For several weeks, my son would sleep for 4 hours, then about 2 during the night. In the last couple weeks though, he doesn't sleep longer than a single cycle - about an hour at a time. Occasionally he can do a two hour nap in the evening, but that's it. Needless to say my husband and I are both starting to lose our minds. I don't expect him to sleep all the way through the night (even though all our friends' babies are, ugh), but at this point I can't do this much longer; I haven't gotten more than an hour of sleep at a time in almost two weeks! Also I'm getting sick due to the lack of sleep, and I don't want to give the baby a cold.
I know he CAN sleep longer; he used to, and also twice now he's slept for 6 hours. So I know he can do it if conditions are right, I just don't know what conditions are right. One of those times he slept in his carseat; I think it made him feel snuggled in. But I don't think that's terribly safe so I don't want to do it again. I can't/won't do CIO; if he wakes up and needs me, I'll pick him up and try to soothe him. But when he does wake up at night, he's often inconsolable. He's not hungry but usually won't calm down without a breast to suck on. He'll fall asleep there and scream again as soon as I pull him off (I can't keep him there all night!) This is a new development; he used to wake only when hungry, eat, go back to sleep easily. This is really troubling to me as it's not a habit I'd like to develop.
It's pretty early for his next growth spurt, and the fact that he's not eating when he wakes up tells me it's not that. It's way early for him to be teething, and it's late for this to be a reaction from his 2-month shots, which he had no problem with. He doesn't seem sick. The past few days he's been extra cranky and I'm wondering if it's because he's overtired since he's not sleeping at night, and not making up the sleep during the day.
The saving grace is that he does know night from day. When he wakes up, really all he seems to want is to go back to sleep, he just can't do it.
Things we've tried:
- Putting him to sleep earlier, putting him to sleep later
- Swaddling (at this point he just kicks off the blankets no matter how tightly we wrap him)
- Changing him into footie pj's, both for warmth and to signal it's bedtime as part of the routine
- Putting him in a sleepsack, both the swaddle kind and the regular
- Having him sleep in his rocker with vibration on (not preferable, but we'd take it for a while if it helped him sleep)
- Having him sleep on the couch with his dad (this sometimes gets an extra hour, but that's it, and again this is not a good long-term solution)
- Giving him the breast, not giving the breast
- Changing the diaper, not changing the diaper (so as not to disrupt him further)
- All the "happiest baby on the block" techniques - this is usually how we get him back to sleep, but then he just wakes up again
- Singing gently to him, walking him up and down the hall for 15 minutes on end
- Pacifier, finger in the mouth (sometimes this works, sometimes not)
- Waiting to see if he soothes himself back to sleep (occasionally this happens, not often though)
- Putting a hand on him in the cradle and gently rocking and shushing
- Taking him for more walks during the day (tough, as I'm physically exhausted and he gets cranky fast, but trying it) so he gets fresh air
- Tonight I'm going to leave the radio on static all night. That hasn't done much for naps but it works pretty well in the car, so we'll see.
So partly I'm curious as to why this is starting now. But mostly I want to know, how to get him to stay asleep for at least 3 hours at a time? I'm turning into a sick zombie, and my husband is not safe to do all the driving he needs to do for work and school. Not to mention it can't be healthy for the baby to sleep like that.
I took him to the doctor today because he just is not seeming himself and something's obviously bothering him. It does seem his symptoms match up with acid reflux. The doctor prescribed Zantac for the reflux, and although I hate to give my baby medication, it's probably safer for him than having two parents who are losing their balance and focus due to sleep deprivation.
ETA: Well, the Zantac helped with his spitting up (which wasn't a big problem anyway), but he is still waking up every hour. I'm losing my mind.
The fact that he slept 6 hrs in a carseat makes me think maybe he has reflux. Babies w/ reflux often sleep better if they aren't flat. My youngest was severe and he spent quite a few months sleeping in his swing after that we co slept.
Have you tried just bringing the baby to bed with you? You can nurse him while laying on your side and not even have to fully wake up! I know co-sleeping isn't for everyone but it worked wonders for us and I wouldn't have it any other way.
i agree with Rachel --sounds like maybe reflux. He can sleep in a carseat in his crib, upright and buckled securely, almost like swaddling. Also, young babies have to learn how to hold onto a paci, so spitting it out doesn't mean he doesn't want it--he just lost his grip.
My son is 2 1/2 months old and he LOVES to sleep with his head inside the boppy pillow... Meaning, his whole head is surrounded with a pillow and he is warm wherever he turns. He is also always covered by two warm blankets, because like you wrote, swaddling doesn't work anymore. He sleeps through the night most nights (11-6) but I noticed that when he's uncovered or not between the pillow, he's squirmy and fusses.
Also, sounds like you've tried everything! the only thing I would question is if he doesn't have colic? Or constipation? Perhaps he's jsut soooo uncomfortable that he can't sleep. A child this age should be sleeping most of the day still, so something is going on that he's not happy.
Have you called your pediatrician?
Perhaps, since your breastfeeding, something in your diet upsets his little stomach? Maybe he doesn't tolerate something you eat/drink?
Best wishes to you and remember that this too shall pass:-)
