Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

Please , please, please help. I feel like DS in regressing when it comes to sleeping. He is 4 and 1/2 months old. When he was "younger" he would sleep at least 8 hours straight. For the past 3 weeks, he has been an awful sleeper and I think I am going to lose my mind. I work full time, 10 hours a day, and I just cannot keep this up anymore. He will go down at 9:00 or 10:00 pm an then get up - like clockwork - at 1:00 am, 3:00 am and then 5:00 am. Seriously - on the dot, THREE TIMES a night at those times. I don't know if he is teething (though he is drooling a LOT and sticking his hands and toys in his mouth wanting to bite down). He eats plenty - he is now on stage 1 fruits and vegetables and cereal and he is a healthy 18 pounds He is dirtying diapers so he isn't constipated. I just don't know what to do. I am sitting here at my desk at work crying everyday for three days now because I am exhausted, blurry eyed and just frustrated. What can I do??? I give him extra formula for his last bottle, and I even add cereal and some fruit in it to "fill him up." When he gets up 3 times a night, he gets a bottle all 3 times and eats 2 ounces each time. I can't take much more of this. My work is slacking, I am a total b***h to my co-workers because I am so exhausted, and the thought of getting him at night to just go through this all over again - 7 days a week - makes me sob. He doesn't have a fever, he is happy and laughing and smiling and "talking" up a storm when he is awake so he isn't sick as far as I can tell. He just doesn't sleep. And he is tired - I know he is. He rubs his eyes, puts his head down, tries to get comfortable - flips all over. But just can't "relax" it seems like. I am sorry this is so long but I don't know what to do. Please help. I feel like I am about to crack.

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

Lets go over some basics -- Is he using a pacifier? In his own room? Is there noise - like an a/c that turns on and off? Street noise? By any chance, did this start when you introduced a particular solid food?

Two ounces is just a snack, so it sounds more like he is having trouble settling than hungry.

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

Lets go over some basics -- Is he using a pacifier?

No

In his own room?

Unfortunately no, not yet. We were going to transition him into his own room and crib this weekend. He is in our room now in his co-sleeper.

Is there noise - like an a/c that turns on and off?

We have central air so that turns on and off. He doesn't flinch at that though.

Street noise?

Nope. We live in a court so its very quiet.

By any chance, did this start when you introduced a particular solid food?

No. It really was just random. OUt of no where. When he does get the bottle during those middle of the night feedings his belly does gurgle a lot.

Two ounces is just a snack, so it sounds more like he is having trouble settling than hungry.

Totally. HE will lay on his belly, an then start moving his head to the left, then right, then left, then right, then sigh and do it again. He just can't get comfortable.

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

I think you may see a big difference once he is in his own room.

We have a really great sleeper now - it took a long time to get here - but when he turned a year last month we went away and his crib was in our room. I can't tell you how many times he got up. He saw us and wanted to be with us in bed. I was never this tired since he was a young baby.

I pray that is it for you and you get some sleep!

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

I'm in the same boat... I feel your pain..thankfully I'm a SHAM ...but still I dont sit around all day I'm always doing something but I swear by 6pm ..I'm in bed yes you read that right I'm in bed! Just wanted to give you a

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

DD will wake up fussing sometimes in the middle of the night. I usually get up to check on her and give her the pacifier and she goes right back down.

Maybe only use the pacifier at night?

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

Maria
I am so sorry you are going through this ! Hang in there, it will get better.

Did you try the white noise machines ? My DD has always been a great sleeper but sleeps even better now that she is in her own room and we have a noise machine. She loves the ocean sound.

I bet you will def see a difference when you move him into his own room. Try the white noise machine too and see how it goes.

Good luck, it will get better !!!

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

Thank you soooo much ladies!! I have been crying over my keyboard since 8:00 am. We will try to put him to sleep in his nursery tonight and I will go buy a white noise machine at BRU during lunch.

About putting him in his crib, do I put him in his crib while he is awake and hope he falls asleep or wait till he falls asleep (he will usually fall asleep at the bottle or after being walked around for a minute or two) and then lay him down? I sound so clueless. Wow.

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

Oh, Maria!! I'm so sorry you are going through this.

I don't have any additional advice other than what the other ladies suggested about a white noise machine and moving him to his nursery, but I wanted to give you .

I put Frankie down when he is asleep or almost completely asleep. I rock him in his room when he is getting sleepy so he associates sleepiness with his room.

Does he just not take to a pacifier?

Hopefully it is just a stage and will pass.

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

Definitley try putting him in his own room! That realllllly helps. He might still wake up the first few nights, but after that, I bet he will sleep better.

Also, I agree with the white noise machine. We have a hepa filter and a humidfier in DD's room - both make white noise. It is great.

Good luck....I know it's hard being a working mom on no sleep..

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

Ryan's going backwards too lately. He went to sleep at 8:30 last night and was up at 12AM - seemingly looking to be nursed. I didn't b/c I know it was a comfort nurse. I literally stood over him for 45-minutes putting the binky in his mouth - he'd suck, settle, spit it out and start up all over again upset. I def. think it's teething. Eventually he went back to sleep but was up again at 1:30, then 4, then 6

We use the sleep sheep and he seems to like that - but it only lasts for so long.

I also do the Hyland teething tablets before bed to try and help him.

I truly believe it's the teething - sounds like it's your problem too.

And I could put my head on my desk right now and nap also

Message edited 7/31/2008 10:06:17 AM.

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

Yeah, moving him to his own room might help. We went to my parent's house recently and he slept in the same room with us. My God, he was up so many times. Usually he sleeps through the night. He was also teething so, so hard to tell what was the problem.

My DS went through a growth spurt around 4 months and wanted bottles at night again. It lasted maybe 2 weeks, then he went back to sleeping through the night. Have you tried giving him a larger bottle the first time he wakes up? He may not keep waking so many times.

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

Posted by jambalady

Oh, Maria!! I'm so sorry you are going through this.

I don't have any additional advice other than what the other ladies suggested about a white noise machine and moving him to his nursery, but I wanted to give you .

I put Frankie down when he is asleep or almost completely asleep. I rock him in his room when he is getting sleepy so he associates sleepiness with his room.

Does he just not take to a pacifier?

Hopefully it is just a stage and will pass.

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

and that you get some rest soon. i would def try a pacifier, his own room and a mobile/aquarium thingy to lull him to sleep.

eta: did you say that you add cereal AND fruit to his bottle? i've never heard of adding fruit to bottles - that may be too much for him?

Message edited 7/31/2008 10:13:10 AM.

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

Posted by SweetCaroline

Ryan's going backwards too lately. He went to sleep at 8:30 last night and was up at 12AM - seemingly looking to be nursed. I didn't b/c I know it was a comfort nurse. I literally stood over him for 45-minutes putting the binky in his mouth - he'd suck, settle, spit it out and start up all over again upset. I def. think it's teething. Eventually he went back to sleep but was up again at 1:30, then 4, then 6

We use the sleep sheep and he seems to like that - but it only lasts for so long.

I also do the Hyland teething tablets before bed to try and help him.

I truly believe it's the teething - sounds like it's your problem too.

And I could put my head on my desk right now and nap also

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

We are going through the same thing right now will Ella and she is 4 months. I am not working now, but go back in less than 4 weeks and am getting very worried. I have no suggestions but just offer you .

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

Posted by CurlyQ

We are going through the same thing right now will Ella and she is 4 months. I am not working now, but go back in less than 4 weeks and am getting very worried. I have no suggestions but just offer you .

Message edited 7/31/2008 10:16:58 AM.

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

Posted by 08BabySurprise

Posted by SweetCaroline

Ryan's going backwards too lately. He went to sleep at 8:30 last night and was up at 12AM - seemingly looking to be nursed. I didn't b/c I know it was a comfort nurse. I literally stood over him for 45-minutes putting the binky in his mouth - he'd suck, settle, spit it out and start up all over again upset. I def. think it's teething. Eventually he went back to sleep but was up again at 1:30, then 4, then 6

We use the sleep sheep and he seems to like that - but it only lasts for so long.

I also do the Hyland teething tablets before bed to try and help him.

I truly believe it's the teething - sounds like it's your problem too.

And I could put my head on my desk right now and nap also

Oh Jessee I am so sorry What is up with these boys? I mean CLEARLY it can't be hunger! I think Athan eats when he gets up out of comfort too. I am totally going to try to put him to sleep in his nursery tonight. Maybe that will help. And like I said, I will buy a white noise machine and some of those teething tablets... maybe it will help? Shoot, I will try anything now.

Here are for you too! Maybe Ryan and Athan will figure this out soon - because their mommies can't function like this for much longer

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

Posted by SweetCaroline

I feel terrible for him too but I guess this is one of their first challenges in life.

Does Athan sleep on his belly? Maybe if he's in his crib he will ?

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

You've gotten some great suggestions already. I'll add one more. Try to rock him just to drowsy and put him down not completely asleep. Give him a few minutes if he is fussing. Pick him up and repeat until he stays asleep. What may be happening is that when he wakes up slightly he is confused about what to do... so helping him learn to fall asleep on his own at bedtime may help in the middle of the night...

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

Posted by Calla

You've gotten some great suggestions already. I'll add one more. Try to rock him just to drowsy and put him down not completely asleep. Give him a few minutes if he is fussing. Pick him up and repeat until he stays asleep. What may be happening is that when he wakes up slightly he is confused about what to do... so helping him learn to fall asleep on his own at bedtime may help in the middle of the night...

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

Posted by 08BabySurprise

Posted by CurlyQ

We are going through the same thing right now will Ella and she is 4 months. I am not working now, but go back in less than 4 weeks and am getting very worried. I have no suggestions but just offer you .

Aaaaw, that picture of your Ella made me smile through all the stupid tears I have shed this morning. BLEH!

Here's to hoping our babies figure this out and get out of this phase QUICKLY

Re: Need advice about sleeping - losing my mind...

It feels like yesterday my DS was going through that, about the same age. I was not working and I was exhausted so I can only imagine how you feel!!

What worked for us, was putting DS in his crib. He LOVED having all that space and not being disturbed by the noises of me and DH sleeping. Also, I have a humidifier in his room that works like a white noise machine.

I also stopped giving him a bottle when he woke up at night. It was hard! I gave him the pacifier and soothed him but I knew he wasn't hungry because he would drink an ounce or two! My Mom was the one who told me to stop giving him the bottle and I thought she was crazy! But it worked. Once he realized he wasn't getting it he stopped waking up.