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Please help me !!!! I haven't slept for more than 2 hours in the last 3 months :(((

11 replies

mumtosp · 10/05/2013 20:50

Hi all,

I know the subject line sounds desperate, but right now I am very very desperate... and exhausted !!

So... DS is 7 mo and we have co-slept since he was about 4 weeks old (when he no longer fit in his moses basket). Till he was about 3 mo he could fall asleep on his own - he used to suck his thumb and rub his forehead with the back of his hand to self settle. We used to wake up 2 times at night for a feed - we ebf. But then his eczema started and his idea of self settling was to scratch himself silly :( We then switched to rocking him to sleep so we could stop him from scratching.

He also started waking more often at nights.... I just assumed that he's getting more hungry as he's growing (this was when he was almost 5 mo). We also thought that the itchy eczema is waking him up...

He then gradually started feeding almost every 2 hours at night - that'
s when I learnt to feed while lying down... made night time feeds so much easier. Also, since I used to be very exhausted I never tried putting him back to sleep without giving him a feed. So every time he gets up and starts itching, instead of rocking him to sleep I just let him have a bit of a feed - that stops him from itching and also puts him to sleep..

Now the situation is getting a bit out of hand !! He's not even lasting for 2 hours at night. And I have no idea what to do ! :(
I don't mind him waking for a night feed - but not every 1.5 hours! We have started on solids so I am pretty sure he's not actually hungry... he's just used to feeding for a bit.. But once he's up, he wants to scratch and putting him back to sleep can be a bit of a struggle.

He's fine during the day - has 2 long naps and 1 short nap. I still rock/feed him to sleep during the day, but I don't mind that...

I don't think I can leave him to self settle because then he'll scratch his face. Please give me some suggestions...
Should we try a dummy?? (he's always been a thumb sucker..)
Do I need to just reduce the night feeds and let him cry it out ??

Sorry this post has been a bit long - but I needed to rant as the past 2 nights have been extremely tiring..

If you've lasted till the end then thanks !! :)

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Forgetfulmog · 10/05/2013 20:54

I sympathise OP, dd used to only go 40 mins at a time - I was exhausted!

Is he getting treatment for his eczema? I would try him with a dummy, but I believe there is a growth spurt at that age anyway so it may be that.

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mumtosp · 10/05/2013 22:20

Forgetfulmog Yes - we are treating him with homeopathy and it's 80% cured. But he still itches - it's almost as if he is itching out of habit!
Well if it's growth spurt then he's had it for more than 2 months now :)

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KatAndKit · 10/05/2013 22:29

Perhaps you may want to look into some more conventional medicine alongside the homeopathy?
Also sleepsuits with the fold over scratch sleeves so he can't scratch his face - next, mothercare and sainsburys have these up to age 9 months.

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UnderwaterBasketWeaving · 10/05/2013 22:43

The efficacy of homeopathy is not supported by any evidence whatsoever.

Try conventional medicine, continue to feed to sleep, nap during the day.

(Bar the scratching, it sounds very much the same as DS at that age.)

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stargirl1701 · 10/05/2013 22:48

Have you been referred to the dermatology clinic? DD was up every 40 minutes till we got her silent reflux & eczema meds sorted out. The latest advice is that every flare up should be treated immediately. Organic cotton clothing has helped, Surcare laundry powder, reusable wipes with chamomile, reusable nappies, freezing soft toys once a week...

The dermatology nurse has been fantastic is advising us.

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StitchAteMySleep · 10/05/2013 22:55

Have you tried emollients like Aveeno baby products,cream etc.? They really worked for both my kids, no need for steroid creams, just slather it on several times a day (hourly during a flare up).

Have you tried excluding foods from your diet? He could be reacting to something your eating.

If he has started eating, have you noticed any patterns to flare ups after certain foods?

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Forgetfulmog · 11/05/2013 08:25

I'm sorry but I really don't see how you can be happy with CIO but not with conventional medicine. Please try as the other posters have suggested & use some emollient cream or something.

Good luck. I hope you get it sorted

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mumtosp · 11/05/2013 22:24

Hi all,

Thanks for your responses. I should have added that we are using Aveeno and are very happy with it. Scratch Sleeves don't work for us as he screams when his thumb is covered. Tried cutting holes in them but he hates that too....

I really don't want to get into a debate of homeopathy vs conventional medicine ... I had extremely bad eczema and asthama as a child and was completely cured by homeopathy. I believe it works and I can see it working on DS..

I was just hoping there was a way to break his habit of wanting a feed... previously he used to get up when itchy and then he used to want a feed. These days he's getting up wanting a feed even though he may not be very itchy...

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StitchAteMySleep · 12/05/2013 15:34

You could try forming a sleep attachment with something else. Dd2 likes silky things and has a satin tagged blanket that she will stroke and mouth to settle herself. At first I let her cuddle it whilst I fed her so now she associates it with the comfort of breastfeeding, she also likes her Winnie the Pooh lightshow too. Dd1 has a jellycat bunny that was her baby comforter and she had a singing seahorse that I used to play whilst feeding her. She will still fall asleep quickly at nearly 4 years old if I switch it on.

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nextphase · 12/05/2013 16:20

Sounds familiar. Have you tried cutting dairy from yours and his diet? if your b/f he should be able to get enough milk from the boob without needing any cows milk etc. Had an amazing effect on my DS's eczema.

Food is less calorie dense than milk, so its possible the introduction of solids has reduced his calorie intake, hence he's hungrier.

Sleep will get better at some point but don't ask me when it got better for DS1

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mumtosp · 13/05/2013 21:05

Thanks *Stitch@... will try that. We do have a musical seahorse that he likes :)

nextphase I asked the GP about cutting dairy but was told that I am OK with it as I've been having dairy for ages and it doesn't seem to impact DS's eczema... i.e. it's getting better even though I am still having loads of it. We will be giving him some yogurt for the 1st time this week... fingers crossed for that ...

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