We've been in Belgium 5 days or so (from San Francisco) and have been having a VERY difficult time helping our daughter adjust to the time difference. It's really taking it's toll on us and I'm sure the entire complex of apartments is hearing her screams at the wee hours too.. thin walls here. She doesn't soothe with a pacifier, we've tried giving her a bottle with formula which also doesn't seem to help much, (she's been exclusively breast fed since birth), nursing her in bed with me but she stays active kicking and swinging her arms around, keeping it dark and quite no result, keeping her up longer to which she fusses and cries but still she wakes an hour later to more cries and we're exhausted. I've also been trying to fight off this cold that wants to take over and luckily it hasn't gotten her, but I desperately need rest. She wakes at 11pm or midnight here and fights until 3 or 330am. What to do? Any suggestions, recommendations, PLEASE!?! Thanks in advance.
Thank you all for the responses, my daughter is now finally adjusting to the time, and as you've all mentioned she's kinda figured it out herself. It's been just over a week and she's now sleeping through the night (last 2 nights) starting at about 10:30pm, a WELCOME change to the playing from 11pm 'till 3am stint! Patience, definitely the key word, thanks moms!!
We had a same problem when we came back from the Netherlands. We kept her awake in the afternoon until 10 p.m. so she could sleep through the night. It was not easy. Be patient.
It took few weeks.
I hope it will help you.
Hi there,
We live in Rome and have traveled a few times back and forth from the U.S., so I know what you're going through! I'm so sorry, it's really rough. The last time we arrived home in Rome we resorted to the cry-it-out method because we were just at our whit's end (I really regret doing it, but that's how frazzled we were).
The only thing that worked was to have her in bed with me and breast feed all night. It did get her on the right time schedule eventually, but then we had to get her used to sleeping in her own bed again because we aren't co-sleeping normally. Sounds like you already tried this, but you could try it again to see if it works tonight.
Unfortunately I can't help you with another solution, just know that she will get on the new time zone soon! Especially since you've already gone though 5 days. Hang in there! And nap when she naps to give yourself some extra sleep.
Take care,
H.
I've travelled w/both our boys thru many time zones & it has all been RV trips....thru CA to UT to AZ to NM back to CA. One trip we RV'd our way back to Ohio & hit more times zones out there. We also went to HA when our oldest was just 2 yo & it always worked out fine. What I always do is just follow their cues & generally, they seem to adjust to the time zone on their own. I know some adults try to 'force' themselves into the time zone by sleeping when it's normal for that time & I think I did this when we arrived in the UK & then upon our routine but it was many years ago. I don't know how well that would work for a baby. Her waking up crying & fussy a short time later could just be due to being in a new environment & figuring it out. Since you've alreayd been there 5 days, I'm sure she'll work it out pretty soon. Best of luck & enjoy the rest of your trip!
Hang in there. I came back to CA from Taiwan 10 days ago and my son (9-month-old) is still not sleeping well. He'd stay up until 11pm or even later, and if I try to put him down earlier he'd just cry and fight it. The first few nights he was up playing until 4 or 5 am! I finally gave in and let him play until he's actually tired, and he's been sleeping better. He's getting up later too, so I figure it's more important to let him get good sleep. BTW I don't let him nap for over 2 hours during the day at a time. I'm sure he'll eventually shift back to CA time when he's ready. Good luck!
