Communities

Welcome to Circle of Moms!!

All Communities > Welcome to Circle of Moms!! > another sleep question

another sleep question

Jennifer - posted on 03/28/2011 ( 2 moms have responded )

1,419

1

I know I've created this problem myself, but if anyone has any suggestions, please help! My baby girl will be 6 months old tomorrow. Since she was born, I've held her all night and with a few exceptions, every night. The only times I haven't held her were some of her hospital stays (she's been in there 4 times) where I didn't have a safe place to hold her and sleep at the same time, and a couple weeks ago, when I had to go for a sleep study. I've enjoyed snuggling up with her and would not mind doing it for longer, but I can't. I just found out that my sleep study showed I have sleep apnea and my doctor needs me to go for another one to see if a CPAP machine will help me. The last time, I only had a couple days to get her ready, so I got her to sleep in her swing which she did a lot of times during the day anyway. This time, my study is about 3 weeks away, so I want to get her used to her crib. I don't really care if she sleeps through the night (which she doesn't now anyway) though that would be a wonderful bonus. She has slept through the night 3 times and that was when she was in her swing, so I know she could do it. The next night after my last study though she started screaming every time I put her in the swing, and won't go back, so it was back to me holding her. So far today, I've tried to get her to take her naps in there, but the second I lay her down, she is wide awake. I've tried patting her butt and rubbing her tummy, but she's too awake for that to work and she starts screaming. Normally, by now, she would be working on her 2nd nap of the day, and she hasn't even had 1 yet! I've also tried laying her down before she falls asleep, but no luck with that either. I can't and won't try crying it out. Even if I was willing to do it, she has reactive airway disease/possible asthma that I don't think is controlled by her current med (trying to get an appointment for her), and everytime she gets too upset, she starts coughing and can't stop. The coughing can be so bad, that she can't catch her breath. If anyone has anyother suggestions, please help! She is my 4th and final child, but I've never had to worry about this with any of my other ones.

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

Jennifer - posted on 03/28/2011

1,419

1

I have tried so many different times to get her to use a paci, but they only make her scream louder. She used to suck on her thumb (which I absolutely loved, because none of my other kids ever took a paci or sucked on their thumb), but she stopped that about 2 months ago.

Louise - posted on 03/28/2011

5,429

69

Have you tried using a dummy for her that will comfort her and stop the coughing due to the constant sucking and swallowing. Also i would use a fleecy pram blanket that you need to rub around your chest to get your scent on it. Wrap her in the blanket and let her have a dummy then place her in a cot and leave the room. I understand that you are reluctant to let her cry it out but you are going to have to let her cry a little or you are never going to get her to self soothe and sleep. Try also putting a radio in her room with low level noise to comfort her so she does not feel alone. You really have got a battle on your hands after holding her for 6 months. I am afraid the cry out method is the only thing that will work but I understand from her medical problems that this is going to be quite stressful for you both. The only other thing you can do is ask advice from the baby hospital on if excessive crying is a danger to her. Bless. Good Luck!

Want to find out the opinions of this community?

Add Poll