fighting sleep

Trey will scream and fight sleep for hours.... is there anything to do to help this???

 

I always thought that when babies did this, they were having nightmares and were afraid to go to sleep....Lots of rocking, don't be afraid to let him fall asleep in your arms, pat his butt to the rhythm of music, and hold him close to your chest, skin to skin....really warm baths right before bed and *really warm* bottles do the trick.

 

I did all of that. I always rock him to sleep and sing to him and pat him and he just screams. I mean sometimes he will calm down and fall asleep and then when I go to lay him down it starts all over. Finally after 2 hours of this tonight I laid him down to cry himself to sleep- it was only 10 minutes but I almost bawled because I don't want to do that. It just seems so horrible to do that and I feel so guilty about it

 

Sometimes that's all that you can do. If nothing else works and you know that there's nothing wrong with him, then maybe he just wants mommy. I know it's a very hard thing to do because I did this a few times when mine were younger. I didn't really want to do it, but I ended up trying the 10 minute rule and they usually both fell asleep within 5 minutes. I only did this 2 or 3 times and now I don't have any sleeping problems at all. It may not be right for everyone, but it worked for me, even though I felt pretty lousy about it. I felt like I had tried everything else and that was my last option.

 

i have taken three different approaches to this issue. With my first baby, i just held him until he fell asleep, tried to lay him down--failed, and started over until he was truly exhausted, or i fell asleep in a chair with him. i was a really grouchy mama back then. With my second baby (she didn't go through this stage at all until she was ready for a matress on the floor--i was lucky!) i just went to bed with her, and snuck out when she fell asleep. This time around, i think we'll just cosleep until she's ready to be alone, it's a bit crowded, but so much easier! Sometimes the lazy way is the best way, lol.

Seriously, check out Nightime Parenting by Dr. Sears. If cosleeping isn't your thing, it's still worth reading because it offers insight into infant sleep cycles and other issues.

 

joey did the same thing, and i came to find out she was getting really gassy at night. so i'd massage her, pump her little legs then press her knees gently into her belly so she'd fart, then rub her some more, settle her on my chest and let her go to sleep. she doesn't really have the same problem throughout the day, though, so i figured it was the dinner i was eating and changed accordingly.

 

my joey just plays & plays & plays at night sometimes, till he's worn me out - then it's into the car for a nice drive. dark roads work best, if i drive through lighted areas there's too much for him to look at. i put him in his pj's first, so i can bring him in & plop him in bed after he zonks - works every time!

 

I remember when my little ones fought sleep. I remember how exhausted and helpless I felt at the time too. It gets better though, really, it does! More than likely it's just a passing phase, just part of his development. My kids would do that for a little while and then settle back into their normal routine once again.

Do you wear Trey on you throughout the day? I found that when I wore my babies throughout the day, they seemed to sleep better later on. Yep, with my twins, I'd wear one strapped on me and hold the other one. I tried wearing two carriers at once but I nearly fell over and it killed my back. *lol* With my oldest son, my husband and I wore him almost constantly, and he loved it, always fell asleep that way.

{{{Hugs}}} mama, and I hope your little one heads off to dreamland for you soon.

 

generally we lay on the floor playing. I am working with him to get him to roll over. I hope it is a short phase. He was so easy to put to sleep but now its just a pain. Although last night and the night before when he got up in the middle of the night I fed him changed him and put him back in bed and he fell asleep on his own. So that is good. I am wondering if he isn't getting too much solids for now. I mean he used to eat cereal in the morning and at night and then I added veggies to lunch and I think that is about the same time he started this fighting sleep thing. So I am cutting the night cereal and giving him his veggies later in the day to see if that helps. I just get so upset with myself when he does it and I know I shouldn't but I can't help it. I can't help but wonder 'what am I doing wrong' *sigh* I guess its just so hard doing this on my own. Anyway enough of that! Thanks guys!

 

hugs to you for doing it on your own!!

and like hippychickmummy said it will probaly be just a phase and will change and a few months in the future you will look back and go "ooohhh"...
also always remember to talk wth everyone around you and get your tension an problems and thoughts and feelings about it all out with your friends and family that are there for support and this will help you get through those frustrating times...just by what you said about trying the different timing wth the food and such it sounds like you are being a totally considerate and loving mumma!!

 

Awww, I think every mother wonders what she's doing wrong from time to time, with every phase of child rearing. *lol* You're doing fantastic Hippylove, you're an awesome mama!

 

aww well thank you. That means a lot ((((((hugs)))))))

 

i took joey out to the couch last night so that dave could sleep. it was pretty miserable. i kinda dozed sitting up with the baby on me. so when dave came to kiss me good bye this morning, he startled me in my sleep and i punched him in the mouth. lol. poor man. he was pretty proud of it, though. figured i was well able to defend my baby should we be attacked while i'm sleeping. i'm really glad he feels that way, because i remember waking up freaked out, but i don't remember hitting him. i feel bad, sorta. glad i have strong instincts, i guess, but i hit my husband. didn't drop or disturb the baby at all though. that's cool.

 

hippylove-how old is trey now? From what I remember, he and Leane are about the same age....
since he used to sleep well before, maybe your giving him solids too soon (I can't remember if he's over 6 months yet or not)....maybe his tummy just isn't ready for it yet, and it's hard on his digestive system....
just a thought......

 

Your doing just fine your doing everything that you can. Here are some pointers that you may or may not have heard before. give you son some plain rice cereal a half hour before bed that should help fill him up, hold him and cuddle with him and the most important thing is that when he starts to get restless in your arms put him down in a safe spot take a couple of deep breathes and relax and try not to get upset or irritated. This works all the time When Aiden gets restless and i relize that i am getting irritated i put him down a take a couple deep breathes and relax. This helps cuz your baby can tell how you feel. Also a new trick that i just learnt from my mum is that if your having troubles with puttin your baby in their own bed is while putting them to sleep give them the shirt you wore that day that shirt has your most recent scent on it and that will make them feel secure and they will sleep all night. It takes a couple of nights before this trick works. Good luck and have fun

 

Trey is about 4 and 1/2 months old. He's been eating rice cereal for almost a month and 1/2. He was always fine with it. I think he was just getting TOO much solid once I gave him veggies. I feed him cereal in the morn and veggies around 3 and he seems to be doing a little better. I think he might have an ear infection. Would that make him restless??? He calms down a little quicker now.. its just the transfering him to his bed that wakes him up again. I will have to try the shirt trick though.

 

oh and the baby feeling what I feel.... yea my mom tells me that all the time. I know that is a big problem of mine. I just get so frustrated and don't know why I can't calm my son down. And then I feel worse when my mom comes and takes him and he calms right down and goes to sleep. I know its cause she is all calm but I dunno. I guess its a new mom thing.

 

If it laying him in his crib that is the hard part try holding him for a half hour after he goes to sleep then when you do lay him down into the crib lay him down slowly and then put the shirt right next to him. Or heres another trick that my sister told me about. When you put trey to sleep try putting a light blanket over his head and let him hold your hand as you rock him back and forth. For some reason my nephew cannot go to sleep any other way. So it may or may not work for trey.

 

i know this is a weird suggestion but when I worked in daycare we put fleece blankets down in the cribs, the warm that the bub has while you rock him leaves and it is enugh to make the bub notice so they wake up. with my nephew we laid him down on a sheep skin with the wool. He never was a great sleeper but more so a napper so we would just lay his wooly down now at four we can put his wooly and his blanket down anywhere and he will pass out for the night. but the fleece does not get cold and you will notice that bub will keep on keeping on

 

what age do they reccomend there to start feeding solids? Here it is five months and up depending on how they seem to be coping with getting enough from you...and even then it is only the rice cereal stuff for a while. It might have something to do with food but I have to say you could only really tell that by experimenting with different types of food and seeing if there is a difference.

Lots of the sleeping stuff totally sounds like what a lot of mums deal with with their bubs and I think that if your mum can help out and settle them down here and there take the time that she is providing for you to chill and relax.
By the way if you think he has an ear infection go and get i checked out. Ear infections are one of the most common causes of hearing problems and so easily avoided if treated so get it checjked even if just for peace of mind. Good luck and you really sound like the sort of person I would want worrying about my sleeping as you are considering and thoughtful and looking out for your little one.