Please help me!

[niknaknat]

Hi girls long time no see, but I couldn't think of a better place to get some advice.
My little boy is now 6.5 months old and he is driving me crazy
I love him with all my heart but things have been really difficult with him lately, he is constantly moaning all day, he is never happy for more than 10 mins at a time, he constantly needs my attention!!
up until 3 weeks ago, he was sleeping from 9pm til about 7.30am but now, he is waking every 30 mins, not crying, just moaning and kicking about in his cot. By 5am, thats it...he will not go back to sleep! I have 3 other children at home and my husband works nights and sleeps through the day so I am getting no respite from it at all and I am beginning to struggle
He has been showing signs of teething for months now, chewing on everything, slobbering but I can't feel anything coming through. I have made sure he is free of wind, given him calpol, bathed him, everything to try and settle him but it only works for a while and then he is awake again.
He only catnaps through the day as well ( usually 20mins at a time) and then wakes up crying because he is still tired.
For the last 3 weeks I have averaged about 3 hours a night and then been running around after 4 of them all day, last night i was awake all night and I am beginning to dread night time now.
I am so tired at the moment, I would like to think that things will be easier when the others go back to school but if I am honest it is Corey that takes all my time and attention so i can't see things changing that much.
My other kids are starting to feel left out as well, I know this because my 9 year old actually told me as much last night...I have been that stressed out that I have been taking it out on them.
sorry this is so long winded but I just really need some advice from others who are or have been in a similar situation.
Thanks girls xxxx

 

[bumpsmum]

sorry hun Im not sure I can offer much advice but waned to say your doing such a great job with 4 little uns' and under sooo much pressure

Have you started to wean? any family that can help out during the day let you get some rest? x

 

[niknaknat]

yes hun I am weaning, he has been on solids for about a month or so, he is a big baby and the milk just wasn't enough anymore,
Thankyou for your reply anyway, much appreciated xxx

 

[asacia]

Did this change start at the same time as weaning? Could something he is eating be causing him upset? Is he fussy if you wear him in a sling or carry him round?

 

[charliebear]

Have you tried the Ashton and Parsons teething powders?

AJ was the same with napping through the day 20 Min's only. Do you put him down for naps?
With AJ would only nap on us, if I put him in his cot he would scream. Put him in his pram, ssshhh'ed him, wobbled pram abit, 20 Min's later flat out. Gradually got less time, now i just put him in and leave him.

I also wonder about the weaning upsetting his tum? A sling seems like a good idea.

Sorry, not much help.

 

[niknaknat]

He has always been a grumpy baby right from the word go lol.
He is also very fussy..I started him on aptimal which gave him bad stomach cramps so was advised by midwife to change to sma which I did, but after a couple of weeks he was getting the same symptoms. I was then told by MW to try him on the ready made cartons for a couple of days to see if it was our water that he didn't like...he has been on them since!
He is fine with the solids and the changes in his sleep patterns have come a while after I started to wean him.
No I don't use a carrier, do you think I should?
I am toying with the idea of taking him to see the g.p although i know in my heart that there is nothing really wrong with him, I would just like to double check, I would hate to think that there is something i'm missing
He is fine once I have picked him up.

 

[charliebear]

You could try a carrier, is he happier when you carry him around?
If there someone who you could loan one off to try?

Personally, if I think 'maybe I should go to the Dr's' I'd go. No harm done if he's fine. x

 

[niknaknat]

I didn't think i could get a carrier that is able to hold his body weight...he is nearly 24lbs! Are there ones avaliable for babies of his weight, i have never used one before?

 

[Sophie1205]

Wow 24lbs!!!
I have no advice sorry hun but really hope he settles down soon for you. But the carrier does seem like a great idea! x

 

[charliebear]

I'm not sure what would be best...If you dont get an answer here, I'd ask in Natural parenting.

 

[fein&waiting]

there are plenty carriers that will take toddler weights even, i think there are threads around and about on this forum that give detailed info then it's just about picking the one you think will suit you best. as far as the other things go, think everyone has suggested the possible reasons i would think of. The only other thing is possibly asking your gp or health visitor to suggest a sleep specialist who can help you figure out what's going on and how to rectify as it sounds like it's becoming a vicious cycle for both you and your baby. I hope you figure it out as i know what it's like to have disturbed sleep and early mornings after previously having it all blissfully sorted

 

[louise1302]

i could have posted this myself hun..i have 4 kids archie is 6.5 months and a grump whos stopped sleeping through...my hubby also works nights

i think its a lot to do with the age theyre at tbh archie gets frustrated and wants to do far more than he can

as for the sleeping i found with archie better daytime naps leads to better nightime sleeps if i just allow him small naps he wakes loads in the night and gets up early but if i give him a structured sleep time ie no matter when he wakes for the day i put him down for a nap at 11 and 3 ish at the leter nap i try to make sure he has a good hour and a half he sleeps that night much more settled

feel free to pm me hun for a chat/rant as it seems we are in pretty much the same boat but i had to go back to work too yesterday just when he decided 5 am was a good time to get up in the morning

x

 

[louise1302]

oh and archie is pretty eavy too id say the mei tai style carrier is ace for carrying heavier babies its suitable right up to todler ages there are some pics in the natural parenting section in the thread called lets see you babywearing

 

[helen1234]

our babies are similar age, Rhys started fussing alot and decided 5m was get up time, i put him down at 11am and between 2-3pm everyday and if he wakes before 6am i give him some water and put him back down, he's just sprouted two teeth this week so i've put it down teething, i know it sounds bad but when i really have to do something like hoover etc i put music or cbeebies channel on lol.
sometimes i just have to ignore the whinging. plus 7 month attatchment anxiety will be starting and he'll become more clingy with that too

x

 

[sublime_ivy]

Read the past ask a....thread it was on baby wearing. You could get a mei tai style carrier. I ordered one, they are pricey but worth it.

https://www.babyandbump.com/baby-club/175763-ask-mum-wears-their-baby-baby-wearing-16-8-23-8-a.html

 

[KatienSam]

Maybe its his seperation anxiety starting? Maybe take him to doc to make sure it isn't anything medical, for your own peace of mind too! Or speak to health visitor about it, may have some tips! If its seperation anxiety hopefully it will ease up soon! Not really much help am I!? Sorry! Hope things get better. X

 

[Kiree]

I agree about getting a mei tai. I use one for my son but I've worn my 1 year old niece in it a few times too no problem.

Noahs just started waking up every half hour and I'm finding it really hard, and I don't have any other kids so I think you deserve a medal! X

 

[bumpsmum]

how did last night go hun? hope you got some sleep. Maybe take him to see gp just for a check up maybe a milk allergy dont understand why if powder upsets him how ready made would be any diff tbh, the sling would be very helpful i think x

 

[babezone]

wish i had more advice but my lo has been like this since the word go. bless him he is v v whingey baby and crys alot.nights are becoming so annoying because all he wants is me and wont settle til he gets me. i did find tho that once he started crawling it got abit easyier day time because he cud do abit more wat he wannid rather then jus lay ther x

 

[niknaknat]

Thankyou all for your advice, I will look into getting the carrier that you all have recommended, I dont care how much it costs as long as it helps.
Bump..last night was o.k as it goes....he fell asleep at around 10pm, gave him a dream feed at about 11.30, he woke at 1.30am, 3.00am and I was downstairs with him at 5.30am this morning, so i managed a couple of hours at least. He on the other hand is now fast asleep as we speak lol
The reason he wouldn't take the powder milk is because our water is very hard where we live and it was the only explanation our mw could give as to why it was causing him upset, we have tried him on it since and within a couple of days he is griping again.