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More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
DD is 5 months old and the sleep issues are getting worse.
I am not sure what I can do because I am in NY right now. When we get home, I am putting her into her crib in another room.
She basically refuses to nap and she won't STTN-waking about 3-4 times a night. When she does nap, I am lucky if I get two 20 minute naps.
I know she is terribly overtired because she rubs her eyes and she gets very whiny.
I always put her down, but she will cry relentlessly, over 30 minutes worth until you pick her up and then she wants to play. 
We started solids but it is not helping at all with the sleep issue.
I am beyond exhausted and I don't see an end in sight.
What is going on with her? I know she is tired, but she seems to nap 10 minutes or sleep max 3 hours at night before waking and she is ready to go and play. I have never seen a child fight sleep like this! I think she is a light sleeper as well so I am trying to make her sleep in a dark quiet environment.
Any help would be appreciated.
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Posted 8/4/10 5:49 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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MrsPowers
So blessed!
Member since 11/06 10348 total posts
Name:
Ivelysse
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
I would do a modified CIO. I also highly recommend the following books:
12 Hours sleep by 12 weeks old and Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child.
She may be a light sleeper but she is crying and waking because she knows you will respond to her and play with her. These books are great! Good luck!
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| Posted 8/4/10 5:52 PM |
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
Posted by MrsPowers
I would do a modified CIO. I also highly recommend the following books:
12 Hours sleep by 12 weeks old and Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child.
She may be a light sleeper but she is crying and waking because she knows you will respond to her and play with her. These books are great! Good luck!
Thanks! I just downloaded Kindle for my Droid so I will buy the Healthy Sleep Habits book now.
What is an example of a modified CIO schedule?
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| Posted 8/4/10 5:54 PM |
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MrsPowers
So blessed!
Member since 11/06 10348 total posts
Name:
Ivelysse
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
Posted by munchkinfacemama
Posted by MrsPowers
I would do a modified CIO. I also highly recommend the following books:
12 Hours sleep by 12 weeks old and Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child.
She may be a light sleeper but she is crying and waking because she knows you will respond to her and play with her. These books are great! Good luck!
Thanks! I just downloaded Kindle for my Droid so I will buy the Healthy Sleep Habits book now.
What is an example of a modified CIO schedule?
I don't know if there is a "schedule" but make sure she is eating every 4 hours during the day that will help with the night time sleeping. If she wakes in the middle of the night to eat, gradually decrease the amount you give her each night and then she won't want anymore. That is basically the theory. Then once you have weaned off the nighttime feeding, when she cries you can ignore or go in and soothe. I ignorned and he creid 15 min the first night, 5 min the second and then didn't wake up during the night again.
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| Posted 8/4/10 6:03 PM |
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yankinmanc
Happy Days!
Member since 8/05 18208 total posts
Name:
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
MY 5 month old is exactly the same, she does have a one hour nap at about 10 am, another small one, maybe 20 minutes sometime after her sort of 1 pm feed, an usually another small 20 minute nap at around 4ish, she goes down to sleep at around 7.30 pm (bedtime takes me about 2 hours...) and is up 3-4 times every night.
I would like her to sleep through the night, but don't expect too much from her. I have taken out my copy of Happy Child Happy sleepy time habits (whatever the name is) and I hope to get some time to read it soon...maybe when my kids are grown up!! 
I am going to start doing Controlled Crying soon...she is just really crying out of tiredness, not that she needs anything! Good luck!
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| Posted 8/4/10 6:08 PM |
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MrsPowers
So blessed!
Member since 11/06 10348 total posts
Name:
Ivelysse
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
Posted by racheeeee
I would like her to sleep through the night, but don't expect too much from her. I have taken out my copy of Happy Child Happy sleepy time habits (whatever the name is) and I hope to get some time to read it soon...maybe when my kids are grown up!!
Healthy Sleep Habits is divided into sections so you don't need to read the entire book at once. You can read the sections that pertains to your child. Just wanted to clarify.
Message edited 8/4/2010 6:13:31 PM.
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| Posted 8/4/10 6:12 PM |
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headoverheels
s'il vous plaît
Member since 6/07 42079 total posts
Name:
LB
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
I know it's hard because you are EBFing so you can't really tell how much she is eating during the day, but when you nurse her at night, how long does she eat for?
If it's just a few minutes each time to put herself back to sleep, she's not hungry, and you may not agree with me  but if you want her to STTN she could be ready for full-on CIO.
Most people will say not to CIO before 6 months, and that's fine. But we did full on extinction CIO with DS at 5 months to wean him from the pacifier and it worked in three nights. He has been the most amazing sleeper ever since.
FM/text me if you want to chat more about this 
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| Posted 8/4/10 6:30 PM |
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
Thanks Ivelysse!
I am downloading Healthy Sleep Habits for my Kindle now. I also am making a more conscious attempt to BF Sienna frequently during the day.
It makes a lot of sense so far.
Rachel-Sienna sounds exactly like Immi and I know they are pretty much the same age.
Sienna is very distracted and ends nursing sessions early, even though I keep offering her the breast. I wonder if this has anything to do with the night waking. She also cries out of sheer exhaustion and that is what is killing me!
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| Posted 8/4/10 6:31 PM |
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katiebug
I'll love you for always
Member since 2/08 4624 total posts
Name:
Katie
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
Posted by headoverheels
I know it's hard because you are EBFing so you can't really tell how much she is eating during the day, but when you nurse her at night, how long does she eat for?
If it's just a few minutes each time to put herself back to sleep, she's not hungry, and you may not agree with me but if you want her to STTN she could be ready for full-on CIO.
Most people will say not to CIO before 6 months, and that's fine. But we did full on extinction CIO with DS at 5 months to wean him from the pacifier and it worked in three nights. He has been the most amazing sleeper ever since.
FM/text me if you want to chat more about this
I agree with LB.
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| Posted 8/4/10 6:51 PM |
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
Posted by headoverheels
I know it's hard because you are EBFing so you can't really tell how much she is eating during the day, but when you nurse her at night, how long does she eat for?
If it's just a few minutes each time to put herself back to sleep, she's not hungry, and you may not agree with me but if you want her to STTN she could be ready for full-on CIO.
Most people will say not to CIO before 6 months, and that's fine. But we did full on extinction CIO with DS at 5 months to wean him from the pacifier and it worked in three nights. He has been the most amazing sleeper ever since.
FM/text me if you want to chat more about this
Thanks LB! I figured I would pick your brain when I see you!
She does seem to full on eat for about 5 minutes and then she puts herself back to sleep.
I will pay more attention tonight to what she does.
I did get a three hour nap out of her, albeit from 5-8. I had no choice but to let her sleep since she is so cranky.
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| Posted 8/4/10 8:58 PM |
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Lola
LIF Adult
Member since 1/07 1854 total posts
Name:
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
Jack woke up to eat every 3 hours until he was about 8 months. He was eating so much at night, so he wasn't eating much during the day. I finally stopped feeding him at night and he reversed his feedings. The first few nights were rough, but that was the only way to get him to STTN.
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| Posted 8/4/10 9:17 PM |
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mommyIam
Member since 7/09 9209 total posts
Name:
Shana
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
Posted by Lola
Jack woke up to eat every 3 hours until he was about 8 months. He was eating so much at night, so he wasn't eating much during the day. I finally stopped feeding him at night and he reversed his feedings. The first few nights were rough, but that was the only way to get him to STTN.
I agree with this!
Once I understood what DS needs to eat during the day (a lot), he was STTN. My SIL is shocked that he finishes his 9oz bottles, when her 10m old barely does 6, I had to get snooty with her and say "well, he does STTN, so he needs to eat during the day" hers baby still wakes for night feeding...
and all I hear from MIL, is that I'm overfeeding DS. 
Once you've figured out she's eating enough, I'd pick LB's brain for CIO technique!
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| Posted 8/4/10 9:31 PM |
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mikeswife06
Drama Momma
Member since 9/06 9947 total posts
Name:
Anne
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
I think everyone's given you great advice and I just wanted to add some hugs because the lack of sleep STINKS!
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| Posted 8/4/10 9:35 PM |
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dajc23
My Loves :)
Member since 1/09 4980 total posts
Name:
Dana
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
Oh Michelle i'm havng the SAME exact problem with Emerson. Today has been probably one of the worst days with her in a long time.
All week she hasnt taken any naps. I swear if I get 30 mins a day from it's a lot. She's cranky and whines, refuses to be put down, hasnt' been drinking nearly as much as she was and has just been miserable. I do try and let her CIO. Yesterday I left her for 45 mins crying (eventually i went in there and patted her butt and she doozed off). Today i let her CIO for 45 mins again and she just kept screaming louder. I couldnt do it anymore.
Today was a horrow show though. She refused bottles, cried/whines ALL day. Literally did not stop the entire day. She finally fell asleep at 715pm (after not napping a single minute all day) and only kept her eyes closed for 15 mins and woke up screaming
maybe they are really teething?? she went from being such a good sleeper to being a terrible one. i get nothing done during the day b/c she refuses to sleep. 
I hope tonight is better for you!
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| Posted 8/4/10 9:48 PM |
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Susie715
LIF Infant
Member since 4/09 228 total posts
Name:
Suzanne
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
I highly reccomend Healthy Sleep by Dr weissbluth. google him, he has a blog and there are videos of his lectures on youtube. basically, you want to start limitin her wake times to about 2-2.5 and at that age she prob needs 3 naps.
i sleep trained my son aroung 5.5 months.....prior to that he was sleeping in his swing, would only nap if I was laying next to him, etc so I totally know what you are going thru! It takes a few days, but just be consistent and establish a mini nap routine and a bedtime routine and stick to it. good luck!
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| Posted 8/4/10 10:00 PM |
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RandiG
Love my Boys!
Member since 7/09 4440 total posts
Name:
Randi
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
Two things:
1. Have you tried cereal in her last feeding?
2. What is she sleeping in?
I had DS in a onsie every night, turns out he was waking up because he was cold. I never thought he was cold because he always kicked the blanket off and his room always seemed warm to me. I started putting him in footsie pj's and he is sleeping much better.
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| Posted 8/4/10 10:23 PM |
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mrswask
Pookie Love
Member since 5/05 20229 total posts
Name:
Michal
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
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| Posted 8/4/10 10:47 PM |
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Atlast07
2 Girls and 1 Boy!
Member since 7/07 3504 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
No advice but I want you to know I am pretty much in the same boat!!!
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| Posted 8/5/10 8:56 AM |
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
Posted by RandiG
Two things:
1. Have you tried cereal in her last feeding?
2. What is she sleeping in?
I had DS in a onsie every night, turns out he was waking up because he was cold. I never thought he was cold because he always kicked the blanket off and his room always seemed warm to me. I started putting him in footsie pj's and he is sleeping much better.
Randi-
Her GI started her on rice cereal and said to do it in the AM. I do it at night in hopes that she will sleep. No dice.
I put her in a sleep and play. I dress her how I would dress for bed with maybe a sleepsack.
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| Posted 8/5/10 1:58 PM |
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
Yeah, so last night was awful again. I did notice that she nurses for 3 minutes and then sucks for comfort. I tried to let her just cry herself back to sleep when she woke at 3:30 AM, but that kid is persistent.
Unfortunately, she has my charming personality
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| Posted 8/5/10 1:59 PM |
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4PsInaPod
My Loves <3
Member since 7/07 10079 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
Do you have a bedtime routine? If not, maybe start one.
When she wakes? are you keeping lights off, no interaction etc...
Paci doesn't help? (I don't if this has been asked)
Do you have a noise machine? Whether it's music/humidifier?
Is she on a feeding schedule during the day? Like every 3 hours/2 hours (I think Joey was 3 hours at 5 months. I know people gasp at scheduling but maybe it would help her)
Joey was a cat napper too. . .once we started the two hour wake time then nap, he got better. . .he now goes 3/4 hours of wake time before napping and naps for about an hour to an hour and a half.
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| Posted 8/5/10 2:04 PM |
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Re: More sleep help needed for my 5 month old!
Posted by DPerotti
Do you have a bedtime routine? If not, maybe start one.
When she wakes? are you keeping lights off, no interaction etc...
Paci doesn't help? (I don't if this has been asked)
Do you have a noise machine? Whether it's music/humidifier?
Is she on a feeding schedule during the day? Like every 3 hours/2 hours (I think Joey was 3 hours at 5 months. I know people gasp at scheduling but maybe it would help her)
Joey was a cat napper too. . .once we started the two hour wake time then nap, he got better. . .he now goes 3/4 hours of wake time before napping and naps for about an hour to an hour and a half.
Yes, bedtime she gets a bath every other night, pajamas every night, nurse, rock her a little
When she wakes, everything is off and I don't interact with her.
Refuses a paci-drama queen chokes on it
No noise machine-that is a good idea. She has the learning puppy and it plays bedtime music
No feeding schedule-I am EBFing so I am trying to offer her the breast every three hours.
I think the schedule is a good idea. I am going to try to get her on one. Maybe more of a bedtime routine would help. I could read her a book then instead of mid day.
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| Posted 8/5/10 4:01 PM |
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