I think our baby has a sleeping disorder.

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blue-eye-boy

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Hope someone maybe know something we dont. It's like this from her birth, 9 months ago. She's wake 5 to 6 times a night. And every time it takes ages to get her to sleep again. Sometimes more than a hour. My wife is still breastfeeding her, and we was told that breastfed babies are more likely to wake more. But ours is awake much more than normal. She mostly drink herself to sleep, otherwise nothing. Till a week ago we could just put her dummy back in, and she would go asleep again, but she doesn't want the dummy any more. So she is well fed, we do not play with her in the evenings, nothing that could prevent her from sleeping at night.

I wish I could help my wife at night, but due to the breastfeeding, it's impossible.

Any ideas?
 
We had a similar problem. Try music. I **** you not. My son used to fall asleep to Iron Maiden played softly with his dad sofly singing the lyrics :-)

Get the Mrs to express milk dude, that way in the middle of the night you can give bubs the bottle.

You a first time parent?
 
RetroBok said:
We had a similar problem. Try music. I **** you not. My son used to fall asleep to Iron Maiden played softly with his dad sofly singing the lyrics :-)

Get the Mrs to express milk dude, that way in the middle of the night you can give bubs the bottle.

You a first time parent?
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Yes, first time. Problem is, she don't want her bottle too. Guess it's because my wife breastfeed her, and she doesn't know a bottle. We did try many times to get her to drink milk in a bottle, but she just wouldn't do it. And we play her music every time she goes to sleep, even through the day.
 
Are you sure she is getting enough milk when she feeds? A baby usually awakes at night because she is hungry. If you say she drinks herself to sleep then it may be hunger that is waking her. Has your wife been checked to see how much milk she is providing?

I know breastfeeding is always regarded as being best but perhaps try a bottle for the odd night feed. The baby will still be getting the antibodies from the breastfeeding but will be getting their feeds supplemented by the bottle. This will also give you a chance to help and give your wife a break.

EDIT : Ok, i see you have tried the bottle but perhaps still try to see if she is getting enough milk from the feeds. If a baby is full and content they should sleep... she's not too hot or too cold at night either? A rule we heard and seems to work is whatever you are comfortable in, allow one more layer for the baby. So if you have a tshirt on the baby should be fine in a vest and tshirt for example.
 
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LancelotSA said:
Are you sure she is getting enough milk when she feeds? A baby usually awakes at night because she is hungry. If you say she drinks herself to sleep then it may be hunger that is waking her. Has your wife been checked to see how much milk she is providing?

I know breastfeeding is always regarded as being best but perhaps try a bottle for the odd night feed. The baby will still be getting the antibodies from the breastfeeding but will be getting their feeds supplemented by the bottle. This will also give you a chance to help and give your wife a break.
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About 2 months ago my wife did "milk out" some extra milk to try the bottle. She had more than enough milk to produce even more than she needed. I honestly dont know what to think any more.
 
Jacqvt, I googled and came across this article which seems really relevant....

http://babyparenting.about.com/od/sleeping/a/nightfeed.htm

We are lucky in that our little one of just over a year sleeps well, so can't give you first hand advice.She does sleep in the bed with us though so perhaps she is happy at night when she makes these brief wakes (as discussed in the article) and we are there.
 
EDIT : Ok, i see you have tried the bottle but perhaps still try to see if she is getting enough milk from the feeds. If a baby is full and content they should sleep... she's not too hot or too cold at night either? A rule we heard and seems to work is whatever you are comfortable in, allow one more layer for the baby. So if you have a tshirt on the baby should be fine in a vest and tshirt for example
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I dont think she's too hot or cold. We have a heater in the room on, and it is nice warm in the room. She isn't too hot IMO too when she wakes up. And she has 2 blankets. Maybe if we try other milk instead. Any thing that could help.
 
Just don't stress too much (which I know is easy to say when I am not the one suffering from sleepless nights!) but just read around on the net.... all babies are different and as another article I found states babies awake at night for a number of reasons. One of the interesting ones in this article is :

Doctors tend to look at night nursing only from a nutritional standpoint, but this is only part of the story. After the first few months, your baby will begin to associate the breast with far more than just a way to satisfy hunger and thirst. It becomes a place of comfort, security, warmth, closeness, and familiarity. The act of nursing is not just nourishing; it is nurturing. Keep in mind that these needs are every bit as real as baby's physical ones, and having them met is every bit as needful to baby's overall development.
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Do yourself a favour and read the rest. It'll set your mind at ease a bit that there is probably nothing wrong (although it won't help with the lack of sleep :) )
 
My wife just told me she didn't even want to drink any more tonight. Then after that she battled to sleep. We did try to let her sleep with us a while ago, but then too she sleeps so restless the whole night. And she's still many times awake.
 
Imagine... said:
With the lack of sleep, is she still well rested?
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She is well for a while after the sleep, longer if she slept well, but shorter if not.

I guess she isn't a good sleeper after all, but hell, how do we cope? My wife is so wasted during the day, and me too some days.
 
jacqvt said:
Yes, first time. Problem is, she don't want her bottle too. Guess it's because my wife breastfeed her, and she doesn't know a bottle. We did try many times to get her to drink milk in a bottle, but she just wouldn't do it. And we play her music every time she goes to sleep, even through the day.
Click to expand...

You might want to try a few other bottles. It took us a few tries before we found one that our eldest would accept as an occasional substitute.

If you want to give yor missus the chance to rest try taking the sprog out for a nice long drive. Of course that only works if you're not completely knackered too.
 
Your wife a coffee drinker? Could be something in her diet that is irritating or effecting the babies ability to sleep. Is she careful what she eats?

Is the baby in her own room? If she's in your room the 2 of you could be waking her up...
 
What time does the baby have supper? Is breast milk the only thing that she gets before sleeping? Try soothing instrumental music...it calms them down. Also a nice warm bath and good massage before bed.
How long does she sleep for during the day? How active is she between 3 - 5?
 
jacqvt said:
Hope someone maybe know something we dont. It's like this from her birth, 9 months ago. She's wake 5 to 6 times a night. And every time it takes ages to get her to sleep again. Sometimes more than a hour. My wife is still breastfeeding her, and we was told that breastfed babies are more likely to wake more. But ours is awake much more than normal. She mostly drink herself to sleep, otherwise nothing. Till a week ago we could just put her dummy back in, and she would go asleep again, but she doesn't want the dummy any more. So she is well fed, we do not play with her in the evenings, nothing that could prevent her from sleeping at night.

I wish I could help my wife at night, but due to the breastfeeding, it's impossible.

Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Just realised it now but you could have started the switch to solids a while ago.
 
bwana said:
Just realised it now but you could have started the switch to solids a while ago.
Click to expand...

Bugger me I didn't think of that, good call Bwana. Yeah try solids if that doesn't work with some of the other advice on here then maybe go see the docs or midwife. My mother out-law is a midwife in Joburg I could maybe ask her for some more advice?
 
Please take your daughter to a pediatrician.

There are two reasons why you should.

Her sleeping pattern is definately abnormal, this could have side effects and
impact her general growth and health.

The pediatrician will do a thorough check-up and will supply you with the
correct advise on how to proceed and so on, going to the the doc will also
set your minds at ease and reduce the stress caused by this.

Nobody on this forum is a pediatrician, even if they are parents, do not take
chances or be negligent when it comes to your childs health.
 
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