I think I've reached my breaking point.. Updated

I just don't know what to do anymore. I have tried to be patient and to stay positive. I have a beautiful little boy who is just not a great sleeper. I see post after post about babies sleeping through the night at 6, 8 or 10 weeks and I keep telling myself its ok, I'm doing ok with the lack of sleep and I can handle things but I think I've reached my breaking point.

DS will be 16 weeks this week. He is 3 1/2 months old and his sleeping is getting worse instead of better. Up until 12 weeks or so he was getting up every three hours. Then I thought we were making progress when he started doing 4-5 hour stretches. We do everything I have ever heard suggested, he naps great, he gets swaddled, he goes to bed awake and soothes himself to sleep with no problem, he just doesn't stay asleep.

Now this week he has stopped doing even the 3 hour stretches. He started breaking out of the swaddle within seconds. I wrap him tight as I can but he just gets out. He went to sleep tonight at 8:30 and Its 12:30 and DH and I have gotten up three times already to settle him back down. The last time he ate was 7:30 so I fed him at 11:30 hoping that I'd get a few hours on sleep but it didn't work. He's waking up constantly.

My happy smiling baby has turned into a cranky fussy little guy during the day because he's not getting enough sleep at night. I'm having trouble staying patient because he's so fussy and I'm not getting sleep. I know this is is a long post, thank you for reading. I'm sitting here crying in front of the computer because its been almost 4 months of this and I just don't know what else to do or try. I know he's too young for CIO so what else is there? Any advice would be great. He's crying again so off I go.

UPDATE:
Thank you for all the suggestions and hugs. I am so grateful for the support. I know I just need to wait it out and eventually it will get better. Last night was rough though, he ended up waking up pretty much every hour last night.

We do use a pacifier which helps. We tried the miracle blanket, it doesn't work for us, he breaks out of it. He's not rolling consistently yet. He does occasionally go belly to back and just started rolling from his back onto his side. Maybe he'll improve when he figures out how to sleep on his belly? If he doesn't improve soon I will talk to the pediatrician about starting cereal. I know they recommend 6 months but he is taking at least one full 20 min feeding at night and eats well during the day so maybe he just needs a bit more.

Thanks again for all the hugs. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that tonight will be better.

Message edited 7/6/2008 10:46:21 AM.

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point

When my DD got to that point I had to start giving her oatmeal then a bottle at night

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point

Have you talked to the pediatrician?

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point

Are you using the miracle blanket to swaddle? I just stopped using it at 7 months, and my daughter was staying in it all night. Worth the $30 to try -- and if it doesn't work you can sell it.

And by the way, the babies sleeping through the night at 6, 8 or 10 weeks are the unusual ones. Many, many more keep on waking up.

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point

Two words....Miracle Blanket. You can get it at Buy Buy Baby. there is no way DS can break out of it. I used it until DD was around 5 1/2 months.

Do a search on here. So many of us have had success with it.

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point

Have you tried swaddling him with his arms out? That might help. DD was a horrible sleeper for the first 4-5 months. Around 4 months she did start "sleeping through the night" but was up multiple times when her pacifier fell out. Does he take a pacifier? I know how hard it is - I had many many nights were I cried in anticipation just knowing how my night was going to go. Do you run in there the second he cries? I don't think there is anything wrong with letting him cry a minute or two before you go in. I know he's young but he might just need to cry for a minute and he might fall back to sleep. {{hugs}} - i know how hard it is!

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point

I'm sorry you are going through this. My DS at 7 months is just starting to go 4-5 hours without waking. His situation is because he won't take a bottle during the day (or only 7-11 ounces) and he nurses all night long. Do you think he could be teething? It would be early, but maybe that is bothering him.

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point

DS did not sleep full night until almost 6 months.

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point

I could have written this post myself (actually, I might have if you do a search lol)....Mikey is also a horrible night time sleeper...up until about 2 weeks ago ( 3 1/2 months) he would get up every 2 hours, for no reason.
I stopped swaddling him around that time too because he would break out of it, and it was becoming more of a hassle than anything else. I tried everything without any improvement. I couldn't take it anymore, I was crying and sleep deprived and absolutely miserable. So I decided to give him a tablespoon of cereal at night and BAM! he's sleeping SOOOO much better! He still gets up about 2-3 times a night, but its only for a few minutes and he's easily soothed back to sleep.
Good luck, I hope things improve

Message edited 7/6/2008 8:42:08 AM.

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point

Don't let what other moms have told you about sleeping through the night at 6,8, 10 weeks get to you.

I'm sure you know every baby is different and you cannot comapre your DC to someone else's.

I have no advice, just some

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point

You know I'm right there with you - Ryan is just not a great sleeper. He was doing better this past week and we thought he was cured - but all the sudden, last night he was up every 2 hours! I don't know if he had a bad night or what, but I feel your pain! I would talk to your ped about trying to add some cereal - if he has cereal during the day and is still up at night - I think you can rule out hunger. Also, we had to take Ryan out of swaddling b/c he broke out of the MB. Does Dylan roll over yet? Ryan started doing better a few weeks ago when he started rolling back to belly and sleeping on his belly. If he rolls, I would unswaddle him and see if he wants to test out belly sleeping.

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point

Is it too cold or too hot in his room? Are you overdressing him?

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point

we found that a white noise machine really helped DD she seems to like the shhhshing noise of it an it also drowns out noise.

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point

DD went through the same thing. From 6-12 weeks she was going anywhere from 6-8 hours. Then she hit 3 1/2 months and all hell broke loose. The only thing that helped us was a bottle of formula before bedtime (I was EBFing) and I would let her cry/fuss for 10 minutes because I realized that she was waking because she is a light sleeper and she had to start learning to put herself back to sleep. Oh yeah, and we are in the same room so she KNOWS we are there. I know 3 months is too young for CIO but maybe wait a little before you go get hime. This started helping us a lot too. Now dd sleeps 7-8 hours without waking. I totally feel your pain!

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point

some baby dont sleep thru the night till they are 6 month sold, once they start to eat solid foods they sleep better... dont rush it he will get there

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point

We stopped swaddling at that point -- maybe you can try that. I also would put a drop of lavendar essential oil on his pjs -- it is very calming and helps them sleep.

Does he use a pacifier? Maybe he could for sleeping -- and get one that clips on the pjs so he doesn't wake up every time it comes out of his mouth.

Message edited 7/6/2008 9:58:53 AM.

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point.. Updated

Are you sure your doing the miracle blanket correctly and TIGHTLY. It should feel very very tight when first on, and loosen as they move about.

I have heard of kids breaking free from it, but I cannot imagine how if its on tightly?

Have you tried upping his intake before bed ...didnt read if you FF or BF?

And he may need a night bottle or BF still.

eta- at that age my son was a late nighter..meaning he NEVER would fall asleep before 10:00 pm, usuallyw as more like 11:00-11:30 pm. Thats when he got tired and would sleep for a 10-12 hour stretch. It could be that too?

Message edited 7/6/2008 11:57:13 AM.

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point.. Updated

When Lgoan was a crappy sleeper we found he wasn't eating enough during the day. Does he wake up hungry or just wake up?

Do you have a bedtime routine? We found that baths were (and continue to be) the signal that it was time to wind down and go to sleep.

Every night for almost as long as I can remember we do bath, bottle, book and bed. Using the bedtime bath helped loads too.



Do you have someone that can watch him for a night so you can at least get one good night's sleep yourself to recharge?

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point.. Updated

Sorry I forget - do you FF or BF? If you FF, I believe most MDs will let you start cereal at 4 months.
Not that I'm an expert on this, but I'll share what I find helps with Ryan's night - talking him out for a walk at least once a day - the fresh air seems to help, a routine at night - I feed him as much as he wants in the evening - it's usually me nursing him at 6:30 (when I'm not at work), DH gives him pumped BF (4-5oz) at 7:30PM, a bath at 8PM (not that he necessarily needs it but the routine helps, and the water calms him and i use a lavender wash), then I nurse him again in his room - lights out, mobile on. I ALWAYS put him in awake (or else sleep doesn't last) and turn on his sleep sheep. Lately he immediately rolls over, once he's in position and head to the side, I give him the paci (I don't like him to have it on his back, then flip and have it get stuck under him). This routine has been working - but certainly isn't a sure bet.

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point.. Updated

if misery loves company, I'll make you feel better.

Erik's 6 weeks old, and hasn't slept more than 2 hours at a time. I'm up every 1-1.5 hours with him. I keep hoping he grows out of this soon!

Message edited 7/6/2008 7:32:22 PM.

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point.. Updated

Posted by SweetCaroline

Sorry I forget - do you FF or BF? If you FF, I believe most MDs will let you start cereal at 4 months.
Not that I'm an expert on this, but I'll share what I find helps with Ryan's night - talking him out for a walk at least once a day - the fresh air seems to help, a routine at night - I feed him as much as he wants in the evening - it's usually me nursing him at 6:30 (when I'm not at work), DH gives him pumped BF (4-5oz) at 7:30PM, a bath at 8PM (not that he necessarily needs it but the routine helps, and the water calms him and i use a lavender wash), then I nurse him again in his room - lights out, mobile on. I ALWAYS put him in awake (or else sleep doesn't last) and turn on his sleep sheep. Lately he immediately rolls over, once he's in position and head to the side, I give him the paci (I don't like him to have it on his back, then flip and have it get stuck under him). This routine has been working - but certainly isn't a sure bet.

Re: I think I've reached my breaking point.. Updated

Posted by -Lisa-

if misery loves company, I'll make you feel better.

Erik's 6 weeks old, and hasn't slept more than 2 hours at a time. I'm up every 1-1.5 hours with him. I keep hoping he grows out of this soon!