Has improved, but only marginally.
When we arrived back in Canada, Maya refused to sleep in the crib, waked frequently at night (every 1-1.5 hours between 11 and 3am) and was very hungry (consuming up to three 8 oz bottles of formula throughout the night). And she also only wanted to sleep with her mama!
We've made progress on the hunger front. We now have her on solids + formula during the day. At night, she only occasionally needs a bottle. We were concerned about tooth decay with multiple formula feedings during the night plus she was less hungry during the day. We curbed the formula feeds at night by increasing solids intake during the day, "tanking" her up right before bedtime, and offering water at night.
She goes down at about 8:30 pm pretty consistently without a lot of trouble. But she is still waking multiple times between 11 and 3 am - from what seems to be fear as she is not interested in the bottle usually.
Mike is now able to sleep with her (so that I can get a decent night sleep on the weekend). So I guess that is a marginal improvement.
I'd like to get her sleep through the night and/or into the crib next. We have started using a sleep machine (white noise). It may be helping her a bit - I definitely find the sound of waves crashing on the Hawaiian shore relaxing when I have insomnia in the middle of the night!
We've tried pulling the crib right up to the side of our bed - but she wouldn't go for that.
We may try infant massage next.
If you have suggestions on how to curb the frequent waking, please share in the comments section. Thanks!
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Hi Carol,
ReplyDeleteI've been following your blog for awhile and thought I'd reply to your latest post. Our daughter, Maiya (Vung Tau II, 2007), has had sleep issues from the start, and even at 3 now, is not a great sleeper. She has always had night terrors, so I understand you saying Maya seems to be waking from fear - especially since she is a little older than our Maiya was on coming home. I haven't found any magic answers - and felt torn between what the "experts" say, and everyone else! But we finally got into this routine (after ALOT of other failed attempts at other routines!): She would go down in her crib in her room at bedtime with no difficulty, usually after a bedtime bottle. When she woke up in the night we would go get her right away, talk as little as possible other than a couple quiet reassurances, and put her in the playpen in our room, not too far from our bed, so she could see us if she stood up (she was able to pull up by the time we started this). The first couple nights were tough because she would cry alot, but we managed to hold out and not get up and not say too much, and she finally went to sleep. After a few nights she seemed to realize that we were right there with her but would not be picking her up, so she would go right back to sleep once she was in the playpen. If it was a full-on night terror, we would bring her into bed with us if she needed to. This lasted until she was about 2 3/4, and she went longer and longer between wake-ups, and then we put the playpen away. She still wakes up in the night sometimes with dreams/terrors, but is able to go back into her own bed 99% of the time and goes right back to sleep. It's been a long haul, so I feel your concern!
We also found (and came to expect) her nights were worse after any big event - she loved big get-togethers, etc. - but those were and often are the nights she has a night terror - I honestly believe there's a subconscious connection to her previous experiences and that she wakes up subconsciously afraid we are not there or that her world has changed again. Anyway - not alot of help perhaps, but maybe it will help just to know others have had similar experiences/issues with the sleep patterns. I hope you find a way that works for Maya and your family so you are all able to get some good rest!
Best of luck,
Janice
Hi Carol,
ReplyDeleteXavier has a lot of sleep issues that we are still battling! What I find helps is putting a t-shirt that I have worn in his crib with him, so that he can still smell me.
We also go see a pediatrician who specializes in nutrition who recommended adding duocal to Xav's food (adds extra calories, Shoppers carries it behind the counter, but much cheaper to order it directly from them and they ship it to your house or we put Carnation Instant Breakfast in a bowl of rice cereal before bed).
Like I said, we still really struggle with it, but find that it helps, like Janice mentions, to know what might trigger an ultra bad night. I am looking forward to reading others responses!
Christine
Thanks guys. We had another "good night" last night - only 2 wakings - I think the sleep machine is helpful.
ReplyDeleteMaya is not really hungry at night anymore and eats tons during the day now.
I'm also starting to put her in the crib for part of the night, knowing for now I will have to bring her back to my bed at some point.
I also have her sleeping with a blanket and stuffed animal so that there is a common element from our bed to her crib. But maybe I need to move a T-shirt there also like Christine suggests.
Her napping schedule is pretty regular but she requires motion (car or stroller) to get to sleep generally. I have also read that napping and being exposed to sunlight during the day helps with sleeping at night.
Hi again Carol - one more after- thought - and i never tried this but have heard of it - try putting a warm blanket or some kind of "baby safe" heating pack in with her - I've seen those stuffed animals that have a microwaveable bean bag in them - maybe the warmth would make her feel safe & comforted? Glad you had a "good" night!
ReplyDeleteJanice
thanks. i am convinced the sleep machine is helping - we have had 2 wakings per night instead of 3 or 4 since using it.
ReplyDelete