired but just won't give in so she's always stroppy and when she's like that she doesn't eat. She has been cruising around furniture for weeks now but in the last few days she's reverted back to crawling. It's like she can't be bothered. I put her to bed tonight at 7:30pm and she woke up about an hour ago screaming her head off and refusing point blank to go back to sleep.

I don't honestly think it's anything contributing to this i.e. Teething because she has been like this since birth. I just don't know what to do. I spoke to my HV about it and she suggested letting her try and settle herself back to sleep if she wakes in the night. Last night I left her for 15 mins and I had to go in to her as she was almost hyperventilating by that point! Not to mention the fact that she woke my other daughter up so I was then faced with the challenge of getting them both back to sleep.

Sorry for my rant but I've run out of ideas and I'm so freaking tired I don't know what to do with myself! If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them! Thanks x

 

[kumber]

We found a duvet helped (he was in grobags), sitting in with him until he settled, having a solid bedtime routine and just kept persisting. We didn't have such an extreme problem as you and it was easier to crack as at the time it was just him. It was exhausting though, every sleep was a fight.

Could you maybe change things around in her room to see if it's something mad like the position of her bed? Play with her in there if you don't already to do some positive association? Is she still in a cot? Maybe introduce a comforter? Does she have a dummy?

 

[CARNAT22]

I'm 7 months in and have rarely had more than 4 hours in one 'sitting'. Sorry no words of wisdom but massive hugs and lots of sympathy.

There are lots of sleep training techniques online so it may be worth having a look and seeing if anything suits you?

X

 

[Kay Kay]

My cousin was in a similar position with her 18 month old. She also has a 4 year old and the baby was disturbing his sleep too. She tried letting him cry it out a few times but he always got so upset she couldn't leave him. Anyway about a month ago she decided to try again. She and her husband were both off work on annual leave so decided to dedicate a few days to it and her and hubby took turns sleeping in the day to catch up on lost sleep. Her 4 yearbld went to granny and granda's for a few nights. She said it was hard going but he's now sleeping through. Took a few nights but the difference is amazing.

Just an idea if it's possible to do. My son was a bad sleeper until 15 months and the sleep deprivation was an absolute killer. Good luck and let us know how you get on xxx

 

[Staceylou27]

I know exactly how you feel.
My daughter is almost 10 months and was up 5 times between 11-12.30 last night then another 2/3 times after that. Our average wakings are 5 times a night. The other night it was 10 and at one point it too an hour and 10minutes to resettle her. Both me and my husband are tired. She settles ok in bed after her bath and bottle and we have had he same routine from since she moved into her own room around 5 months. She seems to wake around 11. If we get past 11 then we might be in for a better night.
We've had around 8 sleep throughs in 10months.

I spoke to my health visitor yday and he said it could be habit that she is waking so much as she has always done it.
At the minute her second tooth is coming through so I do think when the calpol etc is wearing off she's waking up.
She hasn't had a bottle in the night for around 2/3 months now but the odd night we have even given her a bottle but it makes no difference. Even when we do give in and pick her up for a cuddle and then put her back down she still doesn't settle for long.

Naps are also becoming a little difficult too. We had got to a point where we could lie her in her cot and leave her and maybe re settle her once then she would sleep for sometimes 2 hours.
She currently refusing a nap right now. I've decided to let her whinge for a little but I find that quite hard and it hasn't worked for her before. Been trying 25mins to resettle her for a nap

No advice really but I do sympathise!!

 

[jcox]

Thanks for all the advice ladies. I don't wish to sound awful but it's comforting to know that I'm not alone. I tried what you suggested kumber. Ava my 1 year old has a smaller room than my 3 year old so we tend to spend more time playing in the bigger room. So I've been spending more time with her in her own room as really up till now the only time she spends in there is at bedtime. Had a good night last night, she woke at 12 but managed to get her back down within 30 mins and she slept through until 7am. Don't want to speak too soon but you may have cracked it for me!x

 

[kumber]

That's fab news, glad something is working and long may it continue!

 

[Kay Kay]

Great news jcox xx

 

[JD.Deedee]

Ruled out any allergies, colic or (silent) reflux?