Battle with 7 month old to sleep since birth

by Mamma of One
(Florida)

We are at our wits end! Our 7 month old has screamed his head off since birth every time he is put down for a nap or at night. I am still nursing him, however, do not nurse him to sleep. He still gets up 2-3 times a night and will not be comforted. We had no problems from day 1 with nursing.




We have a set bedtime routine to slow things down and quiten the area around him, all to no avail! As an infant, he had to be swaddled tightly to calm him down, but still sleep issues. We moved from swaddling to a padded sleeper to give him the same feeling, still no sleep. We rock a screaming inconsolable baby for who knows how long until he wears himself out. We have a sound machine, room darkening drapes, and he is the only child. He hates a pacifier! Also, there are no tear in these crying fits. He has NEVER fallen asleep outside of the bedroom! We have tried driven him around to no avail.

I won't even tell you how many times I have taken him to the doctor thinking something is wrong with my baby. He is a happy, smiley, babbling infant who is well socialized, never met a stranger, has adjusted to eating from a spoon like he was born doing it, has met his milestones, just refuses to sleep.

We have read so many articles, heard and tried different people's advice, nothing is working! Oh yes, we have tried the crying it out, baby wins as he cries until he starts gagging and vomiting. The situation is so bad, as soon as we walk into his room, he starts crying.

After reading articles on SPD, it sounds like baby easily fits the description about sleeping. Does anyone have advice for me? Where do I go for help? We so desperately want to help our baby, plus us. TIA.



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May 11, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Sleeping Problems
by: Anonymous

Try meletonin in the bottle or juice bottle just before bed.
A couple of sips and they are out xxx
May 06, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Co-Sleeping is Safe and Food Sensitivities
by: Ashley

To quell the desire of an infant to be near you it is totally fine to take them into your bed and actually may REDUCE the risk of SIDS. http://cosleeping.nd.edu/

At two weeks my kiddo started screaming his head off on a regular basis particularly around naps and nighttime. He had been fine for the first couple weeks and hen all of a sudden... My midwife was brilliant and suggested it might be something I was eating (I was breastfeeding and so he was getting proteins in my milk). I cut wheat dairy soy and eggs and a few weeks later he was totally fine. When I tried to reintroduce soy (had a slice of tofu) he had bleeding around his anus... And anytime a trace amount of these foods snuck into my diet he had a telling red ring around his anus. The inflammation made it obvious he was struggling with food sensitivities. As he got older he got better so we started to let food slide... He actually became pretty obsessed with cheese recently. Then he started developing a rash around his mouth and started coughing wheezing and vommitting occasionally when lying down... So we cut dairy wheat soy and egg again (though very loose with wheat) and he got better. Just tonight he told me he really wants a peach, and it makes his tongue hot a little but he likes it... Hence, another food sensitivity, which makes perfect sense because just the other day he committed after eating peaches.

So... Food food food. What goes in matters so much. And it is okay to obey your instinct to cuddle with your little human... We aren't meant to sleep alone.
Apr 29, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Tough!
by: Anonymous

Our little guy was still waking up at 7 months as well. He would want to nurse to sleep, and that was his mode of comfort. I did have to stop this, however. He just wanted to be close to us at night, and would probably have preferred to sleep with us in bed. We didn't want to take that risk, but I really wish we would have invested in a co-sleeper for him so he could be within an arm's reach. Perhaps that is what your babe is looking for? It is so hard to know when they can't give us specifics. Just know that it will pass, and that you're doing the best you can for your babe! Chin up, mama.
Jan 21, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Sorry
by: Anonymous

I could be wrong but I would think if that's the only issue you are having then it may not be SPD and just the baby wanting to be close? Hopefully. My 2 1/2 year old has never been successfully transitioned out of my arms and to his bed without waking up and crying...I finally gave up on even trying when he was close to a year. He still wakes up several times a night. its exhausting. I wish I had some advice for you and I hope it gets better for you.

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