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lovemy4
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| Posted: Aug 04 2009 at 2:57pm | IP Logged
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Hi ladies, I'm still pretty new here but would love some advice.
My 15 month old has never slept well. He is up at least 4 times a night. Part of it is my fault. He did have acid reflux and still does somewhat and sleep apnea so he was in bed with us in his seat then propped up so I could hear him breathe....so fast forward 15 months later he is still up nursing 4, 5, 6 times a night between 11 PM and 6 AM! If he just nursed I would be fine but he tosses and turns....(I think he is too full?) (more relux?)
The chronic lack of sleep is really starting to wear me down.
I've started putting him in his crib after night feeding 7PM and letting him cry. But what do I do when he wakes up for his *next feeding*? Should I just ignore him for the whole night?
He's not eating much solids because he seems to react to everything...another issue for another day, so I want to feed him *if* he is hungry, but not otherwise.
I am not usually pro cry it out BUT we are really desperate here and even dear husband who is softer than I am is game this time to try letting him cry.....
However, open to other suggetions
sorry this is so long
Renee
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mathmama
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| Posted: Aug 04 2009 at 3:32pm | IP Logged
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My first thought is food allergies. My dd#2 has a bunch of food allergies and her only symptom was night wakings/fussiness. She wasn't eating any of her allergens, but I was. Once I cut them all out of my diet she went from waking a lot (often as much as a dz times) to now sleeping through the night. She was 20 months old when I started to think that perhaps her night wakings were related to something other than her personality. After about a month I saw a significant change in her sleep habits and I was able to find more of her allergies based on what I was eating and her sleep. After 4mos she was sleeping through the night consistently. I never thought she would be a peaceful sleeper, but she is now.
I hope you find the answer.
Beth
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: Aug 04 2009 at 3:45pm | IP Logged
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Could you try leaving him in your bed with your dh (maybe over the weekend when dh doesn't have to get up for work) and you sleep elsewhere? This has helped break some of my persistent night nursers sleep. When he wakes up and finds only Dad there, he may just fall back asleep. Dad can hold him, rub his back, etc. After a couple of nights, he should stop waking up looking to nurse.
I can't stand letting a baby cry, and I have also hit that point where we all need to sleep. Good luck.
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Molly
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lovemy4
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| Posted: Aug 04 2009 at 8:05pm | IP Logged
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mathmama wrote:
My first thought is food allergies. My dd#2 has a bunch of food allergies and her only symptom was night wakings/fussiness. She wasn't eating any of her allergens, but I was.
Beth |
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Oh Beth,  I am so afraid to go there but I think you may be on to something. i have suspected allergies in general but not relating to his sleep. Right now I am milk, wheat, egg free in my diet as well as his. The other things that seem to bother him that I cheat on are soy and nuts....I'm running out of things to eat and feed him.
Okay time for another doctor appointment.
Molly, thank you too. DH has been traveling a LOT for his job and is only home on the weekends for the next 5 weeks....I will see if he is willing to try this, but he may be too exhausted, so I may have to wait to try that....I wish I had family near that could perhaps do that with me.....
Oh well, okay, Lord give me the strength I need!
Thanks again ladies
Renee
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Kathryn
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Hi...I honestly think if he's crying he needs something so although I did quite a bit of the crying it out with baby # 1, by baby #3, we hardly EVER let her cry it out. Poor 10 year old baby # 1  .
At any rate, my only advice would be to really try almost anything and everything BEFORE nursing because he really shouldn't need to nurse that many times per night at 15 months. May be 1 or 2x still. ?! Try offering a pat on the back, a soothe word, a soft shh shh all while he's still in the crib. If that doesn't work, I would move to either rock him or offer a paci or lovie or something that can create a sense of comfort for him...even laying on your chest but not offering milk to see if he'll go back to sleep. If this is a change in frequency, could he be teething?
Not sure at all how helpful that is but best to you. I **KNOW** sleep deprivation (as many of us do) and it's not pretty so  to you in resolving.
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JodieLyn
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I discovered with my first that when she'd fuss at night I'd just automatically set her to nursing.. imagine my surprise when I woke up enough one time to see that she really wasn't all that fussy and a soft rub on the back soothed her right back to sleep.
Has he learned to go back to sleep without nursing?
Like by nursing not quite to sleep and being put down to fall asleep. Or having someone else rock him to sleep.. or giving a lovely along with nursing so that the lovely is associated with comfort.. so that he can fall asleep on his own without help from an outside source?
And you don't have to do this at night.. you could work on it a naptime.
Also is there too much light? so that when he wakes up he thinks he can stay awake? is there not enough light for him to be reassured by seeing you?
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mathmama
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| Posted: Aug 05 2009 at 6:06am | IP Logged
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[/QUOTE]
Oh Beth, I am so afraid to go there but I think you may be on to something. i have suspected allergies in general but not relating to his sleep. Right now I am milk, wheat, egg free in my diet as well as his. The other things that seem to bother him that I cheat on are soy and nuts....I'm running out of things to eat and feed him.
Okay time for another doctor appointment.[/QUOTE]
Yes, it might be a good idea to get to an allergist for some testing, but be warned that just because he tests negative for something doesn't mean you are in the clear. My dd tested negative for both soy and eggs, but she is in fact allergic to them. The testing is a good place to start, but is in no way the whole story. It would be great if you started keeping a food journal for the 2 of you which also includes a track of his sleeping and anything else. For instance, I thought that my dd was really high needs, but once I did the elimination diet I realized that while she is a bit more high needs than her older sister, most of her difficult behavior was food related. Also, I always just thought she had rosy cheeks because of the winter, but it was actually a constant food reaction. I didn't notice any of these things until they started going away.
And don't be discouraged. It can be done. When I started my elimination diet with dd I was pg. I couldn't eat dairy, eggs, soy, wheat, nuts, most seeds, bananas, avocados, nightshades, corn and to top it off we are vegetarian. I was able to handle it. It wasn't easy at times, but, it was worth it for the peace of everyone in the family.
If you want to PM me for some support please feel free. I will pray for you and your lo.
Beth
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lovemy4
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| Posted: Aug 05 2009 at 9:08am | IP Logged
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JodieLyn wrote:
I
Has he learned to go back to sleep without nursing?
Also is there too much light? so that when he wakes up he thinks he can stay awake? is there not enough light for him to be reassured by seeing you? |
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This is what I am working on now (aside from possible allergies) I don't think light is the issue though,...pretty careful about that. He definitely can see me.
Yes, it might be a good idea to get to an allergist for some testing, but be warned that just because he tests negative for something doesn't mean you are in the clear. My dd tested negative for both soy and eggs, but she is in fact allergic to them. The testing is a good place to start, but is in no way the whole story. It would be great if you started keeping a food journal for the 2 of you which also includes a track of his sleeping and anything else. For instance, I thought that my dd was really high needs, but once I did the elimination diet I realized that while she is a bit more high needs than her older sister, most of her difficult behavior was food related. Also, I always just thought she had rosy cheeks because of the winter, but it was actually a constant food reaction. I didn't notice any of these things until they started going away.
And don't be discouraged. It can be done. When I started my elimination diet with dd I was pg. I couldn't eat dairy, eggs, soy, wheat, nuts, most seeds, bananas, avocados, nightshades, corn and to top it off we are vegetarian. I was able to handle it. It wasn't easy at times, but, it was worth it for the peace of everyone in the family.
If you want to PM me for some support please feel free. I will pray for you and your lo.
Beth[/QUOTE]
Thanks Beth, I agree with the allergy testing not being conclusive....I have 3 other kids who were not allergic to stuff but clearly are (or at least intolerant) 
None of them do wheat or milk for starters. I will PM you if I need to....and probably will for meal ideas!
Thank you again so much for the prayers...it's tougher when DH is away so much on trips.
In Christ
Renee
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LLMom
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I know for everyone this may not work, but I have to have my sleep. I nursed my first 4 kiddos all night until they were 2 and it was awful on me. I got breast infections and was a grumpy mama. Dh finally said after that, he was taking over after the dc were about a year. He would pat, rock, walk, etc. the kiddo until they went to sleep. By 2 years of age, he would go in and check them when they woke, reassure them, and then leave. They learned after about a week to put themselves asleep. This worked for our family. Some people can't stand to do that and if you can sleep and function, then it is not a problem to nurse all night. I am one who can't. I have never been able to sleep with a baby nursing--ever.
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: 15 month old major sleep issues...advice?
