Getting Pregnant

ShannonMVT · #1 June 17th, 2009, 07:09 AM

That week of him sleeping 5 or 6 hour stretches was such a tease.

The last couple nights have been bad. He's been eating a lot (well he always does but more than usual) so maybe an 8 week growth spurt? I am SO ready for him to NOT be in a growth spurt.

So yesterday he took one 2 hour nap and everything else was 5-10 minute catnaps here and there, def not totally more than an hour. So only 3 hours sleep during the day.

Then last night a total sleep of 7 hours or so. Umm...10 hours sleep a day for a 2 month old?! ***?! Again, I say, I thought babies were supposed to sleep?!

Last night he slept 2.5 hours then woke up hungry and with a leaked diaper. Then back down for 4.5 hours BUT every hour or so he would wake up and do this thing where he cries really loud for 5 seconds, then falls back asleep. Repeat that about 4 times over a 5-10 minute period. I don't go get him b/c the cries only last about 5 seconds but it wakes me up every stinking time. Any idea what this is? A nightmare??? He's done it before too but not so much as last night.

I can tell sometimes he is tired and needs to sleep but he just won't go down. I've tried nursing, rocking, music, swing, bouncer. The time he slept 2 hours yesterday was because I let him sleep on his tummy, which I let him do sometimes during the day. So many times he falls asleep but then he just wakes up 10 minutes later. It's like he struggles to GET to sleep and he struggles to STAY asleep.

I'm tired. I hope this passes soon. I'm trying to keep it in perspective because I know someday he'll be all grown up and I'll be wishing for these sleepless nights, if ykwim.

#2 June 17th, 2009, 07:13 AM

I'm sorry Shannon! That has got to be so frustrating, for you, David, and Matthew, too! I hope he comes back to a routine!!

soImarriedAnerd · #3 June 17th, 2009, 07:34 AM

Can he pick up his head and turn it on his own? If so, I personally would just him sleep on his belly if thats how he sleeps better...with a fan on.

LisanAndy · #4 June 17th, 2009, 07:46 AM

Ditto Angela! I ALWAYS put Rylie to sleep on her tummy and it works miracles. Taylor was just like your son. She slept 2-3 hours during the day and it's remained that way LoL. Rylie has those days too but they will pass. I know how frustrating it can be. My mom always told me with Taylor "she's starting to grow up and be more alert so you can't expect her to be a sleepyhead all the time". Boy was she right

Hang in there girl, mommyhood is one tough ride but definitely try to enjoy every minute

ShannonMVT · #5 June 17th, 2009, 08:20 AM

Yeah, he can pick up his head and turn it from one side to the other. I dunno if he could do it while swaddled though since the swaddle is so confining. Can you swaddle them while they tummy sleep? What about sleeping inclined?

#6 June 17th, 2009, 09:00 AM

kirsty was about 2 months when she started being awake more through the day, it made me "forget" she was still so young & so I missed timing her naps, she'd be overtired then leading to not being able to settle for a sleep, then when she did, she would wake up soon afterwards.

Have you heard of the Baby Whisperer's EASY routine? You could try him on a 3 hour one, it's where every 3 hour period contains an Eat, an Activity (including getting dressed/nappy changing) and a Sleep.

So if he got up at 7am, feed him (E), get him dressed, maybe play a while (A) and settle him for a sleep (S) - the Y in the routine is You time. The next cycle of this wqould start at 10am, then 1pm, etc.

Try reading on this site for more help on this, they also have sections for sleeping etc. They are good help with short nappers which is what you & I both have! And this section of the site goes into the EASY in depth.

Nami · #7 June 17th, 2009, 12:16 PM

Sorry you have to deal with that. I wish I could help but we've been having problems like that since Chris was born and he still have sleeping problems. Waking up many times to eat at night, every hour or so crying for a little bit then going back to sleep, never sleeps more than 3 hours and that's on a good day. Lately he's even started getting up at 5am even though he doesn't goto bed till 11pm and will only nap once. But you say he does sleep long stretches sometimes right? If so, he may just do it during growth spurts and he should grow out of it. I hope you get better sleep soon.

**Jenn** · #8 June 17th, 2009, 12:29 PM

Both my boys were like that until I let them sleep on their tummiss like they wanted to and preferred to do. I wouldn't swaddle and put him on his tummy though. Both boys hated being swaddled so I rarely did it but I found on their tummies they didn't have the same issues waking themselves up as they did if I tried to put them on their backs. We also had a bad scare with Liam back sleeping so I was much more relaxed about tummy sleeping after that.

About the crying out at night, Loch will still do that. In fact he just did that last night at 2am and again at 5am. Just one cry, like a yell, and that's it. I think maybe its a nightmare or something because he's always very quick to settle himself after if he even wakes up at all.

All babies will get into their own groove. Some have less than ideal timing than others but they all get there. Liam was sleeping through the night at 10 months old but Lochy not til he was 17 months old. I thought they would forever be nursing all the time and always need the boob to fall asleep but Liam self weaned at 13 1/2 months and Lochy is on his way to being done too. It is really exhausting, especially in the beginning, but he'll get there.

Mars · #9 June 17th, 2009, 12:35 PM

I don't know what to suggest. I'm sorry he's not settling well. I hope some of the suggestions above work.

~*Bethy*~ · #10 June 17th, 2009, 02:11 PM

I agree with Jenn - Try him on his tummy. If you want to keep swaddling him, try to lay him on his side. Do you have the head of his crib elevated? Id try that as well, gravity helped my son sleep better.

~Beth

ShannonMVT · #11 June 18th, 2009, 08:18 AM

Last night I didn't swaddle him and I let him sleep on his tummy. He had a 6.5 hour sleep stretch!

Yahoo! Unfortunately I didn't sleep the whole time b/c of stupid allergies but still, I am feeling better!

On the naps, it seems that he may have to cry for a minute or two before he settles. I hate it, but I am right there with him trying to calm him even though I'm not holding him. Holding him and then putting him down doesn't work well during the day.