Post by rungirlrun on Sept 15, 2016 2:19:02 GMT -5
Ugh less than 3 hours. And this stretch is always the longest. Next come the 1.5 hour stretches. And E barely slept yesterday. 1 week ago, he was doing 3-4+ hour stretches so only 1 wake up. Wtf is going on now?
Aaaaand here come the 45 minute stretches. I really really don't get it.
I really didn't want him to have his pacifier in the crib....but I'm at my wits end. I can't keep being awake for the day starting at 2:30am. I can't go to sleep because in so anxious he's going to wake up in an hour...and he always does at this time of night.
Post by madamewaffles on Sept 15, 2016 6:59:03 GMT -5
So glad for the first good stretch, melody330! I am sorry he reverted to his old habit of waking up so frequently. I've got my everything crossed that he starts giving you longer stretches.
You guys, I really think I have a broken baby. Or I'm doing this wrong. He goes to sleep just fine....but he wakes up after 45 minutes almost on the dot.
melody330 how is B doing on the reflux front? I know it can really impact sleep. And the dosage has to be changed frequently as babies grow. I wish there was a magic answer for these sleep troubles.
I'm in disbelief. Second stretch was 3.5 hours! Let's keep this up!
The same thing happened with us a week ago. Sam's longest stretch was always the first one but then all of a sudden it switched and now it's the second one!
Aaaaand here come the 45 minute stretches. I really really don't get it.
I really didn't want him to have his pacifier in the crib....but I'm at my wits end. I can't keep being awake for the day starting at 2:30am. I can't go to sleep because in so anxious he's going to wake up in an hour...and he always does at this time of night.
I would absolutely give him the pacifier in the crib to see if it helped at all! It would be worth it to me if it meant more sleep.
Aaaaand here come the 45 minute stretches. I really really don't get it.
I really didn't want him to have his pacifier in the crib....but I'm at my wits end. I can't keep being awake for the day starting at 2:30am. I can't go to sleep because in so anxious he's going to wake up in an hour...and he always does at this time of night.
I would absolutely give him the pacifier in the crib to see if it helped at all! It would be worth it to me if it meant more sleep.
We've been giving W a pacifier since he came home. He rarely takes it in the crib now a days. Mainly when I want to get a little extra sleep or to keep him occupied while I make a bottle.
I'm in disbelief. Second stretch was 3.5 hours! Let's keep this up!
The same thing happened with us a week ago. Sam's longest stretch was always the first one but then all of a sudden it switched and now it's the second one!
These babies are so unpredictable! The 2nd stretch was the longest, but then we were up together for over an hour. He was wide awake at 4am. Not cool. So we still have a lot of work to do!
I wish my baby liked the pacifier. He will take it very occasionally, but usually just gets more pissed when we try to offer it to him.
He did sleep for 5 hours straight last night for the first time so I am hoping this is the start of a normal schedule like that. He's been sleeping like crap during the 6 week growth spurt but now he's 7 weeks so maybe it's finally changing.
melody330 how is B doing on the reflux front? I know it can really impact sleep. And the dosage has to be changed frequently as babies grow. I wish there was a magic answer for these sleep troubles.
The spit up has gotten a little better, but I feel like the Zantac is wearing off faster. He gets it every 12 hours and I feel like by hour 9/10 he is grumpy already. Which would make sense because that's when he stops sleeping well again. He gets it at 8am and 8pm.
Post by melody330 on Sept 15, 2016 12:14:05 GMT -5
Do you guys limit their sleep time during the day? I do not but maybe I should? He takes cat naps until about 1:00 then he sleeps in his crib for two hours, but after that he wakes up to eat and goes back to sleep until about 6, and then is awake until bed time (9ish). Im about willing to try anything. H thinks I should try keeping him awake after his two hour nap at 1. I'm just at a loss.
I wish my baby liked the pacifier. He will take it very occasionally, but usually just gets more pissed when we try to offer it to him.
He did sleep for 5 hours straight last night for the first time so I am hoping this is the start of a normal schedule like that. He's been sleeping like crap during the 6 week growth spurt but now he's 7 weeks so maybe it's finally changing.
We have a pacifier hater over here too. We've tried several different types and they all get spit out or he starts gagging on them and crying. Stubborn babies!
Do you guys limit their sleep time during the day? I do not but maybe I should? He takes cat naps until about 1:00 then he sleeps in his crib for two hours, but after that he wakes up to eat and goes back to sleep until about 6, and then is awake until bed time (9ish). Im about willing to try anything. H thinks I should try keeping him awake after his two hour nap at 1. I'm just at a loss.
Everything I've read says the biggest mistake parents make is to either keep baby awake during the day, or limit naps. I've always heard "sleep begets sleep" so that's what I've been going with. Sam seems to sleep better at night when he has consistent good naps during the day.
You guys, I really think I have a broken baby. Or I'm doing this wrong. He goes to sleep just fine....but he wakes up after 45 minutes almost on the dot.
He's normal! They call it the 45 minute intruder. (I think that's a baby wise term, but if you google you'll find lots of people talking about it.) Really common for naps. 45 minutes is probably the end of his sleep cycle so he's in lighter sleep and any little change, light, noise, temp, etc. could cause him to wake and not be able to get into the next cycle. Second half of the night is typically lighter sleep too, so that's why he's doing it then. He'll get there eventually, but needs to learn to self soothe a little bit to transition into the next cycle.
We struggle with this during the day, and I think generally my guy is a light sleeper. If I put him down, he wakes up. And rather than closing his eyes and going back to sleep he's like OMG LOOK AT THAT CEILING FAN!!!! Then I have a totally awake baby who's mad because he didn't sleep enough, but I can't get his fussy butt back to sleep.
At night now he stirs and fusses, but doesn't usually totally wake up. We try the pacifier first, and if that doesn't work we pick him up for a few minutes, and put him back down when it seems like he's out.
Post by madamewaffles on Sept 15, 2016 13:42:44 GMT -5
melody330, I have not been limiting sleep during unless it crosses paths with plans such as we need to leave to go meet grandma for lunch, etc. A is a super light day sleeper/distractible little guy though, so if he is not napping in his crib with blackout curtains and plenty o' white noise, he wakes up very easily and then won't go back down. Like mcktymck, I notice if he gets good napping time during the day, nights go much better and his witching hour is less severe.
Post by melody330 on Sept 15, 2016 14:07:36 GMT -5
mcktymckmadamewaffles I've always been a "sleep begets sleep" believer myself, but I'm grasping at straws here. My BFF is also in my ear telling me I need to keep him up. Her LO is two days older than B and has been STTN for weeks. Logically I know every baby is different, but I'm not exactly logical at the moment.
comicSans I can't definitely tell that is the problem! I never heard of the term before but I know it's a sleep cycle problem. Self soothing doesn't happen for a few months....so should I just wait this out? Keep running up there to stick a pacifier in his mouth? I wish there was a right answer.
Right now B is sleeping in his crib in the sleep suit. No paci needed for this nap. Black out curtains and white noise always. Hopefully tonight goes well...but I already feel my anxiety about it building
Post by madamewaffles on Sept 15, 2016 14:22:16 GMT -5
melody330, I absolutely understand. I'd also be willing to try anything if it helps both him and you get more sleep. Have you read The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep? It hasn't been the be-all, end-all saving grace, but there was a lot of helpful information in it with tips. And I wonder if you could talk to your pedi about adjusting his meds if maybe the dosage needs changing? Are you also elevating one end of his mattress? Sorry, lots of random thoughts coming out here. Just trying to help with ideas. Hugs.
mcktymckmadamewaffles I've always been a "sleep begets sleep" believer myself, but I'm grasping at straws here. My BFF is also in my ear telling me I need to keep him up. Her LO is two days older than B and has been STTN for weeks. Logically I know every baby is different, but I'm not exactly logical at the moment.
comicSans I can't definitely tell that is the problem! I never heard of the term before but I know it's a sleep cycle problem. Self soothing doesn't happen for a few months....so should I just wait this out? Keep running up there to stick a pacifier in his mouth? I wish there was a right answer.
Right now B is sleeping in his crib in the sleep suit. No paci needed for this nap. Black out curtains and white noise always. Hopefully tonight goes well...but I already feel my anxiety about it building
I don't know that there is a right answer. You can keep trying different things, but ultimately it may just take time, and you may drive yourself crazy with all the trial and error. Holding my baby all the darn time isn't ideal for me, but neither is raging about him not sleeping, so life is a lot better when I just do what works. I keep reminding myself that ultimately this will be a short period and we'll get through it. Another perspective that helps me is the notion that while some babies are naturally good sleepers, others need to be parented to sleep. Mine needs lots of parenting, and I don't always like it, but it's who he is and I'm doing my best to help him along.
While he may not truly self soothe for a while, he may become less sensitive to everything going on around him, and inside of him, and be able to get back to sleep. It will get better.
Post by melody330 on Sept 15, 2016 15:41:36 GMT -5
Thanks everyone! Naps during the day are definitely not a problem. If he's struggling to sleep because of one reason or another (toddler!) I'll wear him in the Moby and he is out in seconds.
I read up more on the 45 minute intruder, and I'm positive that's what it is. So I guess just time will help us. I'm doing everything I can to help him. Thanks everyone for getting me to see that. It's a deep hole I've been digging myself in.
I can't wait til L rolls to his tummy on his own while sleeping. Everyone tells me that their babies slept and napped so much better after that. It makes sense since he naps way better when laying on his belly on my lap. My doula told me she works with lots of families here from other countries like the UK, Australia, etc, and they all put their babies on their bellies to sleep all the time. It's so interesting how our culture has such a SIDS scare thing going vs other places in the world.
Post by melody330 on Sept 15, 2016 20:26:04 GMT -5
madamewaffles I haven't read The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep but I'll give it a go. I'm almost done with my last Mortal Instrument book so I need something else to read MOTN!
You ladies convinced me to give the sleep suit a try! I'm hoping it comes before we leave for CT next Thurs, it'd be nice to have since Sam will be sleeping in an unfamiliar place and we'll be dealing with the 3 hour time difference.
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