I need some help with getting my 5 1/2 month old to sleep without being at the breast, I can't do CIO or anything that will upset her because she has reflux and she just starts throwing up if she's laying down and crying.
At night I can get her to sleep then put her in her crib which I don't really mind, but the naps are horrible, she will not sleep unless I am holding her or she falls asleep in the car. Even if I am holding her for naps she only sleeps 20-30 minutes (unless she's in the car).
Honestly, the issue is I have 3 kids, (my oldest is special needs) my husband works full time and goes to school full time and I am scared of what my house will look like and if my other children will ever be fed because I am holding the baby for her naps. I need to be able to put her down so I can get some things done because everything is going to be falling on me soon.
TIA!
konayossie
08-08-2010, 05:07 PM
:hugs: mama, my LO has reflux too, and his naps at that age sound just like your DC's. DS slept/sleeps really well while being worn, and I would definitely recommend it. I highly recommend the Ergo. You should be able to use the back carry at this age (of course, you can do a front carry as well), and it's SO HELPFUL to be able to get things accomplished. You can take care of your others while your LO rides and snoozes. She'll probably sleep better that way anyway, with the comfort of being near you, the warmth, and the movement, and you might just get some longer naps out of her! Good luck!
FairyBeautifulMama
08-08-2010, 05:36 PM
Sounds like my DS. He will be 6 months on the 17th and still nurses to sleep. Have you tried swaddling her? DS still needs to be swaddled its a total 180 if he isnt.
Lanasmom
08-08-2010, 05:58 PM
I second the wearing except my 3 month old has gotten so nosey he only looks around when he is worn. He now refuses to sleep during nap time except in a swing. Before anyone flames me, I would much rather wear my little boy, but he would much rather swing to sleep.
two+one
08-08-2010, 06:00 PM
i've never tried to start swaddlig with an older baby but it works wonders for my 7 week old. she LOVES it.
i think wearing her would be a good option for you to try. moby wraps are super comfy and i havent' tried them but mei tei's also seem to be really popular.
CEVmommy
08-08-2010, 06:05 PM
I would try wearing the baby. Also, swaddling worked for my first, my second like to sleep in the swing.
Ian and Anya's mommy
08-08-2010, 06:35 PM
Thanks ladies, I do swaddle her at night still but I don't do it during the day...I could try that. She hates the swing so this is a total system shock for me because my other 2 LOVED the swing. I do wear her but I am a big mom and I am limited to how much I can move (I can't bend over or sit while wearing her) so it keeps me from being able to do much.
Confession: She is more attached to me than I would like :blush: she always wants me to hold her and that is starting to suffocate me, I know that it won't always be like this and she is my last so I am trying to enjoy it, but I'm starting to go a little nuts. (It's not even that she's happy when she's being held, most of the time it has to be me holding her, even Daddy won't do)
babybelle02
08-08-2010, 08:20 PM
That's hard mama.:hugs: Its only for a season and it will get easier eventually. Have you tried an exersaucer or something similar? DD2 is 5 mos and also loves to be held. She has recently stared liking to be set in her exersaucer for 10 minutes here and there and has also gotten to be fond of laying on the floor because she can roll around a bit more. I'm finding that as she develops more motor skills and greater awareness of her surroundings, she's able to be content outside of my arms for brief moments so I can get some things done. Otherwise, I just have to be intentional about how I spend my time and only do what is absolutely necessary.
cupcakewright
08-08-2010, 08:53 PM
If you pat her when she wakes up, and you don't get her up, does she freak out?
Does she take a pacifier?
since you can't let her cry...I would try putting her down for ehr nap and sitting next to the bed and patting, while she is still awake...she if sh ewill relax while you are there, it make take a few days but maybe she will get to where you can lay her down, stay a few seconds and then leave.
As far a sthe swing, I had one that hated it...he didn't even like park swings until 3 but he loves them now :)
staceyroo77
08-08-2010, 09:01 PM
DD3 is 18 months old, and she still nurses to sleep for naps (if she takes a nap) and bedtime. I swaddle her for naps and bedtime, I think the swaddling makes it easier for me to lay her down once she is asleep. She doesn't feel cool air hit her when I go to lay her down, iykwim. She will actually "cry" for her "b" (blanket) sometimes when she gets tired, and have me wrap her in it, then nurse to sleep. Since she is older my version of swaddling is wrapping the blanket around her w/ her arms out, and the blanket usually isn't very tight.
faiths13
08-08-2010, 09:12 PM
i say wear the baby also. i know sometimes its hard being a mom and not ever having "me" time and always having to be on 24/7. i have totally btdt. i was at a point where i just wanted to hurry and get my youngest ds to sleep at naptime so i could have my time to myself or do something else. then i realized that it was just making the whole thing more stressful. i think he could sense the tension which stressed him out and it made getting him to sleep take longer. if you know this is your last baby then you should enjoy it. try to pull yourself out of the "suffocating" mode and into just being present in the now to cuddle your sweet baby. if you wear her while she sleeps you will have a lot more freedom to do other things. i had to do that for awhile with ds4 and then he moved on to wanting to be walked to sleep. he has gone through some phases. all my other babies were all total boob babies and had to be nursed to sleep. yes it took a chunk of my life up but now that its over i dont regret it and i really cherish it. gl mama!
