Page 1 of Baby Sleeping problems - Advice Please

Recently my 10 month old daughter has been bouncing from having a cold, sore throat etc to sickness and diarrhoea back to another cold, sore throat etc. Amongst that time she was also teething and refusing food (probably because of either the teething or the sore throat). As a result to say her routine was disturbed is an understatement.
Things are now getting back to normal in so much as she is eating again and the cold has subsided. She still has a bit of a cough but the doctor has checked her over last week and said its something that will go in its own time.
The problem we now have is sleeping during the night. During the day she has an hour sleep normally in the morning and then again in the afternoon. When it comes to night time though its pure hell lately.
She will normally go down to sleep at 7pm then wake again at 10pm then again at 12pm and again at 3ish before fully waking at around 6am. Before the illnesses she was sleeping on average from 7pm to 5-6am right through.
We have tried "controlled crying" but after 2 hours of listening to her crying, stressing herself and us out and seeing the sweat dripping from her I gave up and drew a line under that idea. As a result we are now trying to rock her back to sleep where usually she goes fast asleep in your arms and then cries the moment she hits the cot mattress and doesn`t stop until you pick her up. During the nights it can take about an hour to finally get her back off to sleep in her cot. Sometimes even then she will sleep for half hour and the process starts again.
As a result we are not sure what we can do to get her back into her routine of sleeping through the night. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Ear plugs?

Doc.


"Compassion is another word for gay." Psycho Paul, 2010.

I feel for you. Sounds like she`s had enough just lately and wants you to know about it!

One suggestion which may or may not help - have you tried playing gentle lullaby music with the CD on repeat all night, so that if she wakes up, she is soothed by the tunes and maybe will fall asleep again without creating a fuss?

I know this wouldn`t work for all babies, but it used to work for ours. I used to have a lovely selection of lullaby CDs to play them, but alas, no more, as they`re now 14 and 11 respectively.

Hopefully someone else will have more suggestions, but I would recommend giving this a go. Also a nightlight if her room is totally dark, so she doesn`t feel hemmed in by the darkness?

Try giving her some baby Calpol 20 minutes before bed time

Sorry, my reply was flippant. In a bad mood.

Doc.


"Compassion is another word for gay." Psycho Paul, 2010.

Quote:
The Mobile Dr42%er says...
Sorry, my reply was flippant. In a bad mood.Careful, Doc - you`re starting to turn into Whoot!

Max is suffering from a cold at the mo, so we`re experiencing exactly the same thing. Calpol helps, as does Vick on a cloth tied to the cot bars (out of little arms` reach!) or Karvol.

Patience will out, but a lullaby/gentle classical music CD at low volume on repeat can help, (as suggested earlier)

============================


Writer`s Release
My Collection

Quote:
Try giving her some baby Calpol 20 minutes before bed time

Calpol is a parents best friend !!! :D



Anti.Clown.Coalition

Quote:
Calpol is a parents best friend !!!

no that would be a large whiskey!

seriously though try calpol or similar product, touch wood our two sleep through from 7-7 no trouble!

This item was edited on Thursday, 28th October 2010, 21:27

We had a similar problem when our 2 were small, because Olivia, our eldest, has a few heart problems I bought a quite sophisticated baby monitor. More for piece of mind rather than to monitor her breathing and heartbeat.

Anyway the upshot was we soon learned that is was a blocked nose that was waking them up at all hours, after trying the usual, karvol, vick etc, we found that although they helped nothing solved the problem.

Then walking around Boots one day I spotted what looked like an electric mozzi killer by Sudofed. Here
Checked with the pharmacist that it would be ok to use in a childs room and he said he didn`t see any reason why not but might be a good idea to keep the door or a window open slightly so that the vapours don`t get overpowering and also as circulating air can help too.

Gave it a try and it worked wonders. Ended up just opening the bathroom window and leaving their bedroom door open to allow fresh air in, didn`t want their bedroom window open as was worried about it getting too cold. We still use it today and it is the only thing that will keep you clear all night.

Don`t forget childs nurofen, as it reduces swelling it can help open the nasal passages and sinuses. Although think there may be a minimum age for it.

All the best

Gerald.



Cardiff PAT Test shameless website plug