All Communities > April 2010 Babies! > Sleeping problems

Sleeping problems

Alison - posted on 07/27/2010 ( 2 moms have responded )

51

7

I dont know how to get my baby to sleep, some nights (and days) he will cry for hours before either he finally runs out of steem or I end up feeding him to sleep and even that doesn't always work. We've had a few nights where its taken 6 or 7 hours to get him to sleep.

Currently I'm trying controlled crying because I dont know what else to do. He's on medication for colic which seems to have helped a bit, he's got stuff for teething because I think that may also be an issue (he dribbles a lot an chews on his hand and our fingers all the time) and sometimes I give him panadole which sometimes helps but i then dont know if he's gone to sleep because the pain has stopped or because he's just so exhausted and I dont like giving him to much medication, but again I dont know what else to try. Sometimes I think he's just a stubourn child who is fighting the sleep.

Any ideas and suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

Join Circle of Moms

Sign up for Circle of Moms and be a part of this community! Membership is just one click away.

Join Circle of Moms

2 Comments

View replies by

Janice - posted on 08/20/2010

25

41

Establishing a solid routine of Sleep, Feed and wake is really important with babies. As soon as your little man wakes up, give him a feed, be it breast milk or bottle. Then he needs to have some wake time, so allow him to play, stimulate him, wear him out. When he starts to get fussy, it usually means that it's time for him to have a sleep. Now, this is the tricky bit. Try not to feed him to sleep if you can help it. Milk on the belly when you put bubs to sleep can often cause indigestion and gas and bubs will wake up. Do anything you need to do to get him to go to sleep. I still swaddle Ewan first, so that he knows it is time to go to sleep. Put him in the pram and walk him, rock him with your foot in his bouncer, carry him around the house and sing to him. I don't have colic or reflux issues with Ewan so when I sometimes have to feed him to sleep, he still sleeps. But making sure that he gets that feed no matter what when he wakes up is very important. Bubs feels a lot more confident and happy when he knows when he is going to be getting a feed, rather than having to wait until he is hungry and crying out for it. Read the book called "baby wise" it's a bit strict, but it's good for routine. You don't have to follow it precisely, but pick out the bits that work for you. I don't believe in letting my baby cry himself to sleep. Sometimes he does whinge a bit, but I can tell the difference between a frantic cry and a tired cry.
Here in Perth Australia they have a specialist sleep clinic called ngala who run classes in sleep management, and they have the breast feeding association that also helps with stuff like this. Contacting professionals to help is often the only way to go.
Good luck! Currently my little man has been so sick. I have been up 4-5 times a night, and before that I was up with my 2 1/2 year old. I'm so freaking tired right now it's not funny! But I love my babies :) And I keep telling myself that it gets easier :)

Cristie - posted on 07/28/2010

7

10

Hi there! :)

Have you been to see the MACH nurses at your local community centre? They usually run early days clinics and can help with sleep and settling issues, and if they can't help can refer you on to a sleep clinic. I had probs with my bub too, I know it can be so frustrating and exhausting!!

Good luck!!

Want to find out the opinions of this community?

Add Poll