Tuesday, March 27, 2012

My Little Sleep Demons


I really need to have a rant about my demon children when it comes to sleep. I don't know what i've done to deserve 2 children who hate sleep. You might recall that we ended up at a sleep centre to 'train' Calvin how to sleep, after 13 months of sleep deprivation. Scarlet is 8 months and we are already heading in the same direction.

We went and saw a child health nurse specialising in sleep and lactation about 2 weeks ago because she was waking 5-6 times a night (AFTER we went to bed), and she suggested taking the dummy away. We did that and she is now only waking twice. This is still not sustainable. And to top that off, she won't sleep for longer than half an hour during the day - something that Calvin has always specialised in.

I am literally going out of my mind.

We seem to have tried everything. We use controlled crying - only allowing it to go on for an hour during the day and 45 minutes at night; giving her a short break by getting her up for a bit then going through it all again for another 45. When she wakes up during the day i do not rush to her - i let her cry for a bit so she can try and put herself back to sleep.

I have tried 'save our sleep', following the routines almost religiously, to no avail. She has a snuggle rug for comfort, which i have worn in my shirt to get my 'scent' on it. I am sure to 'wake' her after a breastfeed at the end of the day so she goes down awake. I read to her before bed. We have a routine that we follow every day. I've tried topping her up with formula after each breastfeed. I feed her heaps of solids - until she turns her head. She has plenty of stimulation during the day - lots of time on her tummy, back and sitting. I watch out for tired signs when putting her down. She is happy and content. As long as i'm not trying to get her to sleep.

Everything i read just infuriates me more (or makes it all seem more hopeless), as we are doing everything everyone suggests!!! Putting a baby to bed 'drowsy but not asleep' is something that totally alludes me. My children seem to know 2 speeds - flat out and flat out. There is no intermediate stage. Same with crying. They do not just do a whiny cry. They go straight to a scream.

I just don't know what to do to get her to sleep longer than half an hour during the day. I am living in a state of total and complete exhaustion, even only getting up twice a night. I know it will all pass and that eventually i will be dragging her out of bed when she is a teenager, but i just don't know what to do now.

2 comments:

  1. I am in the same boat Kylie, Annika is 2.5 and still up several times a night. Heidi was 3 when Annika was born so its only as she has gotten older that she sleeps better but Heidi is still up at 4.30-5am every morning. I understand how frustrating it is especially when you are sleep deprived. It is just something I have decided I will have to live with until it stops, i too have tried all suggestions, and still to this day am consistent in following them through but what works for one person doesn't always work for everyone else :(. good luck. I can sympathise. xo

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  2. i have 7 sons...... the 1st 5(aged between 13 and 19) were all excellent sleepers, sleeping right hrough from 6 wks old and having 2hr daytime sleeps up til age 4...... then along came #6 and he is 6.5 and you can count on 1 hand the amount of nights he has slept through the nite.... even now he gets me up twice, and up for good at around 6..... he was good with daytime sleeps, having 2 2hr sleeps through the day til 2 then 1 2hr sleep til 4.5......... #7 is a good baby too, he is 12 mths and has at least 1 2.5 hr sleep through the day, and im up twice through the nite......so really its my 6 yr old that is the problem...... i do sympathise with you, its not easy esp when you have sleep deprivation and just need a rest but the kids dont......good luck in finding a solution, i was going to say when you have 1 let me know, but i is not having any more lol

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