Another sleep question

We are at the end our ropes with Owen. Usually he goes to sleep without much issue and gets at least a good 6 hrs,eats, sleeps 3hr, eats then up 3hrs later. However the last couple of nights he has been waking earlier and earlier and last night he refused to go to sleep. So I just left him - he cried for the 1hr - so we re-evaluated - feed him, reswaddled and a little cuddle, then put him back down - then he proceeded to cry for another 1hr - so again he was cuddled and reswaddled and paci-ed. Then another 1hr of crying!!!

So at that point he had been awake for 5hrs with 3 hrs of crying. I know he was just so overtired but seriously what to you do when they don't give in. I know I sound like an awful mom but I just can't do this.... fortunately my other twin goes to sleep with no problem and somehow miraculously can sleep through all this( they share a room) and a preschooler whom I have to put down all by myself (DH works 12hr shifts)

He then proceeded to wake/cry at least 3times - of those time he cried for 5-20mins but when back to sleep on his own

Then as if last night wasn't bad enough, he was up at 5am (wake up time is 6:30) playing and talking so I just left him until he stared fussing/crying at 6am - went in and reswaddled him and left him crying until 6:30 when I got both boys up and feed thim - Owen wasn't even that hungry - he mostly messed around at this point. They usually go down for their first nap around 8am but Owen could barely make it, he went down 15min earlier then I put Rhys down. Now Owen is awake (its only been 30min of what should be a 2hr nap) fussing louder and louder. I am sitting here crying as I listen to him - at a total loss of what to do.

I know other mommies have been struggling with this - I am just so tired I am not functioning anymore. What to do????

 

We started CIO when the girls were 4 months old because we were having the same problems. I know others will cringe at this, but it was right for our family. For naps, we let them cry for 10 minute intervals for up to an hour. If they didn't fall asleep after 1 hour, which is rare but it does happen, we would take them out and try for a nap again in a little bit.

The night is a bit different. We haven't had to do this much but we would just let them cry and not go in at all. It seems heartless, but it works. The more we would go in there the more it would stir them up and the process would just start over again similar to your situation. There are a few nights here and there when they will wake up at 4 and we will go in there once to console, re-paci, and then leave. We don't go in again. Nine times out of 10 they will fall back asleep on their own.

If they wake up 30-45 minutes into their nap we go in their once to console, re-paci and then leave. Again, they fall asleep on their own.
All babies are different, but with some you have to use the extreme extinction method or else the babies just continue to cry for hours.

This may or may not be the problem, but what time are you putting the LO's to bed?

 

I am sooooo glad you posted this, I was just getting on to post the SAME question. I think I've decided that I am going to have to play a little hardball tonight because I am only getting about 3 hours of sleep every night for the past month. I hate letting them CIO, but I am beginning to feel a little more confident that it is becoming a requirement for survival. Let me know what you decide to do.

 

They go to bed at 6:30pm. We have been trying the extinction method b/c going in and out frequently just seems to get Owen more ramped up

 

You're doing a great job. Maybe CIO isn't working for him just yet and you should try again in another week? Have you tried rocking, cuddling or having him sleep with you guys?

 

Owen ended up crying for 1hr during his morning nap then sleeping for 30min after which he woke so I got him up b/c Rhys was already up and of course I am trying to keep them on the same schedule. So now its 1130 - time for their second nap and of course Rhys is sound asleep and Owen 'slept' for 15min then started this all over again. I probably totally destroyed any improvement we were getting and let him get up, he's playing happily in the bouncer chair. So now the boys are on two different schedules and I am bound to not get anything done today...*sigh*

The only thing that seems to work is letting him feed to sleep - but this a sure guarantee he will only sleep for a short time. But I am at a loss of what to do.

 

So sorry the sleep deprivation is getting too much. My girls were at their worst when they were that age. We did CIO extinction but i didn't have them swaddled up. Maybe he is struggling with it because he has no means to self soothe? I know Amber and Ruby were swaddle addicts but they are free of it now and are thumb suckers. Could you try and give him an arm to see if this helps? Or like a pp mentioned how about rocking or bringing him into your bed if you feel he is not ready for sleep training. I really hope it gets better soon. Big hugs coming you and your baby boy.

 

do you think he may be teething? that is my only thought.. my DS has a really hard time settling down when he is teething, otherwise he is usually a great sleeper. maybe try a little tylenol and see it that helps out..

 

Maybe its time to adjust your schedule during the day and play with the bedtime a bit. :unsure: It is hard to have kids on different schedules during the day, but it doesnt happen too much and usually you just need to tweak your day. GL! I would try some Tylenol before bed and see if that helps. ;hug: