About to go insanse with lack of sleep - any advice?

[ellers]

Oh my god, I'm going mad. Every night (apart from about 3) for the past 4 weeks, our *grits teeth* precious boy has been waking anywhere from 1-4 times a night. Most of the times he'll settle back after popping the dummy in, but there's always the one time when he just won't go back down and I'm up for an hour trying.
Basically, he falls asleep the instant I pick him up, then wakes up and starts crying as soon as I bend over the cot to put him down. Time and time again. Until I get so angry, or upset, I end up standing in his nursery, or slumped down next to his cot, in tears, until my husband comes in and takes him into our bed for the rest of the night.
Here's what I think could be reasons:
He's crawling and pulling himself up like mad during the day, so maybe it's that he's being active?
Possibly teething, but I really don't want to have to give him calpol every night.
He's trying to come into our bed with us earlier?
He's restricted by his sleeping bag - he's in his 6 month plus one tonight, so he has more leg room, so we'll see.
He's started food and that, he's still on 5 feeds a day, about 6-7oz each, but he's having 3 meals a day now.
I don't want to leave him to cry in the middle of the night (which is what the HV is suggesting), as he's standing in his cot. If he lets go, he falls and whacks his head.
Any other suggestions? I'm open to anything, but wanted to avoid CIO or CC.
I cut out wheat products, but no difference.
I've cried everywhere now - broke down in HV clinic, M&S (put sunglasses on so noone saw), in the car. All the time. Sleep deprivation

 

[CocoaOne]

In some ways I'm lucky - LO has always woken at least twice a night, usually 2-4 times, so I'm just used to the lack of sleep now. 2-3 wakings are for food, but around 3am or 5am she wakes for an hour and usually only goes back to sleep if we bring her into our bed.

Have you recently started weaning?
Could it be a growth spurt? Does he seem hungry at all during any of the wakings?

I'm of the opinion that both of us getting sleep is more important than the fear of 'making a rod for your own back', so cosleeping definitely helps when I can't get her back to sleep.

 

[ellers]

Could be a growth spurt, they're due one at 6 months, and with him crawling and standing a bit early, they could be bunching together. I just hope it's a phase! I'm also thinking surely co-sleeping is better than getting angry, but hate to think that he's wanting come in earlier. We'd need to buy a bigger bed!

 

[kt.wood]

Hello, I could have written this post, our little lady jr exactly the same. She used to be a perfect sleeper until about 4 wks ago, every night since then she wakes around 3ish & then every hour until get up time at 7. I love her to bits but is driving us mad as we are both shattered.

Really sorry I dont have any answers at all but just wanted to let you know you have my sympathy, it is hard work when they dont sleep.

Good luck
Katie
X

 

[lanaross]

hun I *hate* to suggest this, but did you have 4 months sleep regression? I am thinking this has to do with the dummy and the fact that the sleeping patterns after 4 months are changing and he just does not know how to self-settle himself back to sleep (hence he's falling asleep the minute you pick him but gets frustrated with this at some point so it doesn't look like teething either, he wouldn't fall asleep right away). I know some will really get upset about this, but you might want to wean him off his dummy and start over with sleep training - we tried sleepsense and each time little miss wakes up, she just sucks her thumb and falls back asleep. Also you know the usual - no talking, no eye contact etc.
I don't think it's a growth spurt to be honest, it can't last 4 weeks. They say it typically lasts a couple days up to a couple weeks and if it's longer you'd need to consult with your doctor.