Tips for better sleep?

[sil]

DS2 is 5 months old. When he was 3 months old he was down to 1-2 feeds per night. For the past 6/7 weeks now, things have been getting worse and worse. Last night he was up every hour. I don't think this is a growth spurt because it has been lasting on and off for so long.

He does put himself to sleep - we do a breastfeed, read a story, sing a song, and I put him down awake with his mobile/crib soother on and he goes to bed by himself.

I'm not sure how to help him get on a better sleep schedule again. He's tired, I'm tired, and he's sometimes waking up my 2 year old DS with the frequency of his wakings.

 

[mummytobe_93]

DS2 is 5 months old. When he was 3 months old he was down to 1-2 feeds per night. For the past 6/7 weeks now, things have been getting worse and worse. Last night he was up every hour. I don't think this is a growth spurt because it has been lasting on and off for so long.



He does put himself to sleep - we do a breastfeed, read a story, sing a song, and I put him down awake with his mobile/crib soother on and he goes to bed by himself.

I'm not sure how to help him get on a better sleep schedule again. He's tired, I'm tired, and he's sometimes waking up my 2 year old DS with the frequency of his wakings.

Following sounds the same same which I'm assuming is 4 month sleep regression xx

 

[Button#]

Go to bed early yourself, check out how to co sleep safely and don't put any extra pressure on yourself as far as possible. You're at a tricky time for sleep and it will pass, try not to get stressed and do what you need to do to survive.

 

[sil]

Thanks ladies. I'm exhausted. Last night I went to bed at 10PM, DS2 woke up at 11PM, 1AM, 2AM, DS1 at 2:30 AM, DS2 at 3:30AM, DH's alarm at 5:30AM, DS1 at 5:45AM, DS2 at 6AM, and then I couldn't fall back asleep after that so I got up and had breakfast and coffee while the 2 kids slept until 7.

I'm not sure what to really do about it since he knows how to self settle. He just isn't doing it during the night. I'll just try my best to roll with it and hope that it passes soon. I'm finding it so incredibly hard to get out of bed and meet everyone's needs every time I hear a kid wake up. DH is good and will help with DS1 as needed, but DS2 is breastfed and won't take a bottle so that's all on me.

 

[Willow01]

https://www.babysleepsite.com/how-we-sleep/4-month-old-sleep-regression/

It's for 3-5 months but it could well be a regression

 

[Button#]

It's because it's a big development leap. Mine can self settle and did from teeny, she is going through the 8 month regression at the moment, there really isn't much you can do. I know how exhausting it is though, DD was in and out of my bed last night and woke up at 5.30 for the day.

 

[izzlesnizzle]

Sounds like the four month sleep regression. It's hell. Ds was awful when he went through it. 4-5 months was a big low for me with sleep and breastfeeding problems, recurrent mastitis and milk blisters. Eek it frightens me just thinking back to it!

We introduced a dummy at 5 months which transformed sleep, it was supposed to be just for sleep but he's ended up having it in the day as it saves my sanity when he's grizzling and whinging a lot.

Your lo is a little too young for 2,3,4 schedule. I put ds on that around 6-7 months and I guessing your lo is still on 3 naps. I would just make sure he gets those naps no matter what and try to resettle if he wakes during a nap. Ds wakes regularly during naps especially the lunchtime one and I'm always in there resettling him and he goes back to sleep for another half an hour/ hour.

Things I found helpful with my ds was sleeping him for naps on his side cuddling a teddy and dummy in and holding his hip with one hand and other hand on his shoulder and gently rocking him and shushing him until he goes off. I had a sensor mat and video monitor though so was a bit more comfortable putting him on his side but I didn't do it for night sleep.

Night time I would just do whatever it takes to get some sleep. Whether that means bringing him in with you or whatever it is to get some good blocks of sleep. If he doesn't sleep well in the day I'd put him to bed 6/6.30 to catch up on a bit more sleep. You can sort out sleep habits once you're through the regression but there's no point training at his age and especially during a regression.

The older one, does he still nap? As I'd make sure he has a good 2 hour nap in the middle of the day and a 7 pm bed. And a gro clock! Unless it's something urgent he can't get up until the sunshine comes up. My dd got one at 22 months and stays in her bed until it's time to get up. If she comes out, which she never does, then I would redirect her straight back to bed and tell her the stars are still out, it's still night time. Night night and keep doing it until he gets the message. You can't go on like that, that's a crazy night you had! I wouldn't be able to string a sentence together!

 

[Mummy to be x]

Definitely sounds like a leap, hang on in there and sleep whenever you can. It may not seem like it right now but it will get better

 

[sil]

Ugh, 11 wakeups last night. I'm exhausted. Does this pass on its own or should there be something I should do to help him wake less? I tried settling without a feed but it didn't work he just got too upset and kept rooting around.

 

[Mummy to be x]

There isn't much that you can do apart from keeping him nice and calm and settled, and the usual things like clean bum, full tummy etc. it will pass x

 

[Button#]

It'll pass on its own