Sleepless baby need help!

Katheryn - posted on 07/26/2011

I am sorry that you are not getting any sleep, I know that is rough. My Dr. told me to include formula I do still breastfeed and Baby is 11mo now. Before I would be exclusive and that wore me out up every few hours. That is when my Dr said that if I didn't start getting more sleep I would loose my Milk. I started him on formula and did a variety. I started with the Similac Fussy even though he wasn't fussy then Good Start and Enfimil I started making it with one extra scoop and that gave us a 5 hours of sleep. As he got older I started him on cereal and jar food After feeding him I would let him sit and play in the high chair for about 10 to 15 minutes and he never threw up.Just let the food settle, then I would give him a quick bath and he has continued to sleep good. I also always put him to sleep by feeding him even though he is not hungry it is our comfort cuddle time. When we stop BF I will be giving him a bottle. The 3 year old can join you if he/she is feeling left out. I plan this with my next to have it be our time. I know that it isn't always going to be practical, but it is good bonding for the 3 of you. If your husband/partner can join in on the quality time that makes it even better. As far as the noise, start having the baby around you when your 3 yo is being loud and playing when talking on the phone put on speaker if you can have the TV or Radio on for noise. The only time we have a quiet house is at breakfast. If the noise wakes the baby, they will get used to the noise and when you are in the situation, the baby will be comforted knowing that you are there and next time sleep right through the noise. Just let lil one know it's ok give LOADS of kisses and after a bit Baby will not wake with any noises, unless they are not feeling well (teething time) Also try Hyland Teething tablets. Our routine at night feeding bath lotion brush teeth then the gel or tablets when we skip bath time, I still put lotion on him. One last thing I don't have him on a set schedule, but how we do things Breakfast play snack play lunch play snack dinner most always stay the same. After Breakfast he has his play time in his crib or play area.
I wish you all the luck and I hope that Baby and you get rest. I know it is stressful but take a moment and just take a breath, you have 2 precious gifts and this time is going by so fast just enjoy, even when you are at your wits end, smile and smother with kisses and hugs. Look how fast your 3 year old grew up. If you can relax and just enjoy Baby might as well Smile more laugh more when Baby cries make goofy faces and noises find a fun song that you can sing I do the first verse to the All American Women's Baseball League song that they sang in the movie and Baby always smiles and laughs at me. When he has screamed cry I put him close do the Granny Shuffle and sing softly into his ear a made up song or a lullaby. Hope that this helps Take care and Best Wishes

Carrie - posted on 07/26/2011

Is she taking one long nap or still lots of tiny naps? Orajel makes a night time medicine for teething that worked for my daughter when we were in a simular situation. I also got desperate enough to mix some cereal with a bottle at night. You can just pump for the bottle before bed, most dr's dont recommend it but sometimes you have to do what mom's have tested before. Worked for me and my little brother and we survived. Even justa 1/4 tsp in the bottle can help fill their tiny tummy.

Jamie - posted on 07/24/2011

Well, it's been 5 years since my daughter was a baby with acid reflux, but I remember my pediatrician wanting me to give her cereal in the bottle and once I did that, she starting sleeping through the night. She used to wake up every two hours as well but once I did that at 10 weeks, she started sleeping better and I was happier. I have a very hard time functioning on very little sleep. I have my own health problems as well so I am not willing to accept that its just a phase. You have to be able to take care of yourself in order to be the best mom and that includes getting sleep. And, people who are very adamant about BF will probably disagree, but I think in some cases its not the best choice for mom. I am not sure if I will breastfeed long when I have another child. It was extremely tough on me and my daughter wasn't satisfied on it. Every baby is different of course, but I wouldn't be afraid to stop breast feeding either. She is 6 months and has certainly had a lot of it to make an impact on her health. I'm just saying that's an option. My daughter did better on formula. However, I assume you can also just put the cereal in a bottle of breast milk as well so that could be an option too. I would ask the pediatrician about cereal. It helped my daughter and gave me my sanity back.

Donna - posted on 07/24/2011

Have you tried white good noise for sleeps. My daughter (2nd child) is a very light sleeper too. I put the radio on between stations so it sounds like rain or a waterfall, otherwise you can get sleep music. Its helped so much for her day sleep. She still wakes with it at night but thats due to health issues.

Emma - posted on 07/22/2011

unfortunately i think its just something some babies go through and you just have to ride it out. my daughter slept sound from day one you had to wake her for everything , when i had my son total opposite he never slept probably up until he was 2 and then it took til he was about 5 before he would go to sleep by himself. so i think it varies from child to child and you just have to be patient x

Elizabeth - posted on 07/22/2011

Sally I totally agree with you...my six month old doesnt sleep in the bed with me(way too high) but for the first four weeks she hated her crib, as did I :), and with a c section and breastfeeding it was much more easier to be close to her. And not trying to get off a high bed. We have a sectional couch and oversized chair. I would pull the chair up to the couchand she slept in the chair and I slept on the couch . She loved it, slept awesome (still does) and so did I. My mom and I talked about someone inventing a couch the had a chair or loveseat hinged to it where you close it for the baby or child sleep.

Sally - posted on 07/22/2011

The easiest way to deal with a baby who doesn't sleep is to put it in your bed. That way you don't have to fully wake when she does. Just slip a boob in her mouth and go back to sleep.
Regardless of cultural "norms" invented in labs in the 1950's, babies were biologically designed to sleep next to mom. The strong willed ones sometimes demand it and it can be worth not telling people where they sleep to get some rest.
The modern western bed can be a falling or smothing hazard, but those are very easy to fix.

Donna - posted on 07/22/2011

My daughter did the same until she was 6 months old. Then I tried reading books about babies & sleeping. I was desperate. Most books...I didn't have time to read. They went on and on …..and as a mom who wasn't sleeping....I didn't have time. Plus,I was so tired, I couldn't understand what I was supposed to do to implement the suggested "schedule."
Then I found a VERY HELPFUL book, "The Baby Sleep Solution" by Suzy Giordano. My husband and I followed the guidelines in her book and our daughter was sleeping through the night within two weeks. It works wonders, plus you can always email Suzy for advice. The book is easy to read and had just four easy steps to follow.
We saw the initial improvement within days & her schedule got better and better. I swear, my daughter was eating 4 meals a day & sleeping through the night within 2 weeks. Then she was also taking 2 naps a day within 4 weeks. I couldn't be happier with that book.
Talk things over with your pediatrician. If he/she thinks your baby is healthy, then look into this book and start training him to sleep through the night. It's a little work at first, but the payoff is huge (i.e., a sleeping baby=a well-rested momma!!).

I hope this helps! Good luck!

Anna - posted on 07/21/2011

I can def identify with you,as I am in the same shoes right now.We have 4 kids and I had my first 3 on a schedule,they would put themselves to sleep in bed and slept all night thru by 4-6 month.Our baby is almost a year old now and still does not sleep all night.I think he deals with some reflux as well as he always seems to deal with gas pains.Some nights he only wakes up once but most nights at least twice,and most times I have to feed him to get him settled down again.Some nights he'll wake up about every hour for awhile,and just twists and turns like he's hurting.It's hard to function as a mother when ya can't get your sleep,and I've been getting desperate.I took him to the doctor a few weeks ago,because I thought he should be outgrowing this by now.He didn't seem to give any help,said it's just something ya have to deal with till they outgrow it.He did say to keep tabs on what he's eating when it's worse.I haven't been able to pin-point it yet.But I have been trying to stay off dairy for the past 2 weeks,and it does seem to be a bit better.Wish I could give you an answer,but I'm not sure if there really is one? One of those stages ya want them to grow out of more quickly. Just hang in there!

Cynthia - posted on 07/20/2011

I know how you feel first of all and i'm sorry, but this too shall pass! :) I just want to come help you! My youngest is a year now and we have jokingly called her our "problem child!" From the day she was born, within minutes of birth she decided she was not going to be put down or ignored for one minute of the day or night! She was breastfed from the beginning, she would not take a pacifier or anything, so every night, she would scream and scream (and evry day too for that matter) We tried letting her scream it out for hours and she would go until she got hoarse and would still not even let up. It did no good. I had to nurse her to sleep, then I would try to lay her down, she would wake up screaming again and we'd go all over. If my husband's snoring woke her up or if someone got up to use the bathroom, she'd wake up again. She'd go 1 1/2 -2 hours at best, then it's be forever nursing her back to sleep again. It was horrible! I was so tired I couldn't function!!! IT kept up until she started sucking her thumb suddenly on day. She went from that amount of sleep to sleeping 10-12 hours straight at night! (she had bad reflux also) Then she decided she wasn't going to take the thumb anymore after a couple of months, and we were back to square one. I ended up doing the unthinkable and switching to formula at night or pumped breastmilk. I'd give her a bottle, then when she fell asleep deep enough i'd trade the bottle for a pacifier. I know they say not to let them sleep with a bottle, but I was sooo desperate! Now she's a year old and she's sleeping great and life is good again! I hope and pray for you that this passes quickly! I'm sorry I don't have a miracle cure for you!!! : (

Elizabeth - posted on 07/20/2011

also, I am not a fan of cereal in a bottle but I have heard doctors recommend it for babies with ger. Using it before bed so that the milk has "weight" to keep in their tummy..of course id ask a dr ab that before doing so..

Elizabeth - posted on 07/20/2011

Breast feeding is the best you can do for a baby with gerd!! here are a few suggestions I have...hope they help. First, nurse her often. Breastmilk helps the acids in her tummy. small more often meals are better. slowly establish a schedule, but be flexible where if she is acting hungry, go ahead and feed her even if its not scheduled time. Keep her sitting up after feeding. I would also start writing down when she eats for how long, when and howblong she naps and let the dr look over it. Maybe she needs a different medcine. I rock my six month old to sleep everynight. Whatever you do I would stick to it and not give up, it may take time but im sure u know shes well worth it. :)

Amber-Lee - posted on 07/20/2011

We tried me removing dairy and soy from my diet for weeks with no improvment, that was when we started the Zantac for the reflux.
What was the Protien issue in the breatmilk? I have never heard of that. My first daughter was breast and formula, because my milk dried up over night @ about 3 months last time around. This time around we have only given breast milk and there seems to be more fussiness, sleeplessness, and she just seems grumpy when it comes to sleeping.
She is a good eater and nurses well, she is 6 months old and 21 lbs. (started out at 9lbs 3oz)

Christy - posted on 07/20/2011

Neither of my kids slept through the night until they were about 13 months old! Both had severe acid reflux, too and were on meds for it. I wasn't able to BF so we had formula and I caved (from age 6 months-12 months) and would wake up with them and give them their night time bottles. (one at about 3am) That seemed to do the trick. Can you pump your breast milk and have a bottle ready for her when she cries? Not saying you should feed her every time she cries at night but maybe once or twice?

Also my kids both had a protein allergy to my BM (breast milk), and any other run of the mill baby formula. I had to use an expensive formula (similac alimentum) to keep them from being miserable, hence the no breast feeding for us. Could it be that? Both my kids "outgrew" the allergy at about 12 months and after that I was able to give them regular formula, then cow's milk.