thedancingbaptist
New member
@pz128 My baby was the same. 8 hour stretches until 4 months, then waking every 15-45 minutes. The first two weeks were the worst. The first 3 months were the second worst. Gradually he started getting longer stretches. He's 10mo now and it's still hit or miss, but I'm getting a decent 4+ hrs stretch at least once a night.
Sleep is developmental, just like rolling over, walking, babbling. I know it's tough to hear, but time for her brain to develop will play the biggest role here, and you need to find ways to cope until it gets better.
Some thoughts:
Do you have someone (a grandparent or close friend) who can come help? It'll be a lot easier for someone else to settle her at night, because she won't smell your milk.
Would you consider mix feeding her? Maybe whoever takes over at night can give a small bottle to ease the transition.
Is she a good eater when it comes to solids? A decent meal closer to bedtime can make some babies sleep better, but that may not be the case until she's older and eating more.
Can you afford a babysitter or daycare a couple of days a week so you can catch up on sleep? Are you sleeping while she naps? I know there's a lot to do, but sleep and safety are more important. Maybe hire someone to do everyday chores. Sometimes au pairs are free during school hours and will look for casual work at affordable rates.
As someone suggested, can you wait till she's in deep sleep and then bring her to bed with you? She won't wake up as much if you're there ready to feed her. Same for you. You'll get a much better sleep or rest if you're not fully waking up and getting up each time.
This may be a really obvious one, but: have you tried a dummy (pacifier)? Or putting her thumb in her mouth?
And lastly, what I mentioned in another comment: her sensory diet is almost as important for sleep. Look up the Possums Program by Dr. Pamela Douglas. Her YouTube channel is called NDC Baby and Toddler and she wrote The Discontented Little Baby Book.
ETA: None of us here are fans of sleep training and especially CIO methods. However, safety is paramount, and sleep deprivation can become extremely dangerous. If you're finding yourself at risk of dropping her, having a car accident, or your mental health deteriorates (just some examples), then you need to prioritise safety. Attachment injuries can be repaired; a fatal accident cannot. And let's not forget that a depressed mother is not healthy for baby either, and can be just as (if not more) detrimental to attachment. You do what you need to do, and feel proud of yourself for putting so much thought and effort into finding the best solution for YOUR family. Don't let anyone shame you for doing what you need to survive.
Sleep is developmental, just like rolling over, walking, babbling. I know it's tough to hear, but time for her brain to develop will play the biggest role here, and you need to find ways to cope until it gets better.
Some thoughts:
Do you have someone (a grandparent or close friend) who can come help? It'll be a lot easier for someone else to settle her at night, because she won't smell your milk.
Would you consider mix feeding her? Maybe whoever takes over at night can give a small bottle to ease the transition.
Is she a good eater when it comes to solids? A decent meal closer to bedtime can make some babies sleep better, but that may not be the case until she's older and eating more.
Can you afford a babysitter or daycare a couple of days a week so you can catch up on sleep? Are you sleeping while she naps? I know there's a lot to do, but sleep and safety are more important. Maybe hire someone to do everyday chores. Sometimes au pairs are free during school hours and will look for casual work at affordable rates.
As someone suggested, can you wait till she's in deep sleep and then bring her to bed with you? She won't wake up as much if you're there ready to feed her. Same for you. You'll get a much better sleep or rest if you're not fully waking up and getting up each time.
This may be a really obvious one, but: have you tried a dummy (pacifier)? Or putting her thumb in her mouth?
And lastly, what I mentioned in another comment: her sensory diet is almost as important for sleep. Look up the Possums Program by Dr. Pamela Douglas. Her YouTube channel is called NDC Baby and Toddler and she wrote The Discontented Little Baby Book.
ETA: None of us here are fans of sleep training and especially CIO methods. However, safety is paramount, and sleep deprivation can become extremely dangerous. If you're finding yourself at risk of dropping her, having a car accident, or your mental health deteriorates (just some examples), then you need to prioritise safety. Attachment injuries can be repaired; a fatal accident cannot. And let's not forget that a depressed mother is not healthy for baby either, and can be just as (if not more) detrimental to attachment. You do what you need to do, and feel proud of yourself for putting so much thought and effort into finding the best solution for YOUR family. Don't let anyone shame you for doing what you need to survive.
